A summary of the spring 2012 results from the University of Texas at Austin Energy Poll, written by Sheril Kirshenbaum. Dot Earth "Your Dot" posts: http:j.mp/YourDot UT Energy Poll: http://utenergypoll.com

1. A Dot Earth “Your Dot” contribution from Sheril Kirshenbaum, the director of the University of Texas at Austin Energy Poll:
In the most recent round of the Energy Poll out of the University of Texas at Austin, nearly 2,400 people--representative of the U.S. based on
census data--were surveyed about energy consumption, pricing, development and regulation.
Sixty-three percent of respondents reported they had “never heard of” or were “not familiar” with hydraulic fracturing. Just 32 percent
called themselves “familiar,” leaving 5 percent who answered more ambiguously, “neither.” In other words, fracking is a case where the

2. public lags behind the science and the technology, so we are left with a highly controversial topic that few Americans understand. But this
technology is not only a big deal; it’s already changing the international energy landscape.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents acknowledge that global climate change is occurring.
When the same question is broken down by party affiliation, the notorious partisan divide emerges.

3. Do you think climate change is or is not occurring?
We asked those respondents who chose “is occurring” to consider a series of factors from deforestation to fossil fuel use and rate how
significantly they believe each contributes to global climate change. Here is a look at “Natural Forces (not manmade)” broken down by
political affiliation:

4. Natural Forces (not manmade) and Global Climate Change
These are just snapshots of what we have been learning through the UT Energy Poll. The more we understand about public attitudes and
opinions on energy issues, the better prepared we will be to address questions, educate, and move toward more informed policy decisions.