Northwest Registered Voters Rate Hydro Number One for Future Electricity

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1 B ISCONTI R ESEARCH, INC WOODLEY P LACE W ASHINGTON, DC T EL: F AX: Northwest Registered Voters Rate Hydro Number One for Future Electricity by Ann Stouffer Bisconti, Ph.D. Registered voters in the Northwest United States place hydroelectric power ahead of six other electricity sources as a preferred way of meeting the nation s future electricity needs, according to a new national public opinion survey. The survey was conducted January 19-31, 2002 with a representative sample of 600 registered voters in the Northwest region Washington state, Oregon, and Idaho. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points. Bisconti Research, Inc., a Washington D.C.-based survey research firm, conducted the survey. 1 Almost all those surveyed, 94 percent, said that hydroelectric power should play an important role in the future, and 91 percent favor its use. These numbers for the region as a whole are practically identical to the findings of a national survey that was conducted at the same time with 1,000 registered voters. Extremely favorable attitudes toward hydroelectric power crossed traditional ideological boundaries. The Northwest often divides ideologically into the relatively conservative counties East of the Cascades (counties with majorities for Bush in 2000) and relatively liberal counties West of the Cascades (counties with majorities for Gore or combined Gore/Nader in 2000). On both side of this divide, hydroelectric power was the top choice for the future, and its use was favored by nearly everyone. In the Northwest, as in the nation as a whole, hydroelectric power has a dominant image of being good for the environment, clean, natural, renewable, and cost efficient. Top Source to Meet Future Electricity Needs Registered voters in the Northwest, as in the nation as a whole, clearly support an energy mix, and majorities believe all our sources should play an important role. But the number one choice in the Northwest, as in the nation, is hydroelectric power. Hydro was number one by far in the counties that voted for Bush in 2000 and tied with solar power in the counties that voted for Gore or Nader. In the Bush counties, 77 percent said that hydro should play a very important role. In the Gore/Nader counties, 69 percent said that hydro should play an important role. 1 The questionnaire with answers is available upon request from the National Hydropower Association.

2 How Important a Role Seven Electricity Sources Should Play in Future For each of the following sources of electricity that I ll read, please tell me how important a role you think that source should play in meeting the nation s electricity needs in the years ahead--a very important role, a somewhat important role, a not too important role, or not an important role at all? (asked in random order) In percentages Hydropower Natural gas Solar energy Wind energy Oil Nuclear energy Coal Important Very important Favorable Attitudes, Favorable Image The strength of favorable attitudes throughout the Northwest is remarkable. Those who strongly favor the use of hydroelectric power outnumber those who strongly oppose its use by 61 to 1. Favorability to Hydroelectric Power (Registered Voters in the Northwest) Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of hydroelectric power as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? Bush Gore/Nader Northwest Counties Counties National % % % % Favor Oppose Strongly favor Somewhat favor Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose (Don t know)

3 Hydropower s environmental costs are far more salient in the Northwest than in the nation as a whole. When the interviewers asked for mentions of any advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power in an open-ended question, 37 percent in the Northwest spoke of damage to fish and 21 percent mentioned other environmental damage. Yet, these issues are balanced by a high awareness of hydropower s benefits 85 percent mentioned some positive feature of hydroelectric power. Registered voters in the Northwest especially remarked that hydropower is a clean source of electricity (48 percent) and that hydro is a renewable, natural source (46 percent). Following are the most salient positive and negative attributes of hydroelectric power in the minds of registered voters in the Northwest and nationwide: Bush Gore/Nader Northwest Counties Counties National % % % % Named at least one advantage Top three advantages mentioned: Good for environment, no pollution, cleaner Renewable, natural, water is always available Cost efficient Named at least one disadvantage Top three disadvantages mentioned: Damaging to fish, blocks migration Damaging to environment, wildlife Lack of water, rain Support for Tax Incentives to Expand Hydroelectric Power The survey found strong support in the Northwest for tax credits as an incentive to develop hydroelectric power. Among registered voters in the Northwest, the approval rate for tax credits to develop renewable sources in general is 88 percent. Among those who approve the general concept of tax credits for renewables, most also approve of incentives to increase hydroelectric generation at existing hydroelectric dams (78 percent) and adding generation at non-power dams (74 percent). Strong majority approval of tax credits to expand hydropower extends across both sides of the Cascades. 3

