Forty-nine percent of those surveyed told the Gallup organizations they believe protection of the environment should take priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth, while 42 percent said economic growth should take precedence.

Gallup said the poll result is far from that of a similar poll taken a year ago, when 55 percent said the environment should trump the economy.

The poll of 1,012 adults found that 95 percent of Americans believe the U.S. energy situation is very or fairly serious. Sixty-two percent said they believe the United States will face a catastrophic energy shortage during the next five years.

The poll was conducted March 6-9 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percent.