Environment & Energy

44% Think EPA Actions Hurt The Economy

Voters tend to think the actions of the Environmental Protection Agency are bad for the economy and hold decidedly mixed feelings about one of its guiding policies, the federal Endangered Species Act.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters believe, generally speaking, that the EPA’s regulations and actions hurt the economy. Just 17% disagree and think those policies help the economy. Twenty-one percent (21%) say they have no economic impact, but another 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

36% Say Better to Invest in Fossil Fuels Than in Alternative Energy

Americans recognize more strongly than ever that there is a conflict between economic growth and environmental protection. Support for investing in fossil fuels like oil and gas is also at a new high amidst near-record gas prices and the ongoing political debate over development of the Keystone XL pipeline which President Obama has blocked for environmental reasons.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely Voters think there’s a conflict between economic growth and environment protection. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, while 17% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 4-5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

29% Favor $10,000 Subsidies for Electric Car Buyers

President Obama in his latest budget has proposed $10,000 subsidies to encourage the purchase of electric cars with his goal of having one million of the vehicles on the road by 2015. But voters by a two-to-one margin oppose taxpayer-funded subsidies for this purpose.

Just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters favor $10,000 government subsidies to encourage the purchase of electric cars, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-eight percent (58%) are opposed to such subsidies. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 18-19, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Say Creating New Jobs More Important Than Protecting Environment

Despite President Obama’s decision last week to delay the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas for environmental reasons, most voters think creating jobs trumps the environment.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters say, generally speaking, that creating new jobs is more important than environmental protection. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree and say protecting the environment is more important. Another 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

56% Favor Building Keystone Pipeline, Think It’s Good for Economy

Most voters still favor building the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas and think it will be good for the economy despite President Obama’s decision last week to delay the project for environmental reasons.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor the pipeline, with 36% who Strongly Favor it. Just 27% are opposed, including 12% who Strongly Oppose the project. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

30% Say Global Warming A Very Serious Problem

Belief that global warming is a serious problem is at its highest level in two-and-half-years, but fewer voters than ever give President Obama positive marks on his handling of this issue.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds that 64% say global warming is at least a somewhat serious problem, including 30% who say it’s Very Serious.  One-in-three voters (33%) believe climate change is not a serious problem, with 14% who feel it’s Not At All Serious.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 3-4, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

61% Say Global Warming Serious Problem

Most voters continue to believe global warming is a serious problem, but they still have mixed views on what the primary cause of climate change is. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely Voters say global warming is at least a somewhat serious problem.  Thirty-five percent (35%) don’t believe climate change is a serious problem.  Those figures include 28% who say it’s a Very Serious problem and 13% who believe it’s Not At All Serious.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 28-29, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Oppose Government Loan Help for Alternative Energy Company Like Solyndra

The questionable financial dealings of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra and its ties to the Obama administration are drawing little public attention so far, but most voters agree government help is not the best way to develop alternative energy sources.

24% Consider Al Gore An Expert On Global Warming

Despite winning a Nobel Prize and an Oscar for his work in the global warming area, most voters don’t consider former Vice President Al Gore an expert on the subject.

Voters See Sun As Global Warming Factor But Blame Humans More

Al Gore may think it’s "BS", but most voters believe solar activity has an impact on global cooling and warming. A narrow plurality gives human activity the edge over sun activity, though, when it comes to which one has a bigger impact on the problem.

41% Say Global Warming Causes Extreme Weather, 43% Disagree

With hurricane season in full swing, Americans have mixed views on whether global warming is behind extreme weather conditions.

69% Say It’s Likely Scientists Have Falsified Global Warming Research

The debate over global warming has intensified in recent weeks after a new NASA study was interpreted by skeptics to reveal that global warming is not man-made. While a majority of Americans nationwide continue to acknowledge significant disagreement about global warming in the scientific community, most go even further to say some scientists falsify data to support their own beliefs.

52% Say Finding New Sources of Energy More Important Than Reducing Amount Consumed

While a majority of U.S. voters still feel discovering new sources of energy is more important than reducing energy consumption, the number who feel this way has fallen to a new low.  Voters also continue to believe there’s a conflict between economic growth and environmental protection.

51% Say Gov't Should Force Oil Companies To Use Profits To Develop Alternative Energy

Voters strongly believe the United States is not doing enough to explore alternative sources of energy, and most still think oil companies should devote big money to searching for those types of energy.

75% Say U.S. Not Doing Enough To Develop Its Gas And Oil Resources

Most voters continue to feel America needs to do more to develop domestic gas and oil resources. They also still give the edge to finding new sources of oil over reducing gas and oil consumption.

25% Favor Abolishing EPA, 61% Oppose

Though voters nationwide place more importance on jobs than environmental protection, just one in four thinks the Environmental Protection Agency should be abolished.

Mixed Reviews for EPA—47% Favorable, 45% Unfavorable

Protecting the environment is a concept most Americans embrace, but they’re not so sure about the agency set up to handle that mission.

45% Likely To Purchase Alternative Fuel Car During Next Decade

Despite the big jump in gas prices in recent months, Americans are no more enthusiastic than they were a year ago about buying a car that runs on alternative fuel.

53% Say Politics Involved in Government Response to Specific Disasters

While voters recognize the importance of the federal government’s role in disaster relief, many believe the response to a particular disaster may be politically motivated. There is also little confidence the government does a good job making sure relief money is distributed to all areas of need.

51% Blame Extreme Weather on Long-Term Planetary Trends, 19% Blame Human Activity

U.S. meteorologists say the deadly storms tearing up the South are not a result of climate change. None the less, the extreme weather has rekindled the global warming debate in Washington, D.C.