New England Energy Alliance Prepared by Opinion Dynamics Corporation November 2005.
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Transcript of New England Energy Alliance Prepared by Opinion Dynamics Corporation November 2005.
New England Energy Alliance
Prepared byOpinion Dynamics Corporation
November 2005
Which of the following issues facing New England is most important to you?
Q1
Health care 24%
Jobs and the economy 19
Energy supply and prices 18
Public schools and education 11
Protecting the environment 10
Terrorism 7
Crime and drugs 5
Traffic and congestion 2
Other 2
Not sure/Refused 1
Which the following issues facing New England is second most important to you?
Q2
Public schools and education 17%
Health care 16
Energy supply and prices 16
Jobs and the economy 15
Protecting the environment 10
Crime and drugs 10
Terrorism 9
Traffic and congestion 4
Other 1
Not sure 2
What is the most important energy-related issue facing New England today?
Q3
Gas prices 41%
High cost—general 27
Unreliable supply 10
Environmental concerns 5
Power shortages 3
Alternate fuels/sources 3
Oil dependency 1
Other 5
Not sure/Refused 4
Very concerned55%
Not at all concerned
4%
Somewhat concerned
33%
Not very concerned7%
Not sure/Refused1%
How concerned are you about the cost of electricity increasing?
Q4
Not sure/Refused3%
Not very concerned11%
Somewhat concerned
24%Not at all concerned
14%
Very concerned48%
How concerned are you about the cost of natural gas increasing?
Q5
Not enough44%
About the right amount36%
Not sure/Refused11%
More than enough10%
Thinking ahead to the next five years, do you think there will be enough electricity
to meet New England’s needs?
Q6
Not sure/Refused1%
Not very well informed
29%
Somewhat well informed
45%
Not informed at all9%
Very well informed15%
How well informed do you feel regarding the electricity supply situation in New
England?
Q7
Somewhat favor33%
Not sure/Refused22%
Strongly oppose3%
Strongly favor34%
Somewhat oppose7%
Do you favor or oppose moving forward on new energy and infrastructure
projects?
Q8
Why do you feel that way?
Q9
Favor Oppose
Energy Conservation/Supply shortage 16% 4%
Want alternative, renewable energy sources 14 2
Economic Concerns/Jobs/Money 13 10
Need change/To address global energy issues 9 -
Want to be prepared for the future 8 -
Environmental Concerns 4 15
Need change/Address local energy issues 4 -
Reduce dependence on oil 3 -
Population increase 2 -
Don't like planned projects/Projects can't fix problems 1 13
Too much Government control/Need more public input 1 4
No problem to address 1 4
Safety concerns - 6
Other 5 -
Not sure/Refused 25 43
What would be your biggest concern if you heard an energy project had been
proposed for your community?
Q10
Environment/Impact on community 20%
Cost 12
Safety/Health 9
Location 8
Source of energy 7
Depends/Need more information 4
Community education/involvement 3
Reason for project/Who funds it 2
Other 3
None 1
Not sure/Refused 38
Has the electric utility industry in your state been deregulated, or not?
Q11
49%
16%
35%
44%
21%
35%
43%
15%
41%
33%29%
39%
32%35%
8%
46%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Maine Connecticut Massachusetts NewHampshire
Rhode Island Vermont
Yes No Not sure
What does it mean when the electric utility industry in a state is deregulated?
Q12
Competition 23%
Different companies can produce and deliver electricity
19
Consumers have a choice 14
Prices will be affected 6
Prices will be raised 3
Privatization of industry 2
Other 1
Not sure/Refused 31
(MA, ME, CT, NH, RI only)
Has deregulation led to lower or higher electricity prices for residential
consumers?
Q13
29%33%
30%
8%12%
41%37%
10% 10%
55%
26%
4%8%
43%
33%
16%
6%
52%
28%
14%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Maine New Hampshire Rhode Island Massachusetts Connecticut
Lower Higher No impact Not sure
Better15%
No impact53%
Not sure13%
Worse19%
Do you think deregulation has led to better or worse service for residential
consumers of electricity?
Q14
Which statement is closer to your opinion?
Q15
Even in a deregulated market, insuring an adequate energy supply is too
important to be left to market forces alone; it should be the responsibility of
government agencies as well45%
Under deregulation, the competitive marketplace
will provide adequate financial incentives to spur investment in new plants
and infrastructure projects29%
Not sure26%
Please rate the following ideas for insuring adequate future energy supply:
Q16-22
11% 41% 19% 12%
13% 40% 20% 8%
16% 42% 15% 10%
17% 49% 14% 10%
20% 50% 12% 7%
21% 50% 13% 5%
38% 48% 4 2
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Excellent Good Not very good Bad
Incentives investing in energy conservation and efficiency
A coordinated regional energy supply plan with companies & policy makers
Streamlining approval for major new energy projects
Extending the operating life of existing nuclear power plants
Streamlining approval for new natural gas infrastructure
Ensuring local objections do not derail needed energy projects
Continue switching New England from regulated to deregulated utilities
Do you favor or oppose these proposals to increase New England’s energy?
