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Poll finds ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns trust their university for energy information

 

A recent poll of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns found that the University of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ is the most trusted organization for the public on the topic of energy supply.

The survey of 600 registered ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ voters was conducted by Strategies 360, with a margin of error of 4%.

The poll was commissioned, in part, to test ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns’ familiarity with carbon capture, use and storage, also known as CCUS, and to gauge their opinions about the technology.

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ has significant potential for geologic storage of carbon dioxide. The ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Legislature has directed state agencies to develop regulations for leasing and managing underground carbon storage on state lands. The poll found that less than 50% of respondents were familiar with CCUS. The opinions of those who had some familiarity were split (19% favorable, 16% unfavorable, 12% neutral).

The poll was conducted ahead of public town hall meetings this winter on carbon capture and storage. The University of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Fairbanks’ ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Center for Energy and Power and state agency partners hosted the meetings in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Kenai.

The meetings featured presentations from ACEP and collaborators at the University of North Dakota .  Panel discussions included representatives from the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Department of Natural Resources’ , and and the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s .

An additional town hall will be held on Monday, March 3, in Utqiagvik.

The poll also included a number of other energy-related questions, probing ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns’ perspectives on the affordability of energy and their positions on other energy technologies such as coal and nuclear.

When compared with previous polling results, the results indicated that ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns across the state feel their energy is becoming less affordable. The most acute change has been in Fairbanks, where 63% of respondents felt their energy costs were unaffordable.

This is consistent with a recent , which indicated that average Fairbanks residents expend 10% of their household income on electricity and heating. Anything over 6% is considered a high energy burden by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The recent polling also indicated ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns’ awareness of and support for nuclear energy in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ has increased significantly since 2023. 

ACEP has completed several studies and analyses about the potential in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ for small nuclear reactors that offer enhanced safety features compared to legacy nuclear technology. Funding for the work was provided by the DOE through the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Energy Authority.

Visit here to learn more about and sign up for the nuclear energy working group.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Survey results:

• Key findings from a survey of registered voters in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, October 2024
• ACEP 2024 statewide survey summary

Nuclear technology reports:

• Small-Scale Modular Nuclear Power: An option for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ? — Update (2021)
• Small-Scale Modular Nuclear Power: An option for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ? (2011)
  
  

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Gwen Holdmann, gwen.holdmann@alaska.edu; Amanda Byrd, 907-978-0305, agbyrd@alaska.edu.

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