The latest UT Energy Poll shows Americans are choosing the planet over their pocketbooks. After a year of lower gas prices, consumers are more optimistic about America’s energy future. They’re also turning more attention to energy’s environmental impacts and want the federal government to get busier investing in renewables and other energy sources.

1. CONSUMERS’ ENERGY FORECAST: FAIR
Fewer expect pump
prices to increase.
More choose planet
over pocketbook.
Q. How willing would you be to pay much
higher prices in order to protect the
environment?
For the first time,
optimists equal
pessimists.
Q. On energy issues, do you think
things are headed in ...
Sept.
2011
Sept.
2015
28
29
14
43
Q. Six months from today, the price
of gasoline will ...
Sept. 2015
Mar. 2015
22
10
17
6
84
62
Willing
Not willing
Sept.
2015
47
34
Mar.
2015
39
38
SOURCE: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ENERGY POLL, SEPTEMBER 2015
Right
Direction
Wrong
Direction