New England Energy Alliance Prepared by Opinion Dynamics Corporation November 2005.

New England Energy Alliance

Prepared byOpinion Dynamics Corporation

November 2005

Which of the following issues facing New England is most important to you?

Q1

Health care 24%

Jobs and the economy 19

Energy supply and prices 18

Public schools and education 11

Protecting the environment 10

Terrorism 7

Crime and drugs 5

Traffic and congestion 2

Other 2

Not sure/Refused 1

Which the following issues facing New England is second most important to you?

Q2

Public schools and education 17%

Health care 16

Energy supply and prices 16

Jobs and the economy 15

Protecting the environment 10

Crime and drugs 10

Terrorism 9

Traffic and congestion 4

Other 1

Not sure 2

What is the most important energy-related issue facing New England today?

Q3

Gas prices 41%

High cost—general 27

Unreliable supply 10

Environmental concerns 5

Power shortages 3

Alternate fuels/sources 3

Oil dependency 1

Other 5

Not sure/Refused 4

Very concerned55%

Not at all concerned

4%

Somewhat concerned

33%

Not very concerned7%

Not sure/Refused1%

How concerned are you about the cost of electricity increasing?

Q4

Not sure/Refused3%

Not very concerned11%

Somewhat concerned

24%Not at all concerned

14%

Very concerned48%

How concerned are you about the cost of natural gas increasing?

Q5

Not enough44%

About the right amount36%

Not sure/Refused11%

More than enough10%

Thinking ahead to the next five years, do you think there will be enough electricity

to meet New England’s needs?

Q6

Not sure/Refused1%

Not very well informed

29%

Somewhat well informed

45%

Not informed at all9%

Very well informed15%

How well informed do you feel regarding the electricity supply situation in New

England?

Q7

Somewhat favor33%

Not sure/Refused22%

Strongly oppose3%

Strongly favor34%

Somewhat oppose7%

Do you favor or oppose moving forward on new energy and infrastructure

projects?

Q8

Why do you feel that way?

Q9

Favor Oppose

Energy Conservation/Supply shortage 16% 4%

Want alternative, renewable energy sources 14 2

Economic Concerns/Jobs/Money 13 10

Need change/To address global energy issues 9 -

Want to be prepared for the future 8 -

Environmental Concerns 4 15

Need change/Address local energy issues 4 -

Reduce dependence on oil 3 -

Population increase 2 -

Don't like planned projects/Projects can't fix problems 1 13

Too much Government control/Need more public input 1 4

No problem to address 1 4

Safety concerns - 6

Other 5 -

Not sure/Refused 25 43

What would be your biggest concern if you heard an energy project had been

proposed for your community?

Q10

Environment/Impact on community 20%

Cost 12

Safety/Health 9

Location 8

Source of energy 7

Depends/Need more information 4

Community education/involvement 3

Reason for project/Who funds it 2

Other 3

None 1

Not sure/Refused 38

Has the electric utility industry in your state been deregulated, or not?

Q11

49%

16%

35%

44%

21%

35%

43%

15%

41%

33%29%

39%

32%35%

8%

46%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Maine Connecticut Massachusetts NewHampshire

Rhode Island Vermont

Yes No Not sure

What does it mean when the electric utility industry in a state is deregulated?

Q12

Competition 23%

Different companies can produce and deliver electricity

19

Consumers have a choice 14

Prices will be affected 6

Prices will be raised 3

Privatization of industry 2

Other 1

Not sure/Refused 31

(MA, ME, CT, NH, RI only)

Has deregulation led to lower or higher electricity prices for residential

consumers?

Q13

29%33%

30%

8%12%

41%37%

10% 10%

55%

26%

4%8%

43%

33%

16%

6%

52%

28%

14%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Maine New Hampshire Rhode Island Massachusetts Connecticut

Lower Higher No impact Not sure

Better15%

No impact53%

Not sure13%

Worse19%

Do you think deregulation has led to better or worse service for residential

consumers of electricity?

Q14

Which statement is closer to your opinion?

Q15

Even in a deregulated market, insuring an adequate energy supply is too

important to be left to market forces alone; it should be the responsibility of

government agencies as well45%

Under deregulation, the competitive marketplace

will provide adequate financial incentives to spur investment in new plants

and infrastructure projects29%

Not sure26%

Please rate the following ideas for insuring adequate future energy supply:

Q16-22

11% 41% 19% 12%

13% 40% 20% 8%

16% 42% 15% 10%

17% 49% 14% 10%

20% 50% 12% 7%

21% 50% 13% 5%

38% 48% 4 2

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Excellent Good Not very good Bad

Incentives investing in energy conservation and efficiency

A coordinated regional energy supply plan with companies & policy makers

Streamlining approval for major new energy projects

Extending the operating life of existing nuclear power plants

Streamlining approval for new natural gas infrastructure

Ensuring local objections do not derail needed energy projects

Continue switching New England from regulated to deregulated utilities

Do you favor or oppose these proposals to increase New England’s energy?

