Planet Forward News Release

NEW YORK – Americans give the nation poor grades on key energy challenges, such as reducing our dependence on foreign oil, keeping energy costs affordable and developing alternative energy, according to “The Energy Learning Curve^TM” a new survey, by Public Agenda, the nonpartisan opinion research and citizen engagement organization and released in association with the innovative web-to-television project Planet Forward.
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Additional findings from the groundbreaking national survey, which measures the public evolving views and knowledge about energy issues, will be released tonight on the Planet Forward television special, airing at 8 p.m. tonight on PBS (check local listings). This is the national premiere of Planet Forward, a "virtual town square" hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Frank Sesno. Produced by the Public Affairs Project at The George Washington University, Planet Forward is an innovative web-to-television project where citizens, ranging from students to scientists, entrepreneurs to activists, make their case for what they think about the nation’s energy future. Several citizen contributors will present their ideas directly to Carol Browner, assistant to the president for energy and climate change.

The Energy Learning Curve™ clearly shows, however, that whatever ideas the nation pursues in the future, most Americans are unhappy with our energy situation in the present. Nowhere is public dissatisfaction more evident than where it comes to reducing dependence on foreign oil. More than half the public, 54 percent, give the United States grades of "D" or "F" in this area, and only 14 percent would give the nation an "A" or "B" grade.

Failing grades are almost as high for keeping energy costs affordable (46 percent give "Ds" or "Fs") and developing alternative energy sources (43 percent give "Ds" or "Fs"). Grades are somewhat better on climate change, with only 36 percent giving failing grades on reducing global warming, and 31 percent "Ds" and "Fs" for cooperating with other countries on the issue.

One explanation for the somewhat better grades on climate change is that global warming is a lesser concern for the public compared with energy independence and the price of fuel. While overwhelming majorities worry about prices (89 percent), oil dependence (83 percent) and global warming (71 percent), the intensity of their concern is much different. Almost 6 in 10 (57 percent) worry "a lot" about price, while only 32 percent say they worry "a lot" about global warming.

"We're embarking on a new debate about energy in this country, and the public is entering it in a deeply dissatisfied frame of mind," said Scott Bittle, Public Agenda executive vice president and lead author of the report. "But they're unhappiest about the parts of the problem that hit them in the here and now. Global warming is still a more remote problem to the public than prices or oil dependence, and that's reflected in these grades."

When it comes to solutions, the Energy Learning Curve™ also finds widespread support on a range of proposals, including alternative energy, incentives for efficiency, and raising mileage standards for cars. At the same time there is also broad resistance to changes that might increase the cost of driving, and unrealistic assumptions about how quickly and easily alternatives can be achieved..

Of the barriers to progress, the most notable may be a serious knowledge deficit among the public. Half of all Americans can't identify a renewable energy source, nearly 4 in 10 cannot name a fossil fuel, two-thirds overestimate U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil, overestimate how much of the world’s oil reserves are in the U.S. and they're divided on whether drilling offshore and in Alaska would make us energy independent.

"This knowledge deficit may be the greatest challenge the nation faces on energy, greater than the economic or technical problems," Bittle said. "The public is unhappy and ready for change, but the lack of understanding could trip the nation up. A new energy policy can only work if the public buys into it. But politicians, experts and the media have to help people understand what's being sold to them. The last thing we need is an energy policy that leaves the public with buyer's remorse."

This report—the first in a series of The Energy Learning Curve ™ studies to measure the public evolving views and knowledge about energy issues—was based on interviews with a national random sample of 1,001 adults over the age of 18 conducted between January 15 and January 30 2009. Over 90 survey questions were asked, covering each facet of “the energy triple threat"—economic, oil dependence and environmental issues.”The margin of error for the overall sample is plus or minus four percentage points. Full results of the report are available at: www.publicagenda.org/pages/energy-learning-curve and at www.planetforward.org/energy-index.

