Voters want candidates who support America’s energy Renaissance – poll

API: “There are some critics who want our standard of living to be somewhere between an average Englishman and an average Ethiopian”

Washington, D.C.– American voters are looking for energy leadership and would back a candidate who supports more oil and natural gas production, according to new survey by Harris Poll conducted on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute.

“Broadly, the poll makes clear that when it comes to energy, what matters to most Americans is that they want and expect reliable and affordable energy,” said API President and CEO Jack Gerard.

“During this election season we are backing our candidate ‘energy’ and the broad support by the American electorate for more oil and gas production.

Gerard says the United States has become the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world thanks to American ingenuity and innovativeness.

“Led by industry innovation, not government mandates, the United States has become the global leader in reduced carbon and other emissions, which are near 20-year lows,” he said.

The survey found that 69 per cent of voters say they are more likely to support a candidate who supports producing more oil and natural gas.

“This achievement, which we refer to as the U.S. model, serves as a real-world reminder that our nation can lead the world in energy production – lowering energy costs for consumers by hundreds of dollars a year – while leading the world in reduced carbon emissions,” said Gerard.

Seventy-three per cent of voters support a national energy policy that ensures a secure supply of abundant, affordable and available energy for the American people in an environmentally responsible manner (79 per cent of Democrats and 67 per cent of Republicans).

“There are some critics who want our standard of living to be somewhere between an average Englishman and an average Ethiopian,” said Gerard.

“Based on data from the World Bank, achieving that vision would require Americans to slash our electricity usage somewhere between 59 and 99.96 per cent. This vision presents a false choice and starkly contrasts what the American voters want.”

Other poll results:

• Eighty per cent of voters agree that increased access to domestic oil and natural gas resources could help lower energy costs for American consumers. This belief is bipartisan, with 75 per cent of Democrats, 90 per cent of Republicans and 81 per cent of Independents agreeing.
• Seventy-three per cent of voters believe that federal government regulations can contribute to increased costs for gasoline to consumers. Sixty-three percent of Democrats, 80 per cent of Republicans and 78 per cent of Independents agree.

• Seventy-seven per cent of voters support increased production of US oil and natural gas resources.

• Seventy-seven per cent of voters think it is important that the US is doing better than all of the other major economies when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and 70 per cent support natural gas’ role in this reduction.

• Eighty-two per cent of voters support increased development of the country’s energy infrastructure.

• On the Renewable Fuel Standard, 77 per cent of voters are concerned about government requirements that would increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline given the fact most auto manufacturers don’t warranty their vehicles against potential damages.

• Seventy-one per cent of voters oppose legislation that could increase the cost of oil and natural gas operations and thus potentially drive up energy costs to American consumers.

• Sixty-four per cent of voters oppose higher taxes that could decrease investment in energy production and reduce energy development.

Methodology

The study was conducted on May 10-15, by telephone by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute among 1,001 registered voters across the U.S., with a sampling error of +/- 3 per cent.