Health and energy preferences: Rethinking the social acceptance of energy systems in the United States

Abstract

Does a person’s health impact their opinions about energy sources? This article tests whether people with health problems prefer less physically harmful energy sources using data from a 2011 survey of 1382 U.S. residents. 19% of respondents reported their health as “only fair” or worse, and a smaller proportion of these people supported coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy than of respondents who had “good” or “excellent” health. The analysis finds significant differences in opinion by gender, age, and other demographic characteristics. These findings are consistent with previous U.S. studies on energy preferences. After controlling for political party, ideology, sex, age, education, race, religion, and geographical region, this article shows that people with health problems are not more likely to back renewable energy, but that they are significantly less likely to support coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. These results may be utilized by a variety of policy-oriented groups. They can help shape interest groups’ advocacy strategies, advise decisions about what communities to avoid when developing energy facilities, and guide policymakers’ attempts to initiate energy policy that will be supported by the public by increasing understanding about how energy preferences are formed.