	Total
1. What grade would you give the United States overall when it comes to reducing its dependence on foreign oil?
A	5%
B	9%
C	25%
D	29%
F	25%
Don't know	6%
2. And what grade would you give the United States when it comes to its efforts to reduce global warming?
A	10%
B	13%
C	32%
D	22%
F	14%
Don't know	6%
3. And what grade would you give the U.S. government for keeping energy costs affordable?
A	7%
B	12%
C	31%
D	25%
F	21%
Don't know	3%
4. And what grade would you give the U.S. government for developing alternative energy sources?
A	7%
B	14%
C	31%
D	28%
F	15%
Don't know	5%
5. And what grade would you give the U.S. government for cooperating with other countries to reduce global warming?
A	10%
B	17%
C	29%
D	18%
F	13%
Don't know	11%

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Public Agenda is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nonpartisan public policy research and civic engagement. Founded in 1975 by former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Daniel Yankelovich, the social scientist and author, Public Agenda is well-respected for its influential public opinion surveys and balanced citizen education materials. Its mission is to inject the public’s voice into crucial policy debates.

Planet Forward is an innovative, viewer-driven program that debuted on the web first and will then move to television, in a primetime PBS special on April 15th (check local listings for exact show times) before moving back to the web. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning CNN veteran Frank Sesno, Planet Forward is driven by the power of ideas, as citizens make their case for what they think about the nation's energy future. Planet Forward is a co-production of the Public Affairs Project at The George Washington University and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications in collaboration with Public Agenda and Sunburst Creative Productions.

NEW YORK – Despite partisan debate, the American people find common ground on their support for a number of measures to address the nation’s energy problems. At least 10 major energy proposals that would provide incentives for energy efficiency, reduce gasoline usage and support alternative energy have widespread support. But the public may not yet be prepared for the tradeoffs and challenges needed to make these proposals a reality, according to a new survey, “The Energy Learning Curve,™” released today by Public Agenda, the nonpartisan opinion research and citizen engagement organization.

The study, based on an in-depth national survey of 1,001 Americans, is being released in conjunction with “Planet Forward,” [www.planetforward.org] an innovative web-to-television-to-web initiative produced by the Public Affairs Project of The George Washington University, designed to advance the discussion on energy and climate change with both citizens and leaders submitting their ideas. Additional findings from the survey will be released on the Planet Forward television premiere, scheduled for 8 p.m. on April 15 on PBS (check local listings for exact show times in your area).

The public’s interest in energy alternatives is broad and not necessarily dependent on its worries about gas prices, according to the survey. Three quarters of the public (73 percent) disagrees with the statement that "if we get gas prices to drop and stay low, we don't need to be worried about finding alternative sources of energy," and fully 53 percent "strongly disagree." While the survey found consensus on many aspects of the energy challenge, there are also significant barriers in building public support for change.

“Perhaps no challenge facing the United States today is more dependent on public support and consumer action than energy,” according to Daniel Yankelovich, Public Agenda’ chairman and social scientist, who developed the Learning Curve concept of public understanding. Citizens typically move through distinct stages, from first, initial consciousness of the problem to a second stage of "working through" the tradeoffs in different options and then finally, to resolution about solutions. “The challenges involved in solving our energy problems and getting public support for those solutions are difficult but far from insurmountable. Given what's at stake, it's essential that progress up this learning curve accelerate as quickly as possible,” Yankelovich said.

As part of the Learning Curve analysis, Public Agenda identified four broad clusters of public opinion based on their attitudes, values and knowledge; the Anxious (40 percent), the Greens (24 percent), the Disengaged (19 percent) and the Climate Change Doubters (17 percent). The steep learning curve required for all four groups poses challenges for policy makers.

