Ethanol Poll in Illinois Illinois Sample of N=600 Registered Voters (300 on Landlines and 300 on Cell Phones) November 8 November 11, 2015

Transcription

1 Ethanol Poll in Illinois Illinois Sample of N=600 Registered Voters (300 on Landlines and 300 on Cell Phones) November 8 November 11, 2015 Question 1 Do you feel that ILLINOIS, in general, is headed in the right direction, or do you think things are seriously off on the wrong track? RIGHT DIRECTION 16% WRONG TRACK 77% NEITHER 3% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 3% Question 2 Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? TOTAL APPROVE 56% TOTAL DISAPPROVE 41% STRONGLY APPROVE 30% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 26% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 11% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 30% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 3% Question 3 Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling their job? TOTAL APPROVE 13% TOTAL DISAPPROVE 85% STRONGLY APPROVE * SOMEWHAT APPROVE 13% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 21% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 64% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2% Question 4 Based on what you know, when making decisions related to the country's environment, does Congress act independently based only on what is best for the environment or does it act based on the influence of lobbyists and other groups? WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 8% INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS AND OTHER GROUPS 88% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 4% Question 5 How would you rate the economy in your local area? TOTAL EXCELLENT/GOOD 29% TOTAL FAIR/POOR 71% EXCELLENT 2% GOOD 26% FAIR 44% POOR 27% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%

2 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 2 Question 6 And, would you say the economy in your local area is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? GETTING BETTER 22% STAYING ABOUT THE SAME 54% GETTING WORSE 25% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED * Question 7 How familiar are you with a federal law on the books called the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates certain amounts of biofuels to be added to the nation's fuel supply? TOTAL FAMILIAR 37% TOTAL NOT FAMILIAR 63% VERY FAMILIAR 4% SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR 33% NOT VERY FAMILIAR 29% NOT AT ALL FAMILIAR 34% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED * Question 8 Let me give you some information about the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS. The RFS is a federal program established in 2005 and expanded in 2007 that requires biofuels, such as corn ethanol, to be blended into your gasoline. The RFS requires more and more biofuels, particularly corn ethanol, be blended added to the nation's fuel supply each year. Based on what you know, do you agree or disagree with the RFS and the increased use of corn ethanol in our nation's fuel supply each year? TOTAL AGREE 53% TOTAL DISAGREE 38% STRONGLY AGREE 17% SOMEWHAT AGREE 36% SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 16% STRONGLY DISAGREE 22% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9% Question 9 Now, let me tell you a bit more about the RFS. When the RFS was created, Congress included specific targets for how much ethanol should be added to the fuel supply each year, with the numbers going up each year. But earlier this year, EPA said that those congressional targets were too high, in part because demand for gasoline has actually gone down. That's something Congress never predicted, and which wasn't included in the original models. Knowing this, would you be more or less likely to support the existing RFS and the HIGHER ethanol mandate targets? MORE LIKELY 32% LESS LIKELY 59% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9% Question 10 And, which of the following statements comes closest to your view? ETHANOL LEVELS SHOULD FOLLOW THE PRE-EXISTING TARGETS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE RFS IN 2007, REGARDLESS OF HOW THE DEMAND FOR FUEL CHANGES 30% THE EPA SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE MANDATED ETHANOL VOLUME NUMBERS IN RESPONSE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE FUEL MARKET 61% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8%

3 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 3 Question 11 Back in 2000, less than 5% of the U.S. corn crop was used to produce ethanol, while over 90% went to feed people and livestock. Today, though, more than 40% of our nation's corn crop goes to produce ethanol. Knowing this, would you be more or less likely to support the RFS and the HIGHER ethanol targets? MORE LIKELY 35% LESS LIKELY 58% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 7% Question 12 Are you concerned that the increased use of ethanol in the fuel supply means less corn is being produced for food? YES 53% NO 44% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2% Question 13 A study by scientists at the Sandia National Lab, a federally funded research and development center, found that producing one gallon of ethanol from irrigated corn in some parts of the country requires 880 gallons of water. In other parts of the country, with more rainfall, that number is lower. However, the process for manufacturing a gallon of gasoline requires about three gallons of water. Knowing this, would you be more or less likely to support the RFS and the HIGHER ethanol targets? MORE LIKELY 22% LESS LIKELY 72% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 5% Question 14 Are you concerned that the increased use of ethanol in the fuel supply could contribute to shortages in the availability of water? YES 68% NO 31% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2% Question 15 Ethanol opponents say that higher levels of ethanol blended into our gasoline can corrode car engines and fuel tanks, especially in cars built before They also point out that because ethanol has less energy content than straight gasoline, more ethanol in your tank means more frequent trips to the pump. Do you think that the increased use of ethanol in the gasoline you use could... Ranked by Yes YES NO DK/REF 15_1. Result in increased trips to the gas pump 74% 20% 6% 15_4. Reduce your car's fuel efficiency 67% 23% 9% 15_3. Result in increased trips to the mechanic 67% 25% 8% 15_2. Damage your car's engine or fuel tanks 63% 28% 8% Question 16 A recent University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture study found that the corn ethanol industry has benefitted from nearly $50 billion in taxpayer subsidies, and could not survive without that support and the mandated RFS volume requirements. Knowing this, would you be more or less likely to support the RFS and the HIGHER ethanol targets? MORE LIKELY 21% LESS LIKELY 73% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 6%

