March 17, 2015

What’s Our Top Energy Concern?

My last post explained why lower prices at the pump aren’t quite as black and white as most media outlets would have us believe. Sure it’s comfortable for our wallets, but the nuances don’t fit easily into a few bullet points for the mainstream media.

By Sheril Kirshenbaum

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

My last post explained why lower prices at the pump aren't quite as black and white as most media outlets would have us believe. Sure it's comfortable for our wallets, but the nuances don't fit easily into a few bullet points for the mainstream media.

Just yesterday, Melissa reported that oil prices are currently half of what they were a year ago. Thus, we still have have relatively inexpensive gas, but tax revenues are decreasing in oil-producing states. Now consider changing incentives for renewables, a boost in SUV sales, anticipated cuts in the energy sector, job creation due to consumer savings... Regardless of what you might hear elsewhere, we'll have to watch this play out economically and environmentally on the global stage.

But what do Americans really think about this issue? Last Fall, the UT Energy Poll reported that 84 percent of Americans say they are concerned about the cost of gasoline.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Gas prices have ranked as the top concern on every wave of the survey so far. The new Spring 2015 data is just out of the field so soon we'll know whether American attitudes might be changing along with prices. What do you predict?

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American