Common Ground on Alternative Energy and Taxes

Despite the many differences in public attitudes and gaps in knowledge, there is widespread public support on a number of policies that the nation could pursue, particularly around alternative energy, conservation, and incentives to become more efficient. A number of proposals have more than two-thirds support:

• 86 percent agree that investing in alternative energy will create many new jobs (45 percent believe this strongly)
• 84 percent support more investment in fuel-efficient railways (47 percent strongly)
• 81 percent support tax rebates to individuals who reduce energy use (,44 percent strongly)
• 79 percent, support tax rebates to businesses (41 percent strongly) who reduce energy use
• 78 percent want higher gas-mileage requirements for cars (50 percent strongly)
• 74 percent say developers should be required to build more energy-efficient homes (32 percent strongly
• 73 percent support tax credits to purchasers of hybrid automobiles (38 percent strongly)
• 72 percent want to reward businesses that reduce carbon emissions and penalize those that don’t (37 percent strongly)
• 71 percent agree that more tax money should be spent on public transportation (33 percent strongly)
• 68 percent want the nation to take steps to gain energy independence even if it raises energy costs (24 percent strongly)

By contrast, majorities oppose measures that would force change by increasing the cost of driving, such as setting a "floor" on gasoline prices (72 percent, with 58 percent strongly opposed), congestion pricing (61 percent, 41 percent strongly) and higher gas taxes. Some 57 percent reject a gas tax even when if it would be used to achieve energy independence, with 37 percent strongly opposed.

"Very often politicians and the media focus on the deep divisions in our society, and those divisions are real enough. Yet despite many differences among citizens, there is important common ground on a range of solutions to the energy challenge. The Energy Learning Curve™ survey is proof that people can have very different starting points and yet end up at the same place," said Scott Bittle, Public Agenda executive vice president and director of public issues analysis. With Public Agenda colleague Jean Johnson, Bittle is co-author of the upcoming book, "Who Turned Out the Lights: Your Guided Tour to the Energy Crisis," to be published by Harper Collins this fall.

Four "Clusters" of the Public

Public Agenda’s study found four clusters of people with distinctive values, beliefs and knowledge. While they come at this problem from very different perspectives, they sometimes end up with similar views on solutions. The groups include:

• The largest group, the Anxious, account for 40 percent of Americans. Worried about energy costs, oil scarcity and global warming, they favor conservation, regulation and development of alternative energy sources. They tend to be younger, lower income and have less knowledge about energy issues.
• The second largest cluster, the Greens, represent 24 percent of the public, strongly favors conservation and developing renewable energy over drilling for oil. They are willing to pay more to develop renewable energy. Politically moderate, they tend to be higher income and more knowledgeable about energy issues.
• The Disengaged group comprises 19 percent of the public and can be described as politically moderate, lower income and disproportionately older and female, with limited knowledge and concern about energy issues.
• Finally, 17 percent are Climate Change Doubters, who do not consider global warming a problem. They are politically conservative and support more nuclear power and expanded domestic oil drilling.

Public Primarily Troubled by Energy Prices and Oil Dependence

Right now, the majority of the public sees the price of energy and the problem of oil dependence as deeply troubling problems. Climate change is a lesser concern.

• Overwhelming majorities worry about increases in the price of gas and fuel (89 percent overall, with 57 percent saying they worry "a lot")
• Concern about dependence on foreign oil is almost as high at 83 percent (with 47 percent worrying "a lot")
• Concern about climate change is much less intense. While 71 percent say they're at least "somewhat" worried about global warming, only 32 percent say they worry "a lot." That's 25 points less than the number of people who worry a lot about prices.

Barriers to Public Engagement

The study found most Americans tend to focus on one or two aspects of the “energy problem,” such as prices or climate change, not recognizing their connection to other issues.

Despite consensus on certain solutions, misconceptions and lack of knowledge hinder informed judgment and create a disconnect between the public and policy makers. For example, half of all Americans could not identify a renewable energy source, nearly 4 in 10 cannot name a fossil fuel, two-thirds overestimate U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and more than half think that, by reducing smog, the United States has gone “a long way” in addressing global warming.

“Better information, by itself, isn't enough,” Yankelovich said. "It would be a terrible mistake to assume that if and when the knowledge gap is filled, the public will then be ready to support sound policies. People can absorb factual information much faster than they can overcome wishful thinking and denial or accept far-reaching changes in habits and lifestyles."

