earthfix survey web version

8/3/2019 EarthFix Survey Web Version

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1. Survey CollaboratorsThe EarthFix survey collaboration includes local public radio stations in Idaho, Oregon and

Washington, and DHM Research.

2. Referencing DHM Research

All website and on-air references as: Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall or DHM Research. DHMResearch is an independent and non-partisan public opinion research and consultation firmbased in Portland, Oregon.

3. Research Methodology This quantitative research involved a statewide online survey of the Northwest’s generalpopulation, age 18+ conducted between November 14 and 19, 2011. The sample size was

1,200. Four hundred respondents were selected from each state (as a stratified versusproportional sample).

The data are reported based on the total sample and broken out for each state. The data for

the total sample is weighted to reflect the proportional percentage of population that eachstate contributes to the Northwest. Quotas and weighting techniques standard to research

were used to assure that the findings reflect the demographics of the population in eachstate.

4. Statement of Limitations Any sampling of opinions or attitudes is subject to a margin of error, which represents the

difference between a sample of a given population and the total population (here, residentsin the Northwest). For a sample size of 1,200, if the respondents answered 90% one way

and 10% the other, the margin would be +/- 1.7%. If they answered a particular questionin the proportion of 50% each way the margin of error would be +/-2.8%. For the state

sample sizes of 400, the 90% and 50% margins of error are +/- 2.9% and +/-4.9%. 1

In gathering responses, DHM Research employed a variety of quality control measures,

including questionnaire pre-testing and monitoring interviews.

1The reason for the differences lie in the fact that when response categories are relatively even in size, each is numerically smaller and thus slightly less able-on a

statistical basis- to approximate the larger population. These plus -minus error margins represent differences between the sa mple and total population at a

confidence interval, or probability, calculated to be 95%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the sample taken f or this study would fall within the stated

margins of error if compared with the results achieved f rom surveying the entire population.



4DHM Research | EarthFix, December 2011

CLIMATE CHANGE

13. Which statement comes closer to your point of view? (rotate statements)

Response Category Total Idaho Oregon Washington

Climate change requires us to change our way of life now such as driving less

and consuming less goods. Strongly 42% 34% 41% 45%Somewhat 19% 16% 19% 20%

If climate change turns out to be a problem, we can deal with it later. Strongly 3% 4% 3% 2%

Somewhat 4% 5% 3% 4%

Neither 26% 33% 28% 23%

Don’t know 6% 8% 5% 5%

WATER QUALITY

14. (WA, OR only) What rating would you give the overall environmental health of the(Puget Sound, Willamette River) today on a 0=not at all healthy to 10=very healthyscale. *Did not ask in Idaho

Response Category Oregon Washington

10 – Very healthy 2% 2%

9 1% 2%

8 6% 16%

7 15% 21%

6 13% 15%

5 13% 16%

4 11% 11%

3 9% 4%

2 6% 1%1 3% 1%

0 – Not at all healthy 3% 0%

Don’t know 15% 12%

Mean 5.0 6.1

(WA, OR, ID) How likely do you think it is that each of the following creates a pollution

problem in the (Puget Sound, Willamette River, Boise River)?

Response CategoryVerylikely

Somewhatlikely

Not toolikely

Not at alllikely

Don’t

know

15. Sewage system overflows

Total

37% 36% 15% 2% 9%Idaho 26% 41% 16% 3% 14%

Oregon 47% 29% 12% 2% 9%

Washington 34% 39% 17% 2% 8%

16.Discharge from industrial and commercial sites

Total 48% 35% 7% 2% 8%

Idaho 37% 34% 13% 2% 13%

Oregon 48% 35% 6% 2% 9%

Washington 50% 36% 6% 2% 5%




Response CategoryVerylikely

Somewhatlikely

Not toolikely

Not at alllikely

Don’t

know

17.Discharges from residential sites

Total 27% 43% 18% 4% 8%

Idaho 26% 40% 17% 3% 14%

Oregon 27% 37% 21% 5% 10%

Washington 27% 48% 16% 3% 6%18.Stormwater runoff from highways, roads, and streets

Total 38% 39% 12% 3% 7%

Idaho 32% 36% 16% 4% 13%

Oregon 38% 38% 11% 4% 8%

Washington 39% 40% 12% 3% 6%

19.(OR only) Agricultural runoff

Oregon 31% 38% 17% 5% 10%

20. (ID only) Mining discharges

Idaho 25% 31% 20% 6% 18%

SALMON RUN PROTECTION 21. Which are the most and second most important factors in determining the future of

salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest? (Program check box for 1st and 2nd choice; rotatelist)

