KAET-ASU Poll

CONTACT:
Dr. Bruce Merrill (480) 965-7051

EMBARGOED UNTIL: June 27, 2001

KAET POLL
ARIZONANS CONSERVING ELECTRICITY BUT
SEE NEED FOR NEW POWER PLANTS;

NUCLEAR POWER IS PREFERRED

Dr. Merrill, director of the Walter Cronkite Media Research Program at ASU will appear on KAET’s HORIZON program to discuss the findings June 28 at 7p.m.

Eighty-three percent of registered voters in Arizona say they have taken steps to conserve energy in their homes during the last six months.

The random statewide telephone poll of 404 registered voters living in Arizona was conducted by KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University between June 21-24, 2001.

Arizonans remain divided on whether or not there will be significant power outages in the state this summer. Forty-four percent (44%) felt "rolling blackouts" were either very (11 percent) or somewhat (33 percent) likely. Fifty percent (50%) felt power interruptions were unlikely and six percent (6%) had no opinion.

Eighty-six percent of those interviewed felt there is a need to build new power plants in Arizona during the next decade. Fifty-three percent said the need is strong. Thirty-three percent said there is "some need" to build new power plants. Nuclear power plants (37 percent) are preferred over plants fueled by natural gas (30 percent) or coal (10 percent). Twenty-three percent (23%) had no opinion or no preference about what type of power plants should be built.

Finally, Arizonans were equally divided when asked if they felt the power crisis in California was real (43 percent) or created by power brokers (42 percent) in order to increase their profits. Fifteen percent (15%) didn’t have an opinion.

The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.8 percent. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of the sample was from Maricopa County, 17 percent from Pima County and 25 percent from other counties. Forty-five percent (45%) of those interviewed were registered Republicans, 40% Democrats and 15% "others". Fifty percent of the sample was male; 50% female.

Q1: Have you taken steps to conserve electricity in your home in the past six months?

Q2: Do you think it is very likely, somewhat likely, or not very likely we will have rolling energy blackouts this summer like those in California?

The following includes results from a KAET poll conducted in February, 2001.

Q3: Do you feel the electricity shortage in California is real or do you feel the crisis has been created to increase profits for those who sell electricity?

Q4: Do you feel there is a strong need, some need, or no need to build new electric generating plants in Arizona during the next decade?

KAET-TV/Channel 8 is a part of Arizona State University.