To summarize, as Yankelovich says: “This is a unique challenge to policy makers: the combination of a fast-moving, complex problem and a comparatively slow-moving public trying to come to grips with it. While the challenges are significant, and the hurdles extensive, there's nothing in our research to suggest that they're insurmountable. The American public has grappled with complex challenges. Given committed leadership and the right conditions, the public can come to firm, sound conclusions. Energy is the next big challenge, and given the right circumstances, can be the next success.”

This report—the first in a series of The Energy Learning Curve ™ studies to measure the public evolving views and knowledge about energy issues—was based on interviews with a national random sample of 1,001 adults over the age of 18 conducted between January 15 and January 30 2009. Over 90 survey questions were asked, covering each facet of “the energy triple threat"—economic, oil dependence and environmental issues.”The margin of error for the overall sample is plus or minus four percentage points. Full results of the report are available at: http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/energy-learning-curve and at http://www.planetforward.org/energy-index. Information on “Planet Forward” is available at http://www.planetforward.org.

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Public Agenda is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nonpartisan public policy research and civic engagement. Founded in 1975 by former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Daniel Yankelovich, the social scientist and author, Public Agenda is well-respected for its influential public opinion surveys and balanced citizen education materials. Its mission is to inject the public’s voice into crucial policy debates.

Planet Forward is an innovative, viewer-driven program that debuted on the web first and will then move to television, in a primetime PBS special on April 15th (check local listings for exact show times) before moving back to the web. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning CNN veteran Frank Sesno, Planet Forward is driven by the power of ideas, as citizens make their case for what they think about the nation's energy future. Planet Forward is a co-production of the Public Affairs Project at The George Washington University and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications in collaboration with Public Agenda and Sunburst Creative Productions.

Website: http://www.planetforward.org
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/planet_forward
Blog: http://www.planetforward.org/blog

Washington, DC (March 17, 2009) — PLANET FORWARD, an innovative media project that advances the discussion on energy and climate change and migrates from the web to television and back, has launched online at planetforward.org. A virtual public square, PLANET FORWARD is fueled by the power of ideas — from students to scientists, entrepreneurs to activists — as they make their case for what they think about the nation’s energy future. Managing editor Frank Sesno will host the first national broadcast of PLANET FORWARD featuring Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. The PBS broadcast premier is April 15, 2009, at 8 PM (check local listings).

Others confirmed for the PBS broadcast include Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place; James Connaughton, Former Chairman, Bush White House Council on Environmental Quality, and currently Executive Vice President, Constellation Energy; and L. Hunter Lovins, President and Founder, Natural Capitalism Solutions.

“PLANET FORWARD is empowering citizens to take direct action on one of the most challenging issues of our time: energy and climate change,” said Sesno, Emmy Award-winning journalist and professor of media and public affairs at The George Washington University. “In this age of citizen journalism, we are inviting all Americans to join the debate, offer opinions, and let their voices be heard.”

The PLANET FORWARD web site (www.planetforward.org) features content ranging from video Op/Eds and essays to photos to poetry to blogs from scientists, educators, students, business owners and activists. From nuclear power to wind turbines, from biodiesel to building technology, from solar energy to sustainability, PLANET FORWARD invites discussion on all options.

Videos currently on the site range from “Transit Vision,” which uses animation to imagine the future of commuter rail in New Bedford, Mass.; “Pavements,” which explores capturing and re-using the heat generated from asphalt surfaces; “Nebraska Rides the Wind,” about how life in a small town has been transformed by the arrival of giant wind turbines rising above the prairie grass; “Sioux Turbines,” about an Indian tribe generating revenue through wind power not casinos, produced by a student from The George Washington University, and “From Potato to Engine,” which focuses on a shuttle bus converted from diesel to dining hall fuel (the bus is entirely powered on used canola oil from the Roger Williams University cafeteria) and commentary from Jack Gerard, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, encouraging an energy reality check.