Q31, 23, 28, 27, 24

38% 31% 7% 10%

41% 34% 8% 8%

46% 33% 7% 5%

49% 23% 7% 9%

72% 18% 3 2%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly favor Somewhat favorSomewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Encouraging conservation and energy efficiency by providing incentives to

consumers

An off-shore wind farm between Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard

More electric transmission lines to move electricity more efficiently

throughout the region

Additional natural-gas electricity plants

An additional natural gas pipeline from Canada

Q26, 30, 25, 29

26% 26% 13% 19%

28% 19% 14% 30%

35% 31% 11% 16%

35% 34% 12% 10%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly favor Somewhat favorSomewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Several additional “cleaner coal” electricity plants

Do you favor or oppose these proposals to increase New England’s energy? (cont.)

Continuing the operation of existing nuclear plants

At least one new nuclear power plant

At least one off-shore Liquid Natural Gas, or, LNG tanker terminal

Do you agree with the following statements about the need for energy?

44% 29% 10% 6%

46% 26% 12% 8%

47% 29% 12% 6%

47% 29% 9% 6%

60% 25% 4 4%

62% 24% 5 4%

68% 22% 22%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewat disagree Strongly disagree

Conservation and efficiency should be components of future supply plans

Q45, 44, 39, 35, 33, 37, 32

Governor & state legislature should focus on energy as a high priority

Country is too dependent on foreign oil; we need homegrown sources

Need energy facilities in New England to grow & create jobs

We can build additional facilities if we balance needs & environmental concerns

For New England to compete, we need new energy facilities

Predictions of future shortages mean we need to bring more natural gas to the area

Do you agree with the following statements about the need for energy?(cont.)

Q41, 42, 43, 38, 40, 34, 36

19% 21% 20% 25%

21% 17% 24% 26%

29% 30% 14% 13%

32% 30% 10% 17%

35% 23% 16% 17%

35% 24% 14% 18%

43% 28% 9% 6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewat disagree Strongly disagree

New England can lead the nation in the development of new energy technologies

We don’t need another divisive controversy over a new nuclear power plant

An attack on an LNG tanker facility is a terrorist nightmare waiting to happen

A deregulated, competitive market is the best way to ensure adequate energy

It’s too risky to environment to start building new facilities that will pollute even more

Unproven energy technologies only contribute a small portion of electricity

A new natural gas pipeline will put communities at environmental risk

Strongly agree42%

Somewhat agree35%

Somewhat disagree

7%

Strongly disagree6%

Not sure/Refused10%

Experts are concerned our region will soon face an energy supply problem and we need a range of additional supply options. Do you

agree with this view?

Q46

Which concerns you more about the electricity supply in New England?

Q47

There will not be enough electricity to meet New England’s needs in the future

38%

The environment will be damaged because we are

too concerned with keeping up with the

increasing demand for electricity

33%

Both equal17%

Neither5%

Not sure7%

Which of the following concerns you more?

Q48

The cost of electricity will continue to increase, creating a burden on

consumers and hurting New England’s economy

45%

The environment will be damaged because we are

too concerned with holding down the cost of

electricity29%

Both equal17%

Neither5%

Not sure4%

Which of the two statements is closer to your opinion?

Q49

The region should be just as concerned about ensuring reliable energy supplies

at reasonable prices as it has been about being a leader in setting strict

environmental standards61%

The region should continue to set a national

example on environmental regulations, even if it means higher energy

prices and contributes to energy shortages

20%Both equal

9%

Neither2%

Not sure8%

Not sure11% No, not willing

44%

Yes, willing45%

Would you pay an extra surcharge if the money was being spent to reinforce the

region’s energy infrastructure?

Q50

Not sure16%

No45%

Yes39%

Thinking for a moment about how your local media outlets cover energy issues,

would you say they offer a fair and balanced view, or not?

Q51

How believable are the following when it comes to new energy facilities?

Professor of environmental sciences from MIT

Q52, 64, 65, 54, 59, 61, 60

16% 43% 15% 16%

16% 48% 15% 14%

17% 32% 7% 6%

17% 44% 16% 16%

21% 35% 9% 8%

34% 43% 5 3%

45% 37% 4 4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very believable Somewhat believableNot too believable Not believable at all

A leading, respected energy issues expert

The Conservation Law Foundation

Your local congressman

The MA Renewable Energy Trust

The U.S. Department of Energy

Your local state legislator

How believable are the following when it comes to new energy facilities? (cont.)

9% 29% 12% 8%

9% 34% 21% 21%

12% 37% 19% 21%

12% 42% 21% 16%

14% 47% 16% 10%

14% 47% 14% 14%

15% 45% 10% 9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very believable Somewhat believableNot too believable Not believable at all

Q58, 62, 63, 56, 53, 55, 57

The New England Energy Alliance

Your local Chamber of Commerce

A coalition of local employers

Rep of New England’s electric utility companies

Editorial in the Globe/your local paper

A Labor Leader

[MA/VT/RI/CT/ME] PIRG

Respondent Profile

Age Income

18-35 14% $0-19,999 6%

36-55 42 $20-49,999 20

56+ 42 $50-99,999 29

Are you an environmentalist? $100,000+ 14

Yes 62% Refused 31

No/Not sure 37 Education

Political party High school or less 28%

Democrat 32% Vocational or some college 21

Republican 21 College degree 33

Independent 39 Graduate/Prof. school 17

Do you use Natural gas? Gender

Yes 33% Female 53%

No/Not sure 66 Male 47