(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in Canada believe the country should rely on renewable energy sources, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 89 per cent of respondents think both wind power and solar power are positive, because they are better for the environment.

Conversely, 50 per cent of respondents believe nuclear power is negative because there is no long-term solution for nuclear waste disposal, and 69 per cent question using coal to generate electricity, because the process still causes pollution.

On the topic of using natural gas to generate electricity, 45 per cent of respondents express positive views because it releases fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels, while 33 per cent disagree because natural gas still contributes to global warming.

The survey also showed high support for two vehicle-related energy sources. 69 per cent of respondents think using cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells is positive because they do not generate carbon dioxide, and 64 per cent support using ethanol—a fuel that can be manufactured from sources such as corn and wheat—because it could eventually become a substitute for oil.

In January, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper announced a $1.5 billion U.S. investment into alternative energy technologies, declaring, "The ecoEnergy Renewable Initiative will help scientists and entrepreneurs harness the power of the natural forces that are all around us."

New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton expressed dismay at the announcement, saying, "The Conservatives cancelled (the previous government’s energy proposals), put the brakes on and now they’re re-packaging them. We’ve got to be a lot more ambitious, and it seems to me the prime minister is setting the bar and the targets and the objectives much, much too low."

Polling Data

Do you think using renewable energy sources, such as wind power or solar power, is positive or negative for Canada?

Positive, because these sources are better for the environment	89%
Negative, because these sources can be unreliable and expensive	4%
Not sure	7%

Do you think using natural gas to generate electricity is positive or negative for Canada?

Positive, because natural gas releases fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels	45%
Negative, because natural gas still contributes to global warming	33%
Not sure	22%

Do you think using nuclear energy to generate electricity is positive or negative for Canada?

Positive, because it does not contribute to global warming	32%
Negative, because there is no long-term solution for nuclear waste disposal	50%
Not sure	18%

Do you think using coal to generate electricity is positive or negative for Canada?

Positive, because Canada has abundant resources of coal	15%
Negative, because the process still causes pollution	69%
Not sure	16%

Do you think using cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells is positive or negative for Canada?

Positive, because fuel cell vehicles do not generate carbon dioxide	69%
Negative, because fuel cells are fragile and costly to produce	13%
Not sure	19%

Do you think using ethanol, a fuel that can be manufactured from sources such as corn and wheat, is positive or negative for Canada?

Positive, because it could eventually become a substitute for oil	64%
Negative, because it could drive up food prices	23%
Not sure	13%

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,066 Canadian adults, conducted on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, 2007. Margin of error is 3.0 per cent.

 

Complete Poll (PDF)