# New Poll: Development of New Energy Technology Beats Expanded Oil Drilling

*Published:* 2008-07-29
*Author:* Sheryl Canter

![Sheryl Canter](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2008/07/sheryl_canter.jpg)*This post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.*

Earlier this month I posted about [problems with a Pew poll](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/07/03/pew_poll_problem/) that found a majority of Americans now favor expanding oil drilling over protecting the environment. I suggested that the results were misleading, biased by the questions Pew asked. A [new poll released last week confirms this](http://solveclimate.com/blog/20080728/poll-truth-clean-energy-solutions-topple-drilling).

When asked whether government’s priority should be "invest in new energy technology" or "expand exploration and drilling", a full **76 percent said "invest in new energy technology" should be the priority**.

When asked whether they thought allowing oil companies to drill in new areas would lower gas prices, 54 percent of respondents said no.

Check out the [full report \[PDF\]](http://wilderness.org/Library/Documents/upload/BRS-Omnibus-Poll_07-22-08.pdf) by Belden Russonello & Stewart for more.