Over time, the public continues to favor natural gas
On the public’s scale of favorable energy options, the needle continues to tip toward natural gas.
That’s the finding from the National Survey on Energy and Environment, an annual national opinion survey on energy and climate policy by the University of Michigan and Muhlenberg College.
As part of a 10-year anniversary look back at the survey, the center is releasing a series of reports tracing changes in public opinion over the years on various topics, including fossil fuels.
“This survey analysis confirms that natural gas continues to occupy a unique space in terms of public support among Americans on the question of energy options,” Barry Rabe, professor at the University of Michigan and co-founder of the study, told American Gas.
“In comparison with other fossil fuels, natural gas stands out,” said Chris Borick, professor at Muhlenberg College and co-founder of the study.
Many Americans also support the pipelines needed to connect oil and gas fields to refineries and consumers, the study found.
Meanwhile, public support for coal is on a rapid decline, as evidenced by survey responses. In just a year, the number of Americans who say they strongly support coal phase-out increased 11 percentage points, from 18 percent in 2016 to 29 percent in 2017. That support is declining even in states where coal is still king: There, support for coal phase-out rose by 13 percent.
The survey also found that, despite all its publicity, support for the Keep It in the Ground movement isn’t as strong as some media might lead one to believe. Forty-one percent of Democrats, 48 percent of independents and 66 percent of Republicans believe that fossil fuel extraction should increase or remain the same.