Post on 21-Jul-2020
Insights from the UT Austin Energy Poll
February 18, 2016
Sheril KirshenbaumDirector of The Energy Poll
Impartial and authoritative source of public
perspectives on energy to inform and guide
discussion, business planning and policy development
General Topics
• Energy prices and availability
• Energy concerns
• Satisfaction
• Consumer behaviors and voting preferences
“Hot Topics”
Spring 2012: Hydraulic Fracturing
Fall 2012: Energy, Voting Behavior, and the 2012 Election
Spring 2013: Consumer Attitudes on Energy
Fall 2013: The Energy-Water Nexus
Spring 2014: Energy Efficiency
Fall 2014: Energy, Voting Behavior, and the 2014 Election
Spring 2015: KeystoneXL and Gas Prices
Fall 2015: ”Best of” the UT Energy Poll
Spring 2016: US Role in the International Energy Landscape/Energy Security
Background
• First questionnaire developed in 2010 (Inaugural launch Oct. 2011)
• Collaborative effort with representatives from academic institutions, polling
companies, non-governmental organizations, energy producers and energy
consumers
Spring 2016 – Tenth Release
• Online survey conducted January 15-23, 2016
• 2,043 respondents, weighted to reflect U.S. Census demographics
A Look At All Respondents: Spring 2016
Age Party affiliation
Democrat40%
Republican32%
Independent15%
Libertarian4% Other/No
answer9%
18-2413%
25-3418%
35-4418%
45-5419%
55-6415%
65+17%
Total family incomeGender
Male49%
Female51%
<$50K49%
$50+47%
No answer4%
White67%
Hispanic15%
African American
12%
Other6%
Race
A Look At All Respondents: Spring 2016
U.S. Energy Security
Concerned55%
Not concerned
12%
No opinion33%
U.S. Energy Security
Concerned55%
Not concerned
12%
No opinion33%
U.S. Energy Security
55%
51%
65%
45%
67%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total Republican Democrat Independent Libertarian
U.S. Energy Security
55%
67%
60%
52% 51%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total Hispanic African American White Other
U.S. Energy Security – Top Concerns
56%
47%43%
36%
30% 30%
23% 22%
7%
2% 2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%T
err
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U.S. Energy Security – Top Concerns
56%
47%43%
36%
30% 30%
23% 22%
7%
2% 2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%T
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U.S. Energy Security – Top Concerns – Terrorist targets
56%
65%
50%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total Republicans Democrats
Best way to approach U.S. energy security and independence…
Government and industry should work together
58%Market forces should dictate
movement14%
The federal government should
take the lead14%
Not sure/No opinion14%
Best way to approach U.S. energy security and independence…
Government and industry should work together
58%Market forces should dictate
movement14%
The federal government should
take the lead14%
Not sure/No opinion14%
“Government and industry should work together”
66%
53%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Democrats Republicans
Familiar with the term “hydraulic fracturing” or “fracking”
32%35%
42%40% 40%
44% 44%
48% 47%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Familiar with the term “hydraulic fracturing” or “fracking”
32%35%
42%40% 40%
44% 44%
48% 47%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Familiar with the term “hydraulic fracturing” or “fracking”
47%
53%
46%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total Republicans Democrats
Among “Familiar,” Americans who support hydraulic fracturing
47%
65%
30%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total Republicans Democrats
“The U.S. should permit the export of natural gas to other countries”
28%
34%
37%
34%
37%38%
41%
39%
30%
28% 28%29%
23% 23%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Agree
Disagree
“Municipalities should have the authority to ban hydraulic fracturing
within their borders, even if state law otherwise permits it.”
58% 58%59%
25%
18%19%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Agree
Disagree
“Municipalities should have the authority to ban hydraulic fracturing
within their borders, even if state law otherwise permits it.”
58% 58%59%
25%
18%19%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Agree
Disagree
“Municipalities should have the authority to ban hydraulic fracturing
within their borders, even if state law otherwise permits it.”
59%
37%
79%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Total Republicans Democrats
Americans that think climate change is occurring
65%
73% 73% 72%
68% 68%70%
76%73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Americans that think climate change is occurring
65%
73% 73% 72%
68% 68%70%
76%73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Americans that think climate change is occurring
65%
73% 73% 72%
68% 68%70%
76%73%
84% 85%
89%87%
85%83%
86%
90% 90%
45%
51%
55%52%
47%49%
47%
59%
54%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Total
Democrat
Republican
Americans that think climate change is occurring
73%
87%
77%
68%
86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Total Hispanic African American White Other
Americans that think climate change is occurring
73%
82%
72%69%
65%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Total <35 36-54 55-64 65+
Factors Americans think contribute to climate change
7%
43%
47%
50%
58%
66%
73%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Other
Agriculture (including livestock)
Natural gas
Natural forces (not manmade)
Coal
Oil
Deforestation
Concerned about “significant increase in temperature of the planet”
Concerned71%
Not concerned8%
No opinion21%
Concerned about “significant increase in temperature of the planet”
Concerned71%
Not concerned8%
No opinion21%
Concerned about “significant increase in temperature of the planet”
71%
60%
81%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Total Republicans Democrats
U.S. headed in the right direction on dealing with energy issues…
14%
18%
24%
22% 22%
24% 24%
26%
28%
34%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Fall 2011 Spring2012
Fall 2012 Spring2013
Fall 2013 Spring2014
Fall 2014 Spring2015
Fall 2015 Spring2016
Americans describing gas prices as “high”
95%98%
96% 96% 95%93% 92%
66%
58%
35%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Fall 2011 Spring2012
Fall 2012 Spring2013
Fall 2013 Spring2014
Fall 2014 Spring2015
Fall 2015 Spring2016
Satisfied with the job each is doing to address energy issues…
27%
31%30%
22% 22%23%
26%
29%
33%
16%
23%22% 22%
21%
24%
22%
27%
30%
17%18%
20%19%
16%
20%21%
22%
27%
13%
17%
19%
17%18%
19%20%
22%
25%
13%
19% 19%
17%
19%
17%
20%
25%
29%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
President Barack Obama
US Environmental Protection Agency
Your local government
Your state government
US Department of Energy
www.utenergypoll.com
sheril.kirshenbaum@mccombs.utexas.edu
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