Poll: American Opinion Shifts Toward Energy Over Environment

For 10 years Gallup polls have been asking Americans which is a higher priority - energy development or environmental protection. In survey results released Tuesday, for the first time respondents chose the development of energy supplies over protecting the environment. Gallup's Jeffrey Jones said the results of the March 4-7 poll of 1,014 American adults represent a continuing shift in public opinion toward energy production. In the same poll, Gallup pollsters found a new high in the percentage of Americans favoring economic growth over environmental protection, he said. Since 2007, when preferences for environmental protection were the greatest (58% to 34%), the opinions of respondents to this question have shown significant movement each year in the direction of prioritizing energy production, Jones explained. This change has been evident among nearly every major demographic subgroup, although self-identified liberals have remained relatively steadfast in saying the environment should be a higher priority, he said...more