Response Category--COMBINED Total Idaho Oregon Washington

Improving habitat for salmon along riversand streams

58% 50% 59% 59%

Building more hatcheries to produce moresalmon

19% 24% 20% 17%

Reducing the commercial fishing of salmon 19% 20% 15% 21%

Improving ocean conditions 17% 10% 15% 20%

Decreasing global warming or climate

change

16% 10% 15% 17%

Managing predatory animals such as sealions and birds

15% 11% 22% 13%

Removing dams on the Columbia or SnakeRivers

14% 17% 12% 14%

Increasing the flow of water that spill over

dams12% 21% 9% 11%

Reducing sport fishing for salmon 7% 9% 5% 7%

Don’t know 10% 13% 11% 8%




ENERGY SOURCES

22. In the space below, allocate the percent of each energy source you believe is currently

used to meet electricity needs in [State]. You can allocate any percentage to a singleitem from 0% to 100%. You do not need to allocate a percentage to each source, butthe total needs to add to 100%. (program to add; don’t rotate)

23. Now allocate the percentage of each source you believe should be the target for [State]to meet our electrical energy needs 10 years from now. Again, you do not need to

allocate a percentage to each source, but the total needs to add to 100%. (Program

percentages from prior question into column B)

NW total results

Response Category

Current Use

(Q22)

Target Use

(Q23)

Biomass 2.7 3.6

Coal 10.1 2.6

Geothermal 2.8 5.6

Hydropower from dams 41.4 29.8

Natural gas 18.6 10.6

Nuclear 5.3 5.6

Solar 5.0 16.6

Wave or tidal 1.3 4.8

Wind 8.4 18.6

Other 4.4 2.2

Total 100% 100%

Idaho results

Response CategoryCurrent Use

(Q22)Target Use

(Q23)

Biomass 1.8 2.3Coal 11.1 3.3

Geothermal 4.6 7.3



Nuclear 4.6 8.7

Solar 4.5 15.8


Wind 8.6 18.9

Other 3.5 1.3

Total 100% 100%




Oregon results

Response CategoryCurrent Use

(Q22)Target Use

(Q23)

Biomass 3.1 4.3

Coal 11.1 2.5

Geothermal 3.1 5.8

Hydropower from dams 39.4 27.6Natural gas 19.0 10.8

Nuclear 3.0 4.4

Solar 5.9 17.5


Wind 8.8 18.6

Other 5.4 3.0

Total 100% 100%

Washington results

Response Category

Current Use

(Q22)

Target Use

(Q23)

Biomass 2.7 3.5

Coal 9.3 2.4

Geothermal 2.2 5.1



Nuclear 6.9 5.6

Solar 4.6 16.2


Wind 8.2 18.6

Other 4.0 1.9

Total 100% 100%

WIND TURBINES 24. Most wind power energy comes from turbines, which can be as tall as a 10 to 20-story

buildings and have three 200 foot long blades. The energy generated by these windturbines is a clean source of renewable energy that produces no air or water pollution.

Would you oppose or support wind farms being erected within sight of your home?


Strongly support

Nov‘11

Dec‘10

Nov‘11

Dec‘10

Nov‘11

Dec‘10

Nov‘11

Dec‘10

43% 48% 48% 47% 42% 46% 42% 50%

Somewhat support 34% 31% 30% 32% 34% 32% 36% 29%

Somewhat oppose 10% 6% 8% 6% 9% 6% 11% 6%

Strongly oppose 9% 8% 8% 7% 11% 9% 8% 7%

Don’t know 4% 7% 6% 7% 4% 7% 4% 7%

NUCLEAR POWER 25. Would you favor or oppose building a nuclear power plant within 50 miles of your home?


Strongly favor 9% 13% 8% 8%

Somewhat favor 14% 19% 11% 15%

Somewhat oppose 17% 14% 21% 16%

Strongly oppose 55% 48% 55% 57%

Don’t know 5% 6% 6% 4%




26. Do you think nuclear power plants generally are a safe source of energy?


Very safe 15% 21% 12% 16%

Somewhat safe 29% 31% 30% 28%

Not too safe 27% 21% 28% 27%

Not at all safe 23% 20% 23% 24%

Don’t know 6% 7% 7% 5%

DAM REMOVAL

27. Which statement comes closer to your point of view?


a. We should remove dams to protect

salmon and other fish. With two damremoval projects underway on the Elwhaand White Salmon Rivers in Washington,

and another approved for the Klamath

River in Oregon, we should also remove

dams on the Lower Snake River.

19% 18% 21% 19%

b. We should keep dams to produce

hydropower, promote economic

development, and offer recreationopportunities. There is too muchemphasis on salmon and other fish

protection.

