During early June, as Democrats withdrew Lieberman-Warner America’s Climate Security Act, a new poll found that an overwhelming majority of Americans actually opposed the higher energy costs the bill would impose. The poll, conducted by the National Center for Public Policy Research, found 65% of Americans reject spending even a penny more for gasoline in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The number rejecting raising gas prices to combat global warming has increased by 17 percentage points—or 35%—in just over two months. The National Center conducted a similar survey in late February. An additional 13% oppose spending more than 5% more for gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Lieberman-Warner would increase petroleum prices by 5.9% by 2015, according to Duke University. Other studies indicate the plan would push prices higher. The survey found 71% of Americans reject spending more for electricity, with 16% opposing spending any more than 12% extra for electricity. A study commissioned by the American Council for Capital Formation and the National Association of Manufacturers estimated Lieberman-Warner would increase electricity prices by 13%-14% by 2014. Other studies estimated higher increases. When gasoline and electricity price increases are taken together, 90% of Americans reject the Lieberman-Warner plan’s costs—even the low range of projected costs.
"As incredible as it sounds that 90% of Americans reject the Lieberman-Warner plan’s costs, the actual number who reject it may be even higher. Electricity and gasoline price hikes are only two of the costs of this proposal," said David A. Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research. "The price for food and consumer goods would also increase and many Americans would lose their jobs. You can’t merely accept energy price increases and opt out of all the other costs."
The poll was conducted by Wilson Research Strategies, which surveyed 802 likely voters. It included 37% registered Democrats, 30% Independents, and 29% Republicans. It has a margin of error of +3.46% at 95% confidence interval.
