Gerard: American voters overwhelmingly voted for energy

API releases election night poll of actual voters

WASHINGTON, November 5, 2014 – Ninety percent of voters on Tuesday recognize that increased production of domestic oil and natural gas resources could lead to more U.S. jobs, and 86 percent recognize it stimulates our economy, according to an election night telephone poll of actual voters conducted for API by Harris Poll.

“In the 2014 election cycle, energy was a clear winner, because voters from every party recognize its key role in job creation and economic growth: the top priorities on Election Day,” API President and CEO Jack Gerard told reporters in a press conference call. “In race after race, voters from all regions of our nation and from both political parties voted for candidates who stood behind pro-development, all-of-the-above energy policies.

“The results of our poll provide a lesson for candidates running in 2016: pro-energy policies win.”

For the 2016 election, 66 percent of voters say they are more likely to support a candidate who supports producing more oil and natural gas, according to the poll [55 percent of Democrats and 82 percent of Republicans].

Other poll results:

• On the Renewable Fuel Standard, 79 percent of voters were concerned about government requirements that would increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline since most auto manufacturers don’t warranty their vehicles against potential damages.
• And the poll also found that 72 percent support building the Keystone XL pipeline [58 percent of Democrats and 91 percent of Republicans].

“If the new Congress is serious about living up to their energy campaign promises, which we expect they are, they should waste no time advancing a pro-energy, pro-growth agenda,” Gerard said. “That includes approving the Keystone XL pipeline, expanding access to domestic oil and natural gas resources, repealing the RFS, and reining in duplicative and unnecessary regulations.

“We hope that President Obama will take this opportunity to work with the new Congress on smart energy policies that grow our nation’s still shaky economy, create well-paying jobs and maintain our nation’s global energy leadership.

“Tuesday’s results clearly show that’s the direction a broad majority of American voters would like to go.”

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 600 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 20 million Americans.

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Methodology

The study was conducted on November 4, 2014, by telephone by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute among 827 Election Day voters across the U.S., with a sampling error of +/- 4 percent. A full methodology is available upon request.

"What America is Thinking on Energy Issues" is a public opinion series provided by API, offering data to inform policy discussions and ensure policymakers and others know Americans' perspectives on key energy issues.