38% 45% 35% 37%

Neither 27% 23% 29% 27%

Don’t know 16% 13% 15% 17%

28. Which statement comes closest to your point of view?


a. Removing dams on the Lower Snake Riverto save salmon species in the Northwest is

an extreme solution that could have

negative impacts to our economy, andsignificantly increase electric rates. Itshould not be considered.

31% 34% 30% 31%

b. Other solutions to save salmon are not

working. It’s time to consider whether thedams on the Lower Snake River can be

removed to save salmon species in theNorthwest without hurting the economy or

significantly increasing electric rates.

34% 32% 34% 35%

c. We need to remove dams on the Lower

Snake River today to save salmon speciesin the Northwest. We’ve already spentenough time and money on this issue.

8% 8% 7% 9%

None of the above 11% 11% 13% 9%

Don’t know 16% 15% 16% 16%




ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

(Rotate 29 and 30)

29. Which statement comes closer to your point of view? (Strongly and somewhat columns;rotate statements)

Response Category Total Idaho Oregon Washingtona. Economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to

some extent.

Strongly 11% 11% 12% 11%

Somewhat 8% 10% 9% 8%

b. Protection of the environment should be given more priority even at the risk of

slowing economic growth. (PI benchmark)

Strongly 23% 20% 22% 25%

Somewhat 15% 16% 14% 16%

Neither 32% 33% 33% 32%

Don’t know 9% 10% 10% 8%

30. Which statement comes closer to your point of view? (Strongly and somewhat columns;

rotate statements)


a. To get the economy growing, consumers need to buy more goods and services.

Strongly 12% 11% 10% 13%

Somewhat 8% 9% 8% 8%

b. The best way to address the economy is for consumers to adjust to a new

reality, spend less, and change our lifestyles.

Strongly 35% 37% 34% 35%

Somewhat 19% 15% 17% 21%

Neither 19% 19% 24% 16%

Don’t know 7% 8% 7% 6%

Demographics

31. Gender


Male 48% 48% 48% 48%

Female 52% 52% 52% 52%

32. What is your age?


18-24 11% 17% 9% 10%

25-34 20% 15% 21% 21%

35-44 15% 16% 15% 15%

45-54 23% 21% 22% 24%

55-64 17% 17% 18% 17%

65 and above 14% 14% 15% 13%




33. What is the highest level of education you have had the opportunity to complete?


8th grade or less 0% 1% 0% 0%

Some High School 3% 4% 2% 3%

High School graduate 36% 38% 38% 34%

Some college/technical/

community college/2-yeardegree

35% 35% 34% 35%

College/4 year degree 16% 14% 14% 18%

Post graduate 11% 8% 12% 10%

34. Is your total household income: (Read list)


Less than $24,999 17% 27% 20% 14%

$25,000-$49,999 25% 29% 24% 24%

$50,000-$74,999 25% 22% 26% 25%

$75,000-$99,999 15% 11% 14% 17%

$100,000-$149,999 14% 10% 13% 15%

$150,000+ 4% 2% 3% 5%

35. Do you have any children under age 18 in your home?

36. How long have you lived in [State]?


0-5 years 12% 20% 12% 10%

6-10 years 8% 12% 10% 7%

11-20 years 19% 20% 17% 20%

21 years or more 61% 47% 62% 64%

37. Do you have any Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino origin?


Yes 3% 5% 3% 2%

No 97% 94% 96% 98%

Refused 1% 2% 1% 0%

38. Which of the following best describes your ethnicity?


White/Caucasian 90% 91% 90% 89%

African American/Black 1% 0% 1% 1%

Hispanic/Latino 1% 3% 2% 0%Asian/Pacific Islander 5% 2% 3% 6%

Native American/American Indian 1% 0% 1% 2%

Two or more races/Other 2% 3% 3% 2%


Yes 26% 32% 27% 24%

No 74% 68% 73% 76%




39. Are you currently registered to vote?


Yes 88% 81% 88% 89%

No 12% 16% 12% 10%

Don’t know/Refused 1% 2% 0% 1%

40. Area of StateResponse Category

Washington

King County 31%

Western Washington 48%

Eastern Washington 21%

Oregon

Tri-County 43%

Willamette Valley 27%

Rest of State 30%

Idaho

Boise Metro 54%

Northern Idaho 22%Eastern Idaho 24%

43.Do you own or rent your home?


Rent 31% 32% 32% 30%

Own 69% 68% 68% 70%

About EarthFix:EarthFix is a public media project of Oregon Public Broadcasting, Boise StatePublic Radio, Idaho Public Television, KCTS9 Seattle, KUOW Puget SoundRadio, Northwest Public Radio and Television, Southern Oregon PublicTelevision and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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