Abstract
This study examines public concern for energy security and support for public investment in new energy technologies. Using household survey data from the western U.S. states of California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, socio-demographic characteristics, environmental values, and policy relevant knowledge are analyzed as drivers of energy security and technology investment orientations. Findings suggest that a majority of respondents in each state believe that not enough money is being spent on energy research, that the country has insufficient energy resources, and that new technologies can support future energy security. Multivariate analyses indicate that some socio-demographic variables (e.g., gender and education), ideology, and environmental value orientations also have an impact on energy security orientations and support for technology investment.
Highlights
This study contributes to the literature on determinants of public perceptions of new energy technologies and energy security by analyzing the impact of public energy-related knowledge, environmental value orientations, political ideology, and socio-demographic characteristics on public perceptions of energy security and new energy technologies
Measures related to the concern over energy supply, being personally affected by energy shortage, support for government investments into research and development of alternative energies, perceptions of new energy technologies, political ideology, environmental beliefs, knowledge about energy, and socio-demographic characteristics were formed from survey responses
Reflecting results of previous studies that show a connection between environmental value orientations and pro-environmental behaviors, such as displaying positive attitudes for new alternative energy sources [31] and government investments in alternative energy [32], this study finds that pro-environmental values are associated with public perceptions that not enough resources are being devoted to research and development of new energy technologies and greater concerns about the
Summary
This study contributes to the literature on determinants of public perceptions of new energy technologies and energy security by analyzing the impact of public energy-related knowledge, environmental value orientations, political ideology, and socio-demographic characteristics on public perceptions of energy security and new energy technologies. The country strives toward a low-carbon economy, diversifying its energy portfolio to include a larger share of renewable energy and other alternative energy technologies, including smart meters, electric vehicles, carbon capture, storage, and energy efficiency technologies [6]. Such policy innovations reflect the country’s planning of energy independence and security, where renewables (i.e., wind, sun, biomass, nuclear) can be an alternative to traditional energy sources (e.g., coal, oil, and gas), which are finite in supply and are influenced by global fuel market price fluctuations [7,8,9]. The transition to low-carbon sources of energy satisfies environmental concerns and provides the added benefit of reduced marginal social costs, allowing the U.S to respond to international diplomatic pressures of reducing CO2 emissions from burning
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