Idaho Energy Policy Survey 2007 Conducted by: The Energy Policy Institute and the The Center for Advanced Energy Studies through the Social Science Research Center
Regions covered in the survey I. Panhandle - Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, Shoshone II. III. IV. North Central - Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho Southwest - Adams, Valley, Washington, Payette, Gem, Boise, Canyon, Ada, Elmore, Owyhee South Central - Camas, Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, Minidoka, Jerome, Twin Falls, Cassia V. Southeast - Bingham, Power, Bannock, Oneida, Franklin, Bear Lake, Caribou VI. East Central - Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Bonneville
Energy Policy Institute and the Social Science Research Center Boise State University 1910 University Dr., PAAW-124 Boise, ID 83725 208-426-1835 http://ppa.boisestate.edu/ssrc Center for Advanced Energy Studies Idaho National Laboratory P. O. Box 1625 Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2213 http://www.caesenergy.org Harold Blackman, Ph.D. Interim Director, Center for Advanced Energy Studies John Freemuth, Ph.D. Interim Associate Director, Center for Advanced Energy Studies; Interim Director, Energy Policy Institute Michael Louis, MPA, MSIE Assistant Director, Energy Policy Institute Carole Nemnich, MPA SSRC Project Manager Ira Bunch Data Analyst, Energy Policy Institute 513 adults in Idaho households representing six geographic regions were surveyed between December 11 th 2006 to January 5 th 2007. Telephone calls, interviews, data collection and preparation were made by Clearwater Research. The survey standard error is about +/- 5.6% at a 95% confidence-level for the total population. www.clearwater-research.com
Who should make the decisions about where new large energy facilities are built? Both state and local officials 69% 1% Refused 0% Local officials with no state involvement 5% Local officials with state technical assistance 17% State officials with local input 8% Q327
Regional Breakdown: Who should make the decisions about where new large energy facilities are built? 80% 70% 60% 50% Local officials w/ no state involvement Local officials w/ state tech. assistance State officials with local input Both state and local officials /Refused 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1- Pa nhan dle 2- Nor th Cen tr al 3- So uth wes t 4- So uth Ce nt ral 5- So uth eas t 6- Ea st Ce nt ral Q327
12% Level of ment that Idaho should allow the building of electrical plants that can sell their electricity on the open market. Strongly 16% 3% Refused 0% Strongly 21% Neither nor 19% 29% Q325
In general terms, has the state done a good job of managing Idaho s energy resources? 14% Strongly 5% 5% Refused 0% Strongly 10% Neither nor 15% 51% Q010
What would be Idaho s best approach toward future energy resource planning? Don't have enough information to form an opinion 55% / not sure 0% Refused 1% Maintain its current course 5% Maintain its current course with minor changes 18% Plan for a large shift in direction 21% Q020
Level of importance for Idaho to have a state agency to advice elected officials and enforce energy policies. Not Important at All 9% Don't Know/ Not Sure 3% Very Important 44% Q330_3 Not Very Important 29% Important 15%
Who do you trust the most to advise the state legislature on energy policy? Energy utilities and industry advocacy groups 5% Other 16% Idaho Public Utilities Commission 18% Other state agencies 10% University based energy reserarch centers 27% National energy laboratories 8% Public advocacy groups focused on energy and the environment 16% Q031A
Who do you trust the least to advise the state legislature on energy policy? Energy utilities and industry advocacy groups 25% University based energy research centers 5% Other 16% National energy laboratories 4% The Idaho Public Utilities Commission 21% Other state agencies 9% Public advocacy groups focused on the environment 20% Q030A
What is the single most important issue facing Idaho with regards to energy? Price of natural gas Lack of public transportation Dam breaching Price of electricity Affordability to low-income households Global warming Other Nuclear waste Air pollution Water consumption Price of gas Availability of renewables 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Q040A
Regional Breakdown: What is the single most important issue facing Idaho with regards to energy? 35% 30% 1-Panhandle 25% 2-North Central 3-Southwest 20% 4-South Central 5-Southeast 15% 10% 6-East Central 5% Q040A 0% A vaila bility of renewable s P rice of G as Wa ter c onsumpt ion A ir p ollut ion Nu clea r w aste Global warm ing A ffordabilit y to low-income h ouseholds P rice of e lectricity Da m bre ach ing La ck of p ublic tr anspor tation P rice of n at ural gas Other
To meet Idaho s electricity demand, which should be the highest priority? Increase capacity of traditional or existing sources of electricity 20% 4% Refused 0% Energy conservation and efficiency programs 26% Develop "green" or renewable sources of electricity 50% Q200
Regional Breakdown: To meet Idaho s electricity demand, which should be the highest priority? 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% Energy conservation and efficiency programs Develop "green" or renewable sources of electricity Increase capacity of traditional or existing sources of electricity /Refused 20% 10% 0% 1- Pa nhan dle 2- Nor th Cen tr al 3- So uth west 4- So uth Ce ntral 5- So uth east 6- Ea st Ce ntral Q200
To increase the amount of conservation and efficiency for electricity, Idaho should Not try to influence the amount of conservation utilities achieve through target setting 16% 10% Refused 0% Set targets that utilities must achieve 35% Set voluntary targets 39% Q130
