Recent Polls Show Energy Now Top Concern for Americans
One shows 64 percent support of offshore drilling for oil, natural gas

By Karen McMahan
September 10, 2008

RALEIGH — Energy is the top concern for Americans by a wide margin over any other issue, according to recent polls.

A Rasmussen poll Aug. 6 showed that 64 percent of Americans want offshore drilling for domestic oil and natural gas as a way to lower gas prices. Fifty-five percent think the nation should build more nuclear plants. A similar poll at the end of July by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation also reported strong support, at 64 percent, for offshore drilling.

The Rasmussen poll found that 81 percent of Americans think that developing new sources of energy is an urgent priority, and 65 percent of Americans think that finding new sources of energy is more important than reducing energy consumption. Twenty-eight percent thought conservation was more important.

In a separate Rasmussen poll, 57 percent of voters, opposed to 26 percent, believe that high gas prices do more to reduce U.S. energy consumption than do governmental regulations. This issue is divided along party lines, with a majority of Republicans, 67 percent, and unaffiliated voters, 58 percent, seeing high gas prices as having the biggest effect on reducing energy consumption. Only 33 percent of Democrats agree.

Despite strong citizen support for drilling and finding new sources of energy, congressional leaders adjourned at the end of July without voting on a number of proposed bills that would increase domestically produced energy resources.

Oil prices just hit a three-month low and gasoline prices at the pump have dropped well under $4 a gallon. Seasonally, oil prices decline at this time of the year but slowing economies in Europe and in developing nations such as China and India also have contributed to lower demand and lower prices as market forces take effect.

Since the oil embargo in 1973, this cycle of energy spikes and declines has been repeated, including 2005, 2001, 1991, the 1980s, and twice in the 1970s. Three years ago, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Americans were thankful when gas prices dropped to about $2 a gallon. Analysts are concerned that Congress will once again fail to enact a long-term energy strategy.
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