A national survey of voters released by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research found overwhelming support for the Pickens Plan.  Nearly nine-in-ten voters agree that it is important that the Pickens Plan be included in an overall strategy to deal with our energy problems.

The voters surveyed also expressed a strong belief that solar power, wind power, and natural gas will be the top three energy resources to solve the nation’s energy problems, with oil imported from other countries ranking last on the list.

“Even in tough economic times energy issues remain front and center on the American agenda,” said Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican pollster. “Americans believe the nation is facing an energy crisis and they aren’t looking to imported foreign oil to solve the problem.  Rather, they put their faith in a future based on renewable energy sources: solar, wind, hydroelectric power; and increasing domestic sources of natural gas and oil.”

“On energy independence, the public ‘gets it’ and demands that something be done,” adds Democrat Peter D. Hart of Peter D. Hart Research.  “With its focus on renewable wind energy, the Pickens Plan is right on target, and the public, Democrats, Republicans and political independents, overwhelmingly supports it.”

The Pickens Plan would reduce foreign oil dependency, which is currently 70 percent of the United States’ imports by more than one-third. Much of this oil is acquired from some of the most volatile countries in the world, putting our national security and economic security at risk.  The Pickens Plan calls for investing in power generation from domestic renewable resources such as wind and using our abundant supplies of natural gas as a transportation fuel in heavy-duty fleets, replacing more than one-third of our imported oil, saving more than $230 billion a year.

The survey, conducted from October 7-12, 2008, underscores the growing national concern about the energy crisis and a remarkably high level of confidence in the Pickens Plan as a viable solution. The survey highlights the following:

1. Voters are clear: America is facing an energy crisis.

More than half of voters (54%) say America is going through a real energy crisis right now, and another 32% say the country has serious energy problems.  Just 10% say our energy problems are not serious, and a mere 3% say the country does not have an energy problem.  A majority of Republicans (52%), Independents (57%), and Democrats (54%) all agree the country is in an energy crisis.

2. Energy is considered more of a national security/economic issue.

While one-third (34%) of voters believe energy is a national security issue, 29% say it is an economic issue, 18% say it is an environmental issue, and 16% volunteer the response that it is a mix of all three of these issue areas.

3. Wind and solar top the list to solve the nation’s energy problems.

Voters were asked to rate nine different energy sources on a scale of one to ten with one meaning that energy source could contribute very little to solving America’s energy problem and ten meaning it could contribute a great deal.  Solar and wind power, top the list, with natural gas, domestic oil production and hydro-electric power closely bunch in the next spot, and oil imported from foreign countries falling to the bottom.

(% 8-10)  Contribute a lot/great deal

Solar power

61%

Wind power

57%

Natural gas

50%

Domestic oil production

49%

Hydro-electric power

48%

Nuclear power

39%

Coal

30%

Ethanol and biofuels

30%

Oil imported from foreign countries

16%

4. Voters believe The Pickens Plan will help solve our energy problems and that it should be included as part of an overall energy strategy.

Nearly three-fourths of voters (74%) say The Pickens Plan will contribute “a great deal” or “a fair amount” to helping solve America’s energy problems.  And, almost nine-in-ten voters (87%) say it is important – with a majority (51%) saying it is “very” important –  for The Pickens Plan to be included in an overall strategy to deal with our energy problems.  There is broad agreement across party lines on these measures:

The Pickens Plan

Republicans

Independents

Democrats

It will contribute “a great deal/a fair amount” to solving America’s energy problem.

68%

76%

77%

It is “very/somewhat” important that it is part of an overall strategy to deal with our nation’s energy situation.

86%

86%

89%

Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates conducted a national survey of registered voters October 7-12, 2008.  The survey was conducted over the telephone using random digit dial sampling methodology and has a margin of error of +3.5%.