In February 2009, President Obama signed the controversial $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the Stimulus Package. This economic relief plan has met with mixed reaction from the general public, ranging from strong support to vehement opposition. Approximately $68.6 billion in the ARRA is allocated to 9 key areas related to Energy and the Environment. Pike Research conducted a survey of U.S. consumers in April 2009 to better understand Americans’ level of support for, and attitudes about, the ARRA itself as well as specifically pertaining to the Energy and Environment provisions within the Act.
This Pike Research brief, available for free download to registered website users, analyzes results from this survey of 1,041 respondents, which were drawn from a nationally-representative and demographically-balanced sample of U.S. consumers. The research brief includes an examination of support for the overall Stimulus Package, as well as for the 9 individual Energy and Environment provisions. Analysis also includes comparison of results by respondents’ political persuasion along with segmentation by various demographical and behavioral groups.
Energy & Environment provisions analyzed:
- $11 billion for an electric “smart grid”
- $6 billion for Environmental Protection Agency clean water initiatives
- $6.6 billion for energy efficiency and conservation improvements
- $4.1 billion for clean transportation
- $3.4 billion for cleaner fossil fuel technologies
- $15.2 billion for renewable energy research
- $8.7 billion for residential weatherization programs
- $6.7 billion for federal building renovations
Consumer segments analyzed:
- Political persuasion (conservative, moderate, liberal)
- Green consumer behavioral segments
- Education level
- Income level
- Gender
- Age
