A version of this post originally appeared on Edelman D.C. Public Affairs.
In 2018, trust across institutions — business, government, NGOs and the media — among members of the U.S. general population declined by nine points, the steepest drop ever measured in the United States by the Edelman Trust Barometer. But the fall was even more dramatic for the American natural gas industry: a 13-point decline in trust among the general population and a 25-point drop among the informed public. That stunning drop cannot be ignored, especially as the global industry recently convened in Washington, D.C. for the 27th World Gas Conference.
With global energy markets, domestic grid resilience, state and federal policies, activism and politics shaping the natural gas landscape, Edelman conducted further research into the perceptions of natural gas and the natural gas industry in the U.S. The findings of this deep-dive were discussed at a recent Natural Gas Perspectives event hosted by Edelman, featuring input from the U.S. Department of Energy, Axios and sector leaders.
The drop in public trust is complicated and, on the surface, rife with contradiction:
- Less than half of the general population and only 55 percent of the informed public (below 60 percent registers as neutral) are favorable toward the natural gas industry, but more than 60 percent of both audiences believe the industry’s best days are ahead.
- While only 52 percent of the general population and 60 percent of the informed public are favorable toward natural gas as an energy source, significantly more believe the benefits of natural gas outweigh the risks (68 percent for the general population and 76 percent for the informed public).
- Contributions toward better air quality are considered among the top benefits of natural gas by both audiences; conversely, emissions released during the natural gas production process, as well as concerns about extraction technologies, are ranked among its top drawbacks.
- Both audiences overwhelmingly support modernizing the electric grid, and both favor natural gas production and its greater use in electricity, but neither audience supports the actual policies that would make this happen—a classic American dilemma.
How can people who enjoy the benefits of natural gas — affordability, abundance and lower emissions — and possess optimism about its future still have such reservations about the broader industry and the continued production of and reliance on natural gas?
Consider how much has changed over the last decade. Ten years ago, the shale revolution was in its infancy. Today, we’ve undergone a complete transformation of America’s energy reality — from scarcity to abundance, from import-dependence to becoming the world’s No. 1 producer of natural gas and an exporter to 30 countries. For those who remember energy rationing and gas lines, the 180-degree role reversal cannot be overstated. The future beyond what U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry terms our “astonishing energy miracle” looks very different too, with global demand for liquefied natural gas expected to increase and even exceed supply.
Education, which has not kept pace with innovation, is the industry’s opportunity to shift perception, and it requires substance, smarts and agility. Since concern about fake news now abounds (more than seven in 10 Americans worry about false information being used as a weapon), education and communication from credible industry representatives are imperative. Today, more than ever, trust is currency.
To paraphrase one of the attendees at our recent Natural Gas Perspectives event, for there to be trust in industry, there has to be confidence in the rules that govern industry. There also has to be a regular, and localized articulation of the industry’s benefits and what it’s going to take to maximize and preserve them. Here is where industry and stakeholders can start:
Amplify positive news. Both Edelman’s research and the conversation at the Natural Gas Perspectives discussion show that benefits of natural gas — on the environmental front in particular — haven’t penetrated the public consciousness, or at least have not done so in ways that overwhelm perceived drawbacks or upend misperceptions. Although people’s exposure to natural gas news trends positive, the intensity of any support is very soft, and the window is closing. Industry must get stories of declines in greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture and sequestration innovation, and local economic recovery in front of key audiences by meeting them where they get their news.
Highlight natural gas as the foundation for a clean energy future. Natural gas has been seen by some as a “bridge” or temporary fuel, though others question the need for a bridge in the first place. In reality, natural gas can be seen as a mutually beneficial foundation upon which renewables have been integrated into the grid. By emphasizing that the renewables-natural gas relationship is an asset for industry, communicators can tap into overwhelming favorability for the renewable electric industry (in the U.S., 71 percent favorability among the general population and 83 percent among the informed public).
Localize the benefits of natural gas and prepare local cases for infrastructure needs. In addition to emphasizing the benefits of natural gas, at the local level the story of how natural gas contributed to a competitive rebirth of U.S. manufacturing must be told. Local jobs — outside of the energy industry — depend on access to natural gas.
Many Trust Barometer respondents recognize that infrastructure deficiencies and bottlenecks pose a huge challenge for the future of natural gas in America, and both surveyed audiences support modernizing America’s electric grid to accommodate even more natural gas. Yet only 53 percent of the informed public and 46 percent of the general population support permitting for new natural gas pipelines. Awareness of the regional and consumer benefits of infrastructure expansion is a necessary precursor to policy change and project approvals.
Natural gas has rapidly rewritten America’s energy story. To advance public policy that complements innovation and fully capitalizes on the power, benefits and potential of natural gas, industry should embrace the challenge of helping the country and the world better understand its work and role in the global energy renaissance.
Amy Hemingway is executive vice president and Energy Group Head, Washington, D.C.
Ericka Perryman is vice president, Energy & Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.