4 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 4 Question 17 Ethanol supporters cite a 2012 study by the Argonne National Laboratory, which found that corn ethanol lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent compared to conventional gasoline. Ethanol opponents cite a 2014 study from the National Academy of Sciences, a nonprofit organization comprised of the country's leading researchers, which found that ethanol-fueled vehicles do up to 80 percent more damage to air quality than those fueled with conventional gasoline. Based on what you know, which of the two studies do you tend to believe? THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY WHICH SUPPORTS THE INCREASED USE OF ETHANOL 31% THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY WHICH OPPOSES THE INCREASED USE OF ETHANOL 56% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 13% Question 18 In recent years, a number of other studies have come out that shed light on the environmental impact of increased ethanol use in our nation's fuel supply. After learning about each study, would you be more or less likely to support the RFS and the HIGHER ethanol targets? 18_1. A study from Princeton University researchers found that corn-ethanol production nearly doubles greenhouse emissions over 30 years compared to conventional gasoline. 18_2. A study from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, found that in 2014 production and use of 14 billion gallons of corn ethanol resulted in 27 million more tons of carbon dioxide in the air than if Americans had used straight gasoline. MORE LIKELY LESS LIKELY DK/REF 19% 78% 4% 13% 83% 3% Question 19 Now, in your opinion, do you think that mandating that more corn ethanol be added to the country's fuel supply has a positive or negative effect on the environment? POSITIVE 20% NEGATIVE 73% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 7% Question 20 Now, in your opinion, do you think that mandating that more corn ethanol be added to the country's fuel supply has a positive or negative effect on job creation and the economy? POSITIVE 46% NEGATIVE 40% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 14% Question 21 Now, in your opinion, do you think that mandating that more corn ethanol be added to the country's fuel supply increases or decreases the country's water supply? INCREASES 10% DECREASES 83% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8% Question 22 Now, in your opinion, do you think that mandating that more corn ethanol be added to the country's fuel supply improves or diminishes the performance of automobiles? IMPROVES 14% DIMINISHES 74% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 12%

5 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 5 Question 23 Now, in your opinion, do you think that mandating that more corn ethanol be added to the country's fuel supply increases or decreases the cost of food and groceries? INCREASES 77% DECREASES 14% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9% Question 24 Now, in your opinion, do you think that mandating that more corn ethanol be added to the country's fuel supply improves or worsens climate change? IMPROVES 19% WORSENS 66% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 15% Question 25 Supporters of the existing RFS say the program has provided a huge shot in the arm for America's rural economy and has created tens of thousands of jobs in the agriculture sector. Opponents say the existing RFS hurts the economy by artificially increasing corn prices, which raises costs for food and groceries, and transfers billions in wealth each year from non-corn states to corn states, for no environmental benefit. Now, which of the following statements comes closest to your view? GOOD FOR ECONOMY BY SUPPORTING FARMERS AND CREATING JOBS. 34% HURT ECONOMY BY RAISING FOOD COSTS AND STIFLING THE GROWTH OF THE ADVANCED BIOFUEL INDUSTRY. 60% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 6% Question 26 Now, supporters of the existing RFS and higher levels of ethanol say that ethanol is cleaner than gasoline when actually burned, and that studies which find it to be worse for the environment are based on outdated information unrelated to how ethanol is produced today. How compelling do you find that argument? TOTAL COMPELLING 57% TOTAL NOT COMPELLING 41% VERY COMPELLING 16% SOMEWHAT COMPELLING 41% NOT VERY COMPELLING 23% NOT AT ALL COMPELLING 19% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2% Question 27 Now, ethanol opponents say that corn ethanol is actually worse than gasoline for the environment, especially when you factor in the total, lifecycle emissions associated with its production. This total environmental footprint includes producing fertilizer, growing and harvesting the corn, and then manufacturing it into ethanol. How compelling do you find that argument? TOTAL COMPELLING 73% TOTAL NOT COMPELLING 26% VERY COMPELLING 28% SOMEWHAT COMPELLING 44% NOT VERY COMPELLING 15% NOT AT ALL COMPELLING 11% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 1%

