Ohioans Views of Energy and Ohioans Views of Energy and Household Responses to Household Responses to Increased Energy CostsIncreased Energy Costs

Presentation to SL Peak Oil/Global Warming GroupPresentation to SL Peak Oil/Global Warming GroupJeff S. Sharp & Lazarus AduaJeff S. Sharp & Lazarus Adua

Ohio State UniversityOhio State UniversityDecember 14, 2006December 14, 2006

Survey Project is a core Project of Survey Project is a core Project of the SRIthe SRI

Goals of Survey ProjectGoals of Survey Project

Study topical and emergent FAE issuesStudy topical and emergent FAE issues Local Foods, Farmland Preservation & Local Foods, Farmland Preservation &

Land-use, Food Safety, Animal WelfareLand-use, Food Safety, Animal Welfare Data for planning and evaluationData for planning and evaluation Track changes across timeTrack changes across time

Cohort effects: older versus younger generationsCohort effects: older versus younger generations Intervening events, such as Mad cow; energy, etc.Intervening events, such as Mad cow; energy, etc. Changes in knowledge, awareness or behavior due Changes in knowledge, awareness or behavior due

to an educational campaign, societal trend, etc.to an educational campaign, societal trend, etc.

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Describe Ohioans views of Energy circa Describe Ohioans views of Energy circa Spring 2006Spring 2006

Quick examination of Ohioans views of Quick examination of Ohioans views of “ecological crisis”“ecological crisis”

Identify household adjustments to energy costsIdentify household adjustments to energy costs Consider adjustments by key demographics (place Consider adjustments by key demographics (place

of residence, class, and debt)of residence, class, and debt) Thoughts on next stepsThoughts on next steps

2006 Survey2006 Survey

Mail survey returned from 1,729 OhioansMail survey returned from 1,729 Ohioans Response rate of 55%Response rate of 55%

Respondents compare favorably to known Respondents compare favorably to known characteristics of Ohio populationcharacteristics of Ohio population

A higher proportion of respondents were homeowners A higher proportion of respondents were homeowners than is true of Ohio’s general populationthan is true of Ohio’s general population

Ohioans Views of Topical Ohioans Views of Topical Agro-Environmental Issues: Agro-Environmental Issues:

2004, 20062004, 2006

Issue Concern (% Very Concerned)Issue Concern (% Very Concerned)20042004 20062006

Rising Cost of Gas/Heating FuelRising Cost of Gas/Heating Fuel -- 9292

Rising Obesity among AmericansRising Obesity among Americans 6969 7373

Loss of Ohio jobs due to globalizationLoss of Ohio jobs due to globalization -- 7373

Pollution of rivers, streams or groundwaterPollution of rivers, streams or groundwater 6565 7272

Loss of farmland due to urban growthLoss of farmland due to urban growth 5555 7070

Loss of family farmsLoss of family farms 6060 6363

Terrorist attack on U.S. food supplyTerrorist attack on U.S. food supply -- 6060

Avian Influenza (Bird flu)Avian Influenza (Bird flu) -- 5757

Mad cow diseaseMad cow disease 4242 5151

Global WarmingGlobal Warming 2929 4141

Genetic modification of plantsGenetic modification of plants 3333 4040

Large-scale poultry/livestock developmentLarge-scale poultry/livestock development 2929 4040

Ohioans’ Energy Related Ohioans’ Energy Related Views & AttitudesViews & Attitudes

Views of “Peak Oil”Views of “Peak Oil”

There are sufficient oil and natural gas There are sufficient oil and natural gas supplies around the world to meet U.S. needs supplies around the world to meet U.S. needs for the foreseeable futurefor the foreseeable future 38% agree or strongly agree38% agree or strongly agree 22% neutral22% neutral 40% disagree or strongly disagree40% disagree or strongly disagree

Views of “Peak Oil”(cont.)Views of “Peak Oil”(cont.)

The era of abundant and cheap fossil fuels is The era of abundant and cheap fossil fuels is coming to an endcoming to an end 45% agree or strongly agree45% agree or strongly agree 37% neutral37% neutral 18% disagree or strongly disagree18% disagree or strongly disagree

Gas PricesGas Prices

In a couple years, the cost of gasoline will In a couple years, the cost of gasoline will probably be about the same or even less that it probably be about the same or even less that it is todayis today 17% agree or strongly agree17% agree or strongly agree 13% neutral13% neutral 70% Disagree or strongly disagree70% Disagree or strongly disagree

SolutionsSolutions

Even if oil and natural gas supplies do decline, Even if oil and natural gas supplies do decline, new technologies and alternative energy new technologies and alternative energy sources will ensure Americans maintain their sources will ensure Americans maintain their current standard of livingcurrent standard of living 41% agree or strongly agree41% agree or strongly agree 34% neutral34% neutral 25% disagree or strongly disagree25% disagree or strongly disagree

Solutions (cont.)Solutions (cont.)

More should be done to develop alternative More should be done to develop alternative fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel, derived fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel, derived from Ohio grown cropsfrom Ohio grown crops 87% agree or strongly agree87% agree or strongly agree 11% neutral11% neutral 2% disagree or strongly disagree2% disagree or strongly disagree

Solutions (cont.)Solutions (cont.)