In setting conservation targets for utilities, Idaho should Use a combination of rewards and penalties 77% 4% Refused 1% Only give rewards if utilities meet targets 13% Only charge penalties if utilities miss targets 5% Q135
Level of ment that utilities should be able to charge higher rates during high demand periods to promote conservation. Strongly 44% 1% Strongly 9% 18% 21% Neither nor 7% Q050_2
Belief that human activities are contributing to global warming. No 24% 5% Refused 1% Yes 70% Q180
Of those that answered positively to human caused global warming, how should Idaho respond? Prepare for the possibility of federal regulations, but take no action to reduce greenhouse gasses 9% 4% Do nothing 4% Refused 0% Slow growth of Idaho's greenhouse g asses, but wait for the federal government before doing more 29% Reduce Idaho greenhouse gas emissions 54% n=361 Q190
Level of ment in support of building nuclear electrical generation facilities for public consumption. Strongly 32% 1% Strongly 23% 10% Neither ag ree nor 7% 27% Q170
Level of ment that the legislature should allow the expansion of public transportation through voter approved local-option taxes. Neither nor 4% 4% Strongly 6% 1% Strongly 45% 40% Q220_5
Level of ment that Idaho encourage land use planning and policies that reduce the amount of driving required by Idahoans 8% Strongly 12% 4% Refused 0% Strongly 34% Neither nor 7% 35% Q220_7
Price of gasoline before Idahoans would consider public transportation? Other 34% 6+ dollars per gallon 1% 5-6 dollars per gallon 8% 4-5 dollars per gallon 3-4 dollars per gallon 2-3 dollars per gallon 16% 18% 21% I currently use public transportation 2% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Q310A
To increase the level of renewable energy utilities provide, Idaho should Don't use targets 12% 4% Refused 0% Set renewable targets that utilities must reach 38% Set voluntary renewable energy targets 46% Q210
In setting targets for the amount of renewable energy utilities provide, Idaho should 3% Refused 1% Only provide rewards if utilities meet targets 16% Only charge penalties if utilities miss targets 4% Use a combination of rewards and penalties 76% Q215
Regional Breakdown: In setting targets for the amount of renewable energy utilities provide, Idaho should 90% 80% 70% 60% Only provide rewards if utilities meet targets Only charge penalties if utilities miss targets Use a combination of rewards and penalties /Refused 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1 - Pa n h a n d le 2 - N o r th C e n tr a l 3 - So u th w e s t 4 - So u th C e n t ra l 5 - So u th e a s t 6 - Ea st C e n t ra l Q215
Should Idaho provide technical and financial assistance to municipalities to apply and enforce energy efficient building codes? No 16% 4% Refused 0% Yes 80% Q160
Level of ment that Idaho should continue to allow cities to opt out of building codes that set minimum efficiency standards. 2% Strongly 9% 20% Stongly 40% 24% Neither ag ree nor 5% Q050_1
Level of ment that Idaho should provide incentives for investment in non-traditional natural gas produced from feedstock and landfill waste. 2% Strongly 2% Neither ag ree nor 5% 2% Strongly 59% 30% Q050_6
Level of ment that Idaho should provide incentives to promote renewable electricity generation. Neither ag ree nor 4% 21% 2% Strongly 4% 1% Strongly 68% Q050_4
Level of ment that Idaho should establish uniform policies that encourage customers to generate their own renewable electricity. 5% Neither nor 6% Strongly 3% 1% Strongly 56% 29% Q050_5
Level of importance that Idaho take action to help low-income residents pay for high heating bills. Don't Know 0% Not Very Important 30% Not Important at All 2% Refused 0% Very Important 50% Important 18% Q330_1
Level of importance for Idaho to reduce the waiting list for low-income residents to receive weatherization assistance for their home. Not Very Important 24% Not Important at All 4% Don't Know/ Not Sure 1% Refused 0% Very Important 62% Important 9% Q330_2
Level of ment that Idaho provide incentives for a shift towards alternative fuels for transportation. Neither ag ree nor 3% 3% 1% Strong ly 5% Refused 0% Strongly 55% 33% Q220_1
26% Level of ment that incentives should be provided to support local production of ethanol and bio-diesel using Idaho grown crops. Neither nor 2% 3% Strongly 4% 2% Strongly 63% Q220_3
Level of ment that Idaho should set a renewable fuel standard that requires a minimum level of renewable fuel to be sold at retail. Neither nor 6% 9% Strongly 6% 4% Strongly 37% 38% Q220_4
Level of ment that Idaho provide incentives to encourage the purchase of efficient, flexible and alternative fuel vehicles. Neither nor 5% 5% Strongly 7% 1% Strongly 47% 35% Q220_2
Would you take advantage of financial incentives to reduce the energy usage of your home or business? No 6% 4% Yes 90% Q140
How likely would you make an investment to make changes to your home or business if the incentive covered 20/ 40/ 60/ 80/ 100% of the cost? 100 80 Percent Covered 60 40 Highly Likely Likely Unlikely Highly Unlikely 20 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% n=461 Q145_1-5
Q470 Idaho Energy Policy Survey Approximately how far is your commute to work? 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% No Commute 0-10 Miles 10-20 Miles 20-30 Miles 30-40 Miles 40-50 Miles 50-60 Miles 60-70 Miles 70-80 Miles 80-90 Miles 90-100 Miles <100 Miles Don't Know Refused
Roughly how many miles per gallon does your vehicle get on average? Don't Know 51+ MPG 41-50 MPG 31-40 MPG 21-30 MPG 11-20 MPG 0-10 MPG 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Q510