6 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 6 Question 28 Now, please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. The RFS and the corn ethanol industry... Ranked by Agree AGREE DISAGREE DK/REF 28_1. Are critical to Illinois' economy 50% 46% 4% 28_4. Are critical to the nation's economy 38% 59% 4% 28_2. Are critical to the economy in your local area 35% 62% 3% 28_3. Have directly benefited you, your family or your friends 14% 83% 3% Question 29 When the RFS was created, Congress included targets for how much ethanol should be added to the fuel supply through the year The target established by the RFS for 2022 is 36 billion gallons. For reference, the target established by the RFS for 2015 is 20.5 billion gallons. Do you believe the target of 36 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into our nation's fuel supply by 2022 is too much ethanol, about the right amount or not enough ethanol? TOO MUCH 65% ABOUT RIGHT 24% NOT ENOUGH 4% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 6% Question G Age % % % % % % % % DON'T KNOW/REFUSED * Question H What is your main ethnic or racial background? WHITE OR CAUCASIAN 63% TOTAL NON-WHITE 35% HISPANIC OR LATINO 14% AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR BLACK 14% ASIAN-AMERICAN OR ASIAN 4% NATIVE AMERICAN 1% OTHER 2% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2% Question I Do you or others in your family work in the agriculture industry? YES 10% NO 90% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED * Question J Gender. MALE 48% FEMALE 52%

7 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 7 Question K What is the last grade of formal education you have completed? NON-COLLEGE 46% COLLEGE+ 53% LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL 1% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE 17% SOME COLLEGE/VOCATIONAL SCHOOL 28% COLLEGE GRADUATE 36% POST GRADUATE 18% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED * Question L Please tell me which of the following categories best applies to your total annual household income? UNDER $50K 36% $50K OR MORE 57% LESS THAN $15,000 6% $15,000 - $30,000 11% $30,000 - $50,000 19% $50,000 - $75,000 18% $75,000 - $100,000 15% $100,000 - $200,000 18% $200,000 OR MORE 6% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8% Question M Do you think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or something else? REPUBLICAN 22% DEMOCRAT 37% TOTAL INDEPENDENT/OTHER 40% INDEPENDENT 27% SOMETHING ELSE 13% OTHER * DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 1% Question N And, do you think of yourself as a conservative, a moderate, or a liberal? CONSERVATIVE 31% MODERATE 39% LIBERAL 27% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 3% Question P 2008 Ozone Attainment. YES 34% NO 66%

8 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 8 Question Q CDC Geocoding. LARGE CENTRAL METRO 36% LARGE FRINGE METRO 32% MEDIUM METRO 7% SMALL METRO 10% MICROPOLITAN 7% NONCORE 8% Question R Chicago City. CHICAGO CITY 20% NON-CHICAGO CITY 80% Date./Phone Type. DATE SUN, NOV 8 13% MON, NOV 9 30% TUE, NOV 10 28% WED, NOV 11 29% PHONE TYPE LAND 42% CELL 58% CELL PHONE ONLY 49%

9 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 9 Question C Region. COOK COUNTY 37% COOK 37% EAST CENTRAL 6% CHAMPAIGN 2% CLARK 0% COLES * CUMBERLAND 0% DEWITT 0% DOUGLAS 0% EDGAR 0% FORD 0% IROQUOIS 1% LIVINGSTON * MACON 1% MCLEAN 2% MOULTRIE * PIATT 0% SHELBY 0% VERMILLION * NORTHEAST 27% DUPAGE 8% GRUNDY * KANE 4% KANKAKEE 1% KENDALL 1% LAKE 5% MCHENRY 3% WILL 5% NORTHWEST 13% BOONE 1% BUREAU * CARROLL * DEKALB * FULTON 1% HENDERSON 0% HENRY * JO DAVIESS * KNOX * LASALLE 1% LEE * MARSHALL * MCDONOUGH * MERCER 0% OGLE 1% PEORIA 2% PUTNAM 0% ROCK ISLAND 1% STARK 0% STEPHENSON 1% TAZEWELL 1% WARREN * WHITESIDE 1% WINNEBAGO 2% WOODFORD * Region/County continued on next page

10 Illinois Statewide Fall 2015 Ethanol Survey 10 Region/County continued from previous page SOUTH 6% ALEXANDER * CLAY * CRAWFORD * EDWARDS 0% EFFINGHAM * FAYETTE 0% FRANKLIN 1% GALLATIN 0% HAMILTON 0% HARDIN 0% JACKSON 1% JASPER 1% JEFFERSON * JOHNSON * LAWRENCE 0% MARION * MASSAC * PERRY 0% POPE 0% PULASKI 0% RICHLAND * SALINE * UNION 0% WABASH * WAYNE * WHITE 0% WILLIAMSON * WEST CENTRAL 11% ADAMS 1% BOND * BROWN 0% CALHOUN 0% CASS 0% CHRISTIAN * CLINTON * GREENE 1% HANCOCK * JERSEY 0% LOGAN 0% MACOUPIN 1% MADISON 2% MASON * MENARD * MONROE * MONTGOMERY * MORGAN 0% PIKE * RANDOLPH * SANGAMON 2% SCHUYLER 0% ST. CLAIR 2% SCOTT * WASHINGTON *