A new poll shows that when it comes to energy, Americans are most worried about dependence on foreign oil.

The survey, commissioned by Renewable Fuels Now and conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates Inc., polled 1200 voters earlier this year about a number of issues facing Americans.

The top three concerns were the war in Iraq, health insurance and energy. Almost half rated imports one of their two biggest energy concerns. A distant second is the lack of viable alternatives to fossil fuels.

When asked what is the best way to solve America’s energy problems, 51 percent said the answer is to invest in renewable energy sources; 28 percent call for energy efficiency and conservation policies; and only 17 percent favor more drilling and mining for domestic fossil fuels. Eighty percent of the voters in the survey say government should give more incentives to encourage the development of renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Seventy-six percent want government to require more renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel to be blended into fuel for cars and trucks.

“These numbers show Americans are worried about how they’re going to fill their gas tanks and heat their homes in the future — and they should be,” said Toni Nuernberg, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, a member of the Renewable Fuels Now Coalition. “Using more ethanol and other renewable fuels means we’re going to be less dependent on oil from unstable parts of the world.”