The environment should be protected, even if The environment should be protected, even if this means some energy supplies are not this means some energy supplies are not available for useavailable for use 60% agree or strongly agree60% agree or strongly agree 26% neutral26% neutral 14% disagree or strongly disagree14% disagree or strongly disagree

Solutions (cont.)Solutions (cont.) More should be done to encourage energy More should be done to encourage energy

conservationconservation 84% agree or strongly agree84% agree or strongly agree 13% neutral13% neutral 3% disagree or strongly disagree3% disagree or strongly disagree

Americans must change their consumptive lifestyles Americans must change their consumptive lifestyles to avoid the onset of an energy “crisis” in the U.S.to avoid the onset of an energy “crisis” in the U.S. 70% agree or strongly agree70% agree or strongly agree 18% neutral18% neutral 12% disagree or strongly disagree12% disagree or strongly disagree

Willingness to see Reduction in Willingness to see Reduction in Material Quality of LifeMaterial Quality of Life

What, if any, decrease in your quality of life What, if any, decrease in your quality of life would you accept to assure a fair distribution would you accept to assure a fair distribution of energy resources throughout the worldof energy resources throughout the world 24% no reduction24% no reduction 70% modest reduction70% modest reduction 6% substantial reduction6% substantial reduction

Comments/Discussion Comments/Discussion related to this section of related to this section of

presentationpresentation

““Ecological Crisis”Ecological Crisis”

““Ecological Crisis”Ecological Crisis”

The so-called “ecological crisis” facing The so-called “ecological crisis” facing humankind has been greatly exaggeratedhumankind has been greatly exaggerated 22% agree or strongly agree22% agree or strongly agree 39% neutral39% neutral 39% disagree or strongly disagree39% disagree or strongly disagree

““Ecological crisis” (cont.)Ecological crisis” (cont.)

The balance of nature is strong enough to cope with The balance of nature is strong enough to cope with the impacts of modern industrial nationsthe impacts of modern industrial nations 18% agree or strongly agree18% agree or strongly agree 36% neutral36% neutral 46% disagree or strongly disagree46% disagree or strongly disagree

Human ingenuity will insure that we do NOT make Human ingenuity will insure that we do NOT make the earth unlivablethe earth unlivable 36% agree or strongly agree36% agree or strongly agree 38% neutral38% neutral 26% disagree or strongly disagree26% disagree or strongly disagree

Energy Costs, Cutbacks Energy Costs, Cutbacks & Hardship& Hardship

As reported Spring 2006As reported Spring 2006

Overall, have increased gasoline or Overall, have increased gasoline or home heating costs during the last six home heating costs during the last six

months been…months been…

Not a Hardship,

28%

Modest Hardship,

50%

Serious Hardship,

22%

Household cutbacks & increased energy costsHousehold cutbacks & increased energy costsA lotA lot SomeSome A littleA little NoneNone

Vacation or Holiday TripsVacation or Holiday Trips 3434 2626 2020 2020

Money put into savingsMoney put into savings 2626 2828 1919 2626

Purchases of appliances/furnishingsPurchases of appliances/furnishings 2525 2626 2121 2727

Recreational or social activitiesRecreational or social activities 2222 3333 2222 2222

Dining outDining out 2222 2929 2323 2626

Purchase of clothesPurchase of clothes 1919 3131 2323 2727

Use of carUse of car 1818 3737 2727 1919

Communications/MediaCommunications/Media 1313 2323 2323 4040

Health Care/Prescription DrugsHealth Care/Prescription Drugs 1212 1818 1717 5353

GroceriesGroceries 1010 2929 2424 3737

Cutbacks by Place of ResidenceCutbacks by Place of Residence

ResidenceResidence No or little No or little cutbackcutback

Some Some cutbackscutbacks

Substantial Substantial cutbackscutbacks

UrbanUrban 2424 4848 2828

SuburbanSuburban 2626 5353 2121

ExurbanExurban 2222 5353 2525

RuralRural 1414 5353 3333

Cutbacks by Household IncomeCutbacks by Household Income

ResidenceResidence No or little No or little cutbackcutback

Some Some cutbackscutbacks

Substantial Substantial cutbackscutbacks

<19,999<19,999 77 4242 5151

20-49,99920-49,999 1414 5353 3333

50-99,99950-99,999 2424 6161 1515

100,000 or 100,000 or moremore

5353 4141 66

Cutbacks by Debt StressCutbacks by Debt Stress

ResidenceResidence No or little No or little cutbackcutback

Some Some cutbackscutbacks

Substantial Substantial cutbackscutbacks

No Debt No Debt StressStress

3838 5050 1212

Some DebtSome Debt 2626 5757 1717

Serious Debt Serious Debt StressStress

55 4040 5555

ObservationsObservations There is a significant social justice/hardship There is a significant social justice/hardship

dimension to new energy eradimension to new energy era Short, medium, and long-term impactsShort, medium, and long-term impacts

Income and debt are key factorsIncome and debt are key factors Spatial dimension may also be important to Spatial dimension may also be important to

monitormonitor Cutbacks are one adaptation; conservation Cutbacks are one adaptation; conservation

behaviors & improvements are anotherbehaviors & improvements are another Anticipated class dimension to this, may further Anticipated class dimension to this, may further

exacerbate social problemsexacerbate social problems

Next Steps for Research GroupNext Steps for Research Group

Forthcoming report/academic manuscriptsForthcoming report/academic manuscripts Development of Lazarus's dissertation, Development of Lazarus's dissertation,

possibly around the theme of Energypossibly around the theme of Energy 2008—Questions about conservation 2008—Questions about conservation

behaviors & reduced cutbacks/hardship behaviors & reduced cutbacks/hardship analysisanalysis

Maintain core focus on local food systems and Maintain core focus on local food systems and agriculture at the rural-urban interfaceagriculture at the rural-urban interface

Questions?Questions?

Contact Information:Contact Information:Jeff S. SharpJeff S. Sharp

sharp.123@osu.edusharp.123@osu.edu614-292-9410614-292-9410

http//.ohiosurvey.osu.eduhttp//.ohiosurvey.osu.edu