Americans Losing Interest in Energy Conservation

07/02/2008
SustainableBusiness.com News

Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise, but the results of a new poll are disheartening, showing that Americans are increasing their support for more oil exploration and drilling, as opposed to increased conservation measures.

The survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center, also shows an increasing proportion of country's citizens favor developing new sources of energy, rather than protecting the environment.

As the price of gasoline is beginning to cramp our free-spending lifestyles, we are choosing to trade whatever is of any worth to continue down this path. 

At some point down the road there will be no Alaska Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to lay at the feet of the oil companies. There will be no untapped oil fields on the coastal shelves--not to mention no more pristine ecological systems, no more clean beaches, no more clean air and no more stable climate patterns. 

Where will we draw the line? When will we say, enough is enough--it's time to make some sacrifices?

No time soon, according to this survey, which shows changes in American opinions over just the last five months.

 

 

Change was also noted among young people, liberals, Democrats and women--groups that have consistently opposed increasing fossil fuel exploration.

51% of people ages 18-29 now support expanding exploration, up from 26% in February. The gender gap has disappeared on the issue, too, as well as the gap between Democrats and Republicans.

In other bad news, the Energy Information Administration said that participation in green pricing/marketing programs has decreased among electricity customers, further supporting the notion that Americans are unwilling to pay a price for protecting the planet.

After three years of gains from 2003-2005 in the number of participants in programs that allow customers to pay a fee to support the generation of clean, renewably based power, participation dropped in 2006. (Numbers are not yet available for 2007.)

The number of programs available to customers increased slightly in 2006, from 442 to 484. But nationwide, participation decreased 32% from 942,772 to 645,167. 

Without strong leadership on this issue, or a reversal in the tide of public opinion, dark days lie ahead.