Form Survey 3 Survey 3 Hydrogen Survey 2008 State and Local Government Agencies

HYDROGEN SURVEY 2008
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI), the agency will be contacted. The
following protocol will be used.
Interviewer:
May I please speak to [INSERT RESPONDENT NAME FROM SAMPLE]?
Hello, I’m ___ calling from _____ on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. Your
agency has been selected for an important national research survey about new energy
sources. You have (your office has) been sent a letter from _____, Program Manager of
DOE’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program, which explained
the purpose and importance of this survey. The survey takes about 12 minutes to
complete.
Before we get started, I want to mention that there are both technical and opinion
questions in the survey. Tell me what you think or believe, but keep in mind that “no
opinion” or “don’t know” are perfectly acceptable responses.
Interviewers will also have the following information to provide to the respondent:
• OMB Control Number
• Hydrogen website URL
Also note that, if asked at any point during the survey, the interviewer should tell the respondent
that there are no trick questions.

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Opening Question
Q1. Please rate your familiarity with hydrogen and fuel cell technologies:
A. Not at all familiar
(You know nothing about hydrogen and fuel cell technologies)
B. Slightly familiar
(You’ve heard about hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, read an article or watched a
television feature about the technology, or participated in casual conversation about the
technology)
C. Familiar
(You’ve had limited experience with hydrogen and fuel cell technologies; researched the
subject for school, work, or personal interest; or learned about the technology in a class
or workshop)
D. Very familiar
(You consider yourself an expert in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies)

Technical Knowledge Questions
T1-4 I am going to read several statements. After each one, please tell me if you believe the
statement is true, if it is false, or if you don’t know
A. True
B. False
C. Don’t know/No opinion
T1. Hydrogen gas is toxic
T2. Fuel cells produce electricity through hydrogen combustion
T3. Hydrogen is lighter than air
T4. Hydrogen has a distinct odor
T5. Fuel cells can provide power to which of the following?
A. Your home
B. Your car
C. Your laptop computer
D. None of these
E. Or, all of these
F. Don’t know/No opinion
T6. In which state or condition can hydrogen be stored?
A. Chemical compound
B. Liquid
C. Both of these
D. Or, neither of these
E. Don’t know/No opinion
T7. When using pure hydrogen, fuel cell vehicles generate electricity, water, and what else?
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Nitrous oxides

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C. Heat
D. Or, all of these
E. Don’t know/No opinion
T8. Hydrogen can be produced using which of the following sources of energy?
A. Natural gas
B. Sunlight
C. Organic matter
D. Or, all of these
E. Don’t know/No opinion

Opinion Questions
O1. For the next question, I will ask you to rank five items. It may be easier if you write them
down. Do you need a moment to get something to write with? Now, please tell me which factor
is MOST important to you, personally, when selecting a fuel for your vehicle or a power supply
for your home or business?
A. Safety
B. Low cost
C. Environmental impact
D. Convenience
E. Performance
F. Don’t know/Refused/No response
O2. Repeat Question O1 with remaining factors
O3. Repeat Question O1 with remaining factors
O4. Repeat Question O1 with remaining factors
O5. How would you feel if your local gas station also sold hydrogen?
A. Frightened
B. Uneasy
C. At ease
D. Or, pleased
E. Don’t know/No opinion
O6. Please tell me if you believe the following statement is true, if it is false, or if you don’t
know.
A. True
B. False
C. Don’t know/No opinion
O6. Hydrogen is too dangerous for everyday use by the general public.

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O7-9. Next, I am going to read several statements about potential benefits of using hydrogen as
a VEHICLE FUEL. For each, tell me if you disagree, are neutral, agree, or if you have no
opinion?
A. Disagree
B. Are neutral
C. Agree
D. No opinion
O7. Using hydrogen will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil
O8. Using hydrogen will reduce emissions and improve air quality
O9. Hydrogen is as safe to use in my car as gasoline and diesel fuels
O10-O15. For the following applications, please rate the safety of using hydrogen and fuel cells,
in comparison with technology in use today. Is it not as safe, equally as safe, or safer to use
hydrogen and fuel cells for …
A. Not as safe
B. Equally as safe
C. Safer
D. No opinion
O10. Personal cars and trucks
O11. Buses and commercial vehicles
O12. Large power plants
O13. Small portable devices such as laptop computers or cell phones
O14. Onsite power for the home
O15. Onsite power for buildings such as hospitals and schools
O16. If fuel cell vehicles were available today at a cost competitive to gasoline internal
combustion engine vehicles, would you recommend buying/leasing them for your organization’s
or a stakeholder’s vehicle fleet?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
O17. If stationary fuel cells were available today at a cost competitive to traditional power
systems, would you recommend buying one to help meet the power needs of your facility or a
stakeholder’s facility?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
O18. I am going to read several statements. Please select the one that describes how you feel
about using hydrogen and fuel cell technology to meet your organization’s energy needs.
A. I know enough to seriously consider it if products are available
B. I am considering it but need more information
C. I’m going to wait and see how the market develops
D. There’s no way I’ll consider it anytime soon
E. Don’t know/No opinion

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Information Sources
I1-8. The next question is about your use of information sources that can help you make
decisions about energy costs and safety. How often do you use each of the following sources for
energy information? Would you say never, sometimes, or frequently?
A. Never
B. Sometimes
C. Frequently
D. Don’t know
I1. Teachers and schools
I2. Friends and family members
I3. Environmental and conservation groups
I4. Utility companies or brokers, for example, gas or electricity providers
I5. Industry/trade associations or non-profit organizations
I6. Federal government
I7. State government
I8. Local government
I9-14. Finally, how often do you get energy information from different types of mass media?
Would you say that you never, sometimes, or frequently get energy information from…
A. Never
B. Sometimes
C. Frequently
D. Don’t know
I9. Television
I10. Radio
I11. The Internet
I12. Newspapers and general interest magazines
I13. Science and technology magazines and journals
I14. Business or trade magazines

Audience-specific Questions
A1. Does your agency operate any hydrogen vehicles?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
A2. Do you know of any other organization that operates hydrogen-powered buses or other fleet
vehicles in the area covered by your geographic jurisdiction?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
A3. Does your agency own or operate any stationary fuel cells?

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A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
A4. Do you know of any other organization that operates stationary fuel cells in the area covered
by your geographic jurisdiction?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
A5. Does your agency have plans to use hydrogen or fuel cells in the future?
A. Yes Æ Continue
B. No Æ Skip to A7
C. Don’t know Æ Skip to A7
A6. What is the time frame for plans to use hydrogen or fuel cells?
A. Within the next year
B. 1-5 years
C. Over 5 years
D. Don’t know
A7. Have you received information at your workplace concerning hydrogen and/or fuel
cells?
A. Yes Æ Skip to A9
B. No Æ Continue
C. Don’t know Æ Continue
A8. Would information be valuable to you?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
A9-11. Have you attended any of the following events?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Don’t know
A9. A training class on hydrogen or fuel cells
A10. A press conference concerning the use of hydrogen or fuel cells
A11. A conference or workshop that included a session on hydrogen or fuel cells
A12. Would a class or workshop on hydrogen and fuel cells be of value to you?
A. Yes Æ Continue to A13
B. No Æ End
C. Don’t know Æ End
A13. Which would you prefer?

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A.
B.
C.
D.

A workshop in conjunction with a major conference I am already planning to attend
A stand-alone workshop in my area
Either one
Don’t know/No opinion

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