4 Approval of Tax Credits Here are a couple of options that Congress is considering to promote hydroelectric power. Please tell me if you would strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove of each. Asked of the those who approved the concept of tax incentives for renewable energy Provide tax credits as an incentive to companies to convert dams that do not have any electric generating equipment to hydroelectric power dams. % Approve Northwest 74 Bush Counties 80 Gore/Nader Counties 75 National Provide tax credits as an incentive to companies to increase the electricity output of existing hydroelectric power plants by either increasing the efficiency of the plants or by adding new turbines. % Approve Northwest 78 Bush Counties 83 Gore/Nader Counties 79 National

5 Support for a Balanced Approach in Licensing and Development Issues If forced to make a tradeoff in the licensing process between some loss of fish or wildlife versus some loss of hydropower generation, Northwest registered voters, by a 21-point margin, said they would accept some loss of fish or wildlife. Balancing Production and Habitat Protection In order to operate, some hydropower projects must be licensed by the federal government, with attention given to today s environmental standards. When deciding whether or not to grant a license, which approach do you think the federal government should take? (asked in rotated order) In percentages The federal government should find a balance between electricity needs and environmental concerns, where each is given equal weight, even if it means the loss of some fish or wildlife habitat. 58 The federal government should give environmental considerations greater weight, even if it means the loss of some hydropower generation. 37 Neither, don't know As expected, the spread was greater in Bush counties (72 percent versus 22 percent) than in Gore/Nader counties (55 percent versus 41 percent). The Gore/Nader counties resemble the opinions of U.S. registered voters (54 percent versus 39 percent). When considering development issues, respondents leaned toward more production, but some were reluctant to rule out other options depending on the situation. Nearly everyone, 94 percent, agreed that we should maintain existing hydroelectric plants to generate electricity. Thirty-nine percent were at least somewhat supportive of reducing electricity production from hydroelectric power plants in order to protect fisheries or their habitat. But a surprising 63 percent were at least somewhat supportive of building more hydroelectric power plants to meet future needs. There was very little support for 5

6 removing existing hydropower plants to return rivers to the way they were: 20 percent in Gore/Nader counties and 12 percent in Bush counties. Compared to national data, Northwest respondents were less supportive of building more hydropower dams (63 percent versus 78 percent), but also less supportive of removing hydropower projects (19 percent versus 23 percent). Percent Agreeing Strongly or Somewhat With Four Proposals for Hydroelectric Projects Please tell me if you personally strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about hydroelectric power plants (asked in random order) We should maintain existing hydroelectric power plants. We should build more hydroelectric power plants to meet future electricity needs. We should reduce electricity production from hydroelectric power plants in order to protect fisheries or their habitat. We should remove existing hydroelectric power plants to return rivers to the way they were. Bush Gore/Nader Northwest Counties Counties National Maintain existing Build more Reduce production Remove Responsibilities and Performance of Hydroelectric Power Plant Operators Of various responsibilities that America s hydroelectric power plant operators have in the operation of hydroelectric projects, Northwest registered voters give highest importance to generating clean electric power and keeping the water clean. Generating clean electric power stands out as the responsibility that voters believe hydroelectric power plant operators carry out best, followed by recreation. (See graph on next page). 6

7 Importance of Responsibilities Compared with Perceived Performance I ll read you a short list of responsibilities that America s hydroelectric power plant operators have in the operation of hydroelectric projects. For each responsibility, please tell me on a scale of zero to ten how important that is to you. Zero means it is extremely unimportant to you, and ten means it is extremely important to you. You can give any number from zero to ten. The first item is (asked in random order) Using that same zero-to-ten scale, please rate America s hydroelectric power operators on how well you think they have met each responsibility. Zero means you think they do an extremely bad job, and ten means you think they do an extremely good job. You can give any number from zero to ten. If you have no idea, just say so. Let s start with this item [asked in random order] Average Rating on a 0-10 Scale Importance Performance Generating clean electric power Keeping the water clean Helping migrating species of fish to pass by hydropower dam sites Managing national park and forest lands on which dams are located Protecting endangered species Working with tribal and Indian nations Preserving the history and culture around dam sites Providing recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing

8 Observations This first major survey among registered voters in the Northwest about hydroelectric power finds remarkably high support for this electricity source on both sides of the Cascades. While a majority in both Bush counties and Gore/Nader counties approve expanding hydro generation, the degree of approval is greater in Bush Counties, as was expected. There is little support for shutting down hydro projects in either area. Concern about migrating fish species is more pronounced West of the Cascades than elsewhere. The reason for the favorable attitudes toward hydroelectric power, in the face of these concerns about fish species, is that clean air and water are even higher environmental priorities for registered voters. In this survey, hydroelectric power was associated with clean air and clean water in all regions of the Northwest without any prompting. 8