with foreign oil dependence
A new Yale research survey of 1,000 adults nationwide reveals that while Americans are deeply divided on many issues, they overwhelmingly believe that the United States is too dependent on imported oil.
The survey shows a vast majority of the public also wants to see government action to develop new "clean" energy sources, including solar and wind power, as well as hydrogen cars.
According to James Gustave Speth, dean of the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES), "This poll underscores the fact that Americans want not only energy independence but also to find ways to break the linkage between energy use and environmental harm, from local air pollution to global warming."
Ninety-two percent of Americans polled say that they see America's dependence on foreign oil as a "serious" problem, while 68% say it is a "very serious" problem.
Across all regions of the country and every demographic group, there is broad support for a new emphasis on finding alternative energy sources. Building more solar power facilities is considered a "good idea" by 90% of the public; 87% support expanded wind farms; and 86% want increased funding for renewable energy research.
In addition, 93% want the government to require the auto industry to make cars and trucks that get better gas mileage, versus just 6% who say it is a bad idea. This sentiment varies little by political leaning, with 96% of Democrats and Independents and 86% of Republicans supporting the call for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
These findings come on the heels of Congress' rejection of a proposal to require sport utility vehicles (S.U.V.) and minivans to become more fuel-efficient and achieve the same gasoline mileage as passenger cars.
"This poll suggests that Washington is out of touch with the American people -- Republicans, Democrats and Independents, young and old, men and women -- even S.U.V. drivers -- embrace investments in new energy technologies, including better gas mileage in vehicles," says Dan Esty, director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, which commissioned the survey.
The survey also revealed broad support for action to improve air and water quality but growing discomfort with "environmentalists." Likewise, the public's confidence in TV news as a source of environmental information has fallen sharply.
This survey is one element of a broader research project at F&ES focused on environmental attitudes and behavior. Funding for this project -- directed by Dan Abbasi, associate dean of F&ES -- is being provided by the Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation and Hartford-based United Technologies Corp., which has been ranked as Fortune Magazine's "Most Admired" aerospace company based on criteria including social responsibility.
The survey was conducted on behalf of F&ES by Global Strategy Group from May 15 to 22. The survey was conducted using professional phone interviewers. The nationwide sample was drawn from a random digit dial process. Respondents were screened on the basis of age, i.e., participants had to be over the age of 18. The survey has an overall margin of error of ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level. The survey questions and full results can be found at the website for the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, www.yale.edu/envirocenter.
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