Oregon Public Broadcasting

Even in the face of a catastrophic oil spill, people in the Northwest are split about the future of oil.

Half want to dump our dependence on it fast but the other half doesn't see that happening anytime soon. Those findings are part of a new public radio survey. Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Pollsters asked 1,200 Northwesterners their point of view about oil. Regionwide people were exactly divided, 48-48, between the following two statements.

Number one: Like it or not, oil is a critical energy source and we need to be realistic about our need for oil.

Number two: This oil spill is a wake-up call that we can no longer rely on environmentally damaging energy sources and need to replace them as quickly as possible.

Survey respondent Joel Herndon of Central Point is in the leave oil behind crowd and hopes the Gulf spill is a turning point.

Joel Herndon: "One would hope that it was a wake-up call for everybody. But it's not going to be, because we've been having wake-up calls as long as I've been alive. But, if it does cause some people to be more careful, then I consider that a plus."

Support for oil was strongest in Idaho and weakest in Washington in our poll.

The survey is a collaboration of the Northwest Health Foundation, polling firm Davis, Hibbitts and Midghall and Northwest public radio stations.