Q31, 23, 28, 27, 24
38% 31% 7% 10%
41% 34% 8% 8%
46% 33% 7% 5%
49% 23% 7% 9%
72% 18% 3 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly favor Somewhat favorSomewhat oppose Strongly oppose
Encouraging conservation and energy efficiency by providing incentives to
consumers
An off-shore wind farm between Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard
More electric transmission lines to move electricity more efficiently
throughout the region
Additional natural-gas electricity plants
An additional natural gas pipeline from Canada
Q26, 30, 25, 29
26% 26% 13% 19%
28% 19% 14% 30%
35% 31% 11% 16%
35% 34% 12% 10%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly favor Somewhat favorSomewhat oppose Strongly oppose
Several additional “cleaner coal” electricity plants
Do you favor or oppose these proposals to increase New England’s energy? (cont.)
Continuing the operation of existing nuclear plants
At least one new nuclear power plant
At least one off-shore Liquid Natural Gas, or, LNG tanker terminal
Do you agree with the following statements about the need for energy?
44% 29% 10% 6%
46% 26% 12% 8%
47% 29% 12% 6%
47% 29% 9% 6%
60% 25% 4 4%
62% 24% 5 4%
68% 22% 22%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewat disagree Strongly disagree
Conservation and efficiency should be components of future supply plans
Q45, 44, 39, 35, 33, 37, 32
Governor & state legislature should focus on energy as a high priority
Country is too dependent on foreign oil; we need homegrown sources
Need energy facilities in New England to grow & create jobs
We can build additional facilities if we balance needs & environmental concerns
For New England to compete, we need new energy facilities
Predictions of future shortages mean we need to bring more natural gas to the area
Do you agree with the following statements about the need for energy?(cont.)
Q41, 42, 43, 38, 40, 34, 36
19% 21% 20% 25%
21% 17% 24% 26%
29% 30% 14% 13%
32% 30% 10% 17%
35% 23% 16% 17%
35% 24% 14% 18%
43% 28% 9% 6%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewat disagree Strongly disagree
New England can lead the nation in the development of new energy technologies
We don’t need another divisive controversy over a new nuclear power plant
An attack on an LNG tanker facility is a terrorist nightmare waiting to happen
A deregulated, competitive market is the best way to ensure adequate energy
It’s too risky to environment to start building new facilities that will pollute even more
Unproven energy technologies only contribute a small portion of electricity
A new natural gas pipeline will put communities at environmental risk
Strongly agree42%
Somewhat agree35%
Somewhat disagree
7%
Strongly disagree6%
Not sure/Refused10%
Experts are concerned our region will soon face an energy supply problem and we need a range of additional supply options. Do you
agree with this view?
Q46
Which concerns you more about the electricity supply in New England?
Q47
There will not be enough electricity to meet New England’s needs in the future
38%
The environment will be damaged because we are
too concerned with keeping up with the
increasing demand for electricity
33%
Both equal17%
Neither5%
Not sure7%
Which of the following concerns you more?
Q48
The cost of electricity will continue to increase, creating a burden on
consumers and hurting New England’s economy
45%
The environment will be damaged because we are
too concerned with holding down the cost of
electricity29%
Both equal17%
Neither5%
Not sure4%
Which of the two statements is closer to your opinion?
Q49
The region should be just as concerned about ensuring reliable energy supplies
at reasonable prices as it has been about being a leader in setting strict
environmental standards61%
The region should continue to set a national
example on environmental regulations, even if it means higher energy
prices and contributes to energy shortages
20%Both equal
9%
Neither2%
Not sure8%
Not sure11% No, not willing
44%
Yes, willing45%
Would you pay an extra surcharge if the money was being spent to reinforce the
region’s energy infrastructure?
Q50
Not sure16%
No45%
Yes39%
Thinking for a moment about how your local media outlets cover energy issues,
would you say they offer a fair and balanced view, or not?
Q51
How believable are the following when it comes to new energy facilities?
Professor of environmental sciences from MIT
Q52, 64, 65, 54, 59, 61, 60
16% 43% 15% 16%
16% 48% 15% 14%
17% 32% 7% 6%
17% 44% 16% 16%
21% 35% 9% 8%
34% 43% 5 3%
45% 37% 4 4%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Very believable Somewhat believableNot too believable Not believable at all
A leading, respected energy issues expert
The Conservation Law Foundation
Your local congressman
The MA Renewable Energy Trust
The U.S. Department of Energy
Your local state legislator
How believable are the following when it comes to new energy facilities? (cont.)
9% 29% 12% 8%
9% 34% 21% 21%
12% 37% 19% 21%
12% 42% 21% 16%
14% 47% 16% 10%
14% 47% 14% 14%
15% 45% 10% 9%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Very believable Somewhat believableNot too believable Not believable at all
Q58, 62, 63, 56, 53, 55, 57
The New England Energy Alliance
Your local Chamber of Commerce
A coalition of local employers
Rep of New England’s electric utility companies
Editorial in the Globe/your local paper
A Labor Leader
[MA/VT/RI/CT/ME] PIRG
Respondent Profile
Age Income
18-35 14% $0-19,999 6%
36-55 42 $20-49,999 20
56+ 42 $50-99,999 29
Are you an environmentalist? $100,000+ 14
Yes 62% Refused 31
No/Not sure 37 Education
Political party High school or less 28%
Democrat 32% Vocational or some college 21
Republican 21 College degree 33
Independent 39 Graduate/Prof. school 17
Do you use Natural gas? Gender
Yes 33% Female 53%
No/Not sure 66 Male 47