A new opinion survey from Public Agenda will be released through the PLANET FORWARD site. The research tracks public attitudes around issues such as energy, climate change and economic impact, revealing what the public knows and what it needs to know to come up with solutions to these challenges.

Launched during the critical first 100 days of the Obama presidency, the PLANET FORWARD website engages and connects the online community through commissioned pieces and user-generated content. Driven by a rating process, the most provocative and interesting content will rise to the top through the input of site visitors and will be among the pieces included in the nationally televised PBS Special.

Taped before a live audience at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C, the PLANET FORWARD television special will feature not only the online content from planetforward.org, but will also bring together an esteemed group of experts, scientists, policy makers and business leaders in the fields of energy and climate change. Those panelists will engage in dialogue, debate and discourse with each other and the audience about whether we can — or should — move rapidly away from fossil fuels.

Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, will appear in the special and interact with citizens and experts.

Dispensing with the old top-down model of public affairs programming, in which experts expound to voiceless viewers, PLANET FORWARD’s emphasis is bottom-up, with citizens leading and driving the conversation. Seeking to engage a young and diverse audience, PLANET FORWARD is based at The George Washington University and involves students, faculty and administrators from several universities including Roger Williams University, the University of Nebraska, and Middlebury College, as well as local public television stations, to create a groundswell of engagement and local activity.

PLANET FORWARD is public affairs for the next generation: think innovation, not pontification.

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PLANET FORWARD is a co-production of the Public Affairs Project at The George Washington University and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications in collaboration with Public Agenda and Sunburst Creative Productions.

About the PLANET FORWARD Guests

Carol Browner was appointed Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change in January 2009. Prior to her current position, she served as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet-level position she held for eight years, during both terms of the Clinton Administration. Browner developed partnerships with business leaders, community advocates, and all levels of government. Before EPA, Browner was Secretary of the State of Florida's Department of Environmental Regulation. She also served as Legislative Director for then United States Senator Al Gore.

James Connaughton served in the Bush Administration from 2001 to 2009 as the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). In this capacity, he served as the senior environmental, energy and natural resources advisor to the President as well as Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which oversees the development of environmental policy, coordinates interagency implementation of environmental programs, and mediates key policy disagreements among Federal agencies, state, tribal and local governments and private citizens. He is currently Executive Vice President of Constellation Energy.

L. Hunter Lovins is President and Founder of the Natural Capitalism Solutions. In partnership with leading thinkers and implementers, NCS creates innovative, practical tools and strategies to enable companies, communities and countries to become more sustainable. Trained as a sociologist and lawyer, Hunter co-founded the California Conservation Project (Tree People), and Rocky Mountain Institute, which she led for 20 years. Lovins has consulted for scores of industries and governments worldwide including the Royal Dutch Shell, Wal-Mart, the Pentagon, numerous cities, and the governments of Jamaica, Australia, and the U.S.

Shai Agassi is the founder and chief executive of Better Place, a company focused on one of this century's biggest challenges -- building a scalable and sustainable personal transportation system that ends oil dependence. He works directly with government leaders, auto manufacturers, energy companies and others to make his vision of zero-emission electric vehicles powered by renewable energy a reality in countries around the world. Recognizing Agassi's visionary leadership with the Better Place model, Time Magazine recently named him one of its "Heroes of the Environment 2008."

About the PLANET FORWARD TEAM

The George Washington University Public Affairs Project was established to enhance the understanding and practice of public affairs media as technology transforms the way information is conveyed. Created to be an incubator for ideas and innovation, it includes students who will shape the future of journalism but who already are practiced experts in digital media. The Project is enhanced by leveraging access to government and business leaders, experts and diverse communities found only in the heart of the nation’s capital. Learn more at http: www.smpa.gwu.edu.

Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) is one of the nation’s leading and most innovative public media organizations with a distinguished history of creating radio, television and interactive media content melding public policy, science, and the environment. NET’s latest production for NOVA on PBS is a major new documentary about Antarctic research and climate change, which will be connected to a national educational outreach initiative. It also created the WonderWise educational multimedia project which was funded by the National Science Foundation. NET is currently a partner in a new cutting edge science education project which will develop new skills for students and teachers in using media tools to understand complex scientific matters. Its radio and television news and public affairs unit is the recipient of numerous national and regional awards for its political and environmental coverage.

Public Agenda is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization based in New York. For over a quarter of a century, Public Agenda has been providing unbiased and unparalleled research that bridges the gap between American leaders and what the public really thinks about issues. Public Agenda's mission is to help American leaders better understand the public's point of view and citizens know more about critical policy issues so they can make thoughtful, informed decisions.

Sunburst Creative Group, in Colts Neck, New Jersey has produced and supported high profile, issues oriented Programming for more than 25 years. Sunburst has helped introduce and aggressively adopted new technologies, distribution methods and production techniques to enhance the content, access and appeal of issues-related public affairs programming.

Frank Sesno, Managing Editor and host of PLANET FORWARD, is Director of GW’s Public Affairs Project and a professor of media and public affairs at The George Washington University. He is an Emmy-award winning journalist with 30 years of experience, including more than 20 years at CNN, where he served as a special correspondent, Washington Bureau Chief, anchor and White House Correspondent. His recent work includes documentaries and special projects for CNN, PBS and The History Channel ranging from global energy to national security and politics.

Colette Rhoney, Executive Editor of PLANET FORWARD, is a web pioneer and seasoned network television producer. Ms. Rhoney oversaw the development and launch of America Online's premiere broadband programming product, AOL Plus. At NBC News, she produced the top-rated program, "Meet the Press."

Scott Bittle, Web Director of PLANET FORWARD, is Executive Vice President and Director of Public Issues Analysis at Public Agenda. He oversees web content and online public engagement, including PublicAgenda.org, which has been twice nominated for a prestigious Webby Award by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

David Feingold, Executive Producer of PLANET FORWARD, is Assistant General Manager-Content at NET (Nebraska Educational Telecommunication). He is the chief content officer for NET Television’s three state-wide television networks; the network’s television production group; Nebraska’s public radio network - NET Radio; and NET Interactive Media. NET has received numerous awards for enterprising and thoughtful news coverage, and for significant outreach initiatives on difficult and often controversial issues.

Mark Ganguzza, Executive Producer of PLANET FORWARD, is founder and President of Sunburst Creative Group, Inc. of Colts Neck, New Jersey. He is a 35-year veteran of network television and private, issues oriented events.

Ruth Wooden, President of Public Agenda, has been an outspoken advocate of public dialogue and civic engagement. Before joining Public Agenda, Ms. Wooden was Executive Vice President-Senior Counselor at the international public relations firm of Porter Novelli where she led the Advertising and Cause-Related Marketing Practice. From 1987 to 1999, she was President of The Advertising Council, the nation’s leading producer of public service announcements.

About the PLANET FORWARD Station Engagement Campaign

Under the auspices of the National Center for Media Engagement, PLANET FORWARD is working with four pilot stations to engage their communities on the issues surrounding the project: KQED in San Francisco, KTOO in Juneau, Alaska, WXXI in Rochester, New York, and Houston PBS. The station’s outreach activities include soliciting submissions from viewers and local educational institutions, promoting the series and website on their sites and through their networks of partners and sponsors, blogging and outreach on Facebook, Twitter and other social media, partnering with local journalism classes, creating localized shows to air in conjunction with the national broadcast, reaching out to young filmmakers, and partnering with local green activities and organizations.

Contact:

CaraMar Publicity:
Cara White 843 881 1480 cara.white@mac.com
Mary Lugo 770 623 8190 lugo@negia.net
Abbe Harris 908.233.7990 abbepub@aol.com

The George Washington University:
Tracy Schario 202.994.3566 tschario@gwu.edu