What's your stance on energy? UT poll finds age is a big factor

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Daniel Acker | Bloomberg

Younger Americans are less likely to support a candidate who would approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Nicholas Sakelaris

Staff Writer- Dallas Business Journal

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Where you stand on energy-related issues likely has a lot to do with your age, according to a new University of Texas at Austin poll.

Not surprisingly, respondents 35 and younger would support a candidate who wants more renewable energy, reduced carbon emissions, less coal and a carbon tax. They oppose offshore oil development and approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

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Respondents 65 and older would overwhelmingly support approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline and expansion of natural gas development.

The survey of 2,105 U.S. residents found that 46 percent say a candidates' views on energy issues greatly influences their choices at the ballot box.

Here are some other highlights of the report:

• 56 percent of younger consumers are willing to pay higher prices to protect the environment. Only 20 percent of older respondents would do the same.
• 68 percent of respondents under age 35 would vote for a candidate who supports reducing carbon emissions. Only 50 percent of respondents under age 65 would do so.
• 65 percent of respondents support financial incentives for companies that use renewable technology. And 48 percent of older respondents would support that.
• 62 percent of younger respondents favor requiring utilities to get a percentage of their power from renewable sources. Only 48 percent for older respondents.
• 72 percent of younger respondents support government subsidies for renewable energy. Compare that to 58 percent among Americans age 65 and older.
• 52 percent of respondents 65 and older say they are familiar with hydraulic fracking for oil and gas. Only 39 percent of younger Americans are familiar with it and of those, only 37 percent supports its use. Among older respondents, 52 percent say they support fracking.

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Nicholas covers the energy, manufacturing, aviation and transportation beats for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe the Energy Inc. newsletter