In a week where oil prices reached a record high of over $90/barrel, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey revealed that 62% of Americans believe that the best way to meet the country’s future energy needs is to develop alternative sources of energy. Twenty percent (20%) think that finding more sources of oil is the best way to meet future energy needs, while only 12% believe that conservation is the right strategy.

These beliefs run across party lines as both Democrats and Republicans agree on something for a change. Sixty-six percent (66%) of Democrats think that developing new sources of energy is the best strategy in meeting future energy needs and most Republicans agree.

Americans see no conflict between seeking new energy sources and protecting the environment. The Rasmussen Reports survey found that 72% believe that it is possible to find new sources of energy that will be environmentally friendly. Only 9% of adults disagree and think that it’s impossible.

The public’s view on this issue has not changed much in the last year. A year ago, 73% of Americans said it was very important that that the United States become less dependent on foreign oil and 71% said that developing new sources of energy was more important that conservation. A separate survey found that just 34% of Americans believe that Global Warming can be stopped.

Last year, 44% of Americans believed that most new cars sold in a decade will be hybrid-cars.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of those surveyed think that the latest increase in oil prices make it very likely that heating oil prices will increase this winter. Meanwhile, 68% think it is at least somewhat likely that gasoline prices will reach $4 per gallon by next summer. A survey conducted earlier this year found that Americans were more likely to cut discretionary spending to deal with higher gas prices rather than seeking out alternate means of transportation.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Americans are following recent news stories about oil prices at least somewhat closely.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.