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Poll: 71 percent of North Carolina voters favor offshore oil and natural gas development


Reid Porter| 202.682.8114 | porterr@api.org


WASHINGTON, January 27, 2015 – More than seven in ten North Carolina voters support offshore drilling for domestic oil and natural gas resources, according to a new poll conducted by Harris Poll for API’s “What America is Thinking on Energy Issues” series.

“Voters in North Carolina know developing more of America's homegrown energy makes sense for jobs, government revenues, and our energy security,” said David McGowan, executive director of the North Carolina Petroleum Council. “We could bring more than tens of thousands of good-paying jobs to North Carolina and diversify our economy simply by allowing more oil and natural gas production to occur in our state and off our shores.”

Areas throughout the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) could be made available for oil and natural gas development, creating more than 280,000 jobs, $200 billion in government revenue and 3.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to a recent study by Quest Offshore Resources.

The state-wide telephone poll, conducted for API by Harris Poll among 605 registered North Carolina voters also found that:
  • 86 percent agree that producing more U.S. oil and natural gas could help lower energy costs for consumers.
  • 85 percent agree increased oil and natural gas production could strengthen America’s energy security.
  • 80 percent say increased oil and natural gas production could benefit federal and state budgets through lease payments, royalty fees and other sources of revenue.
  • 61 percent say that the federal government does not do enough to encourage U.S. oil and natural gas development.
The North Carolina Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.

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Methodology
The telephone study was conducted by telephone on January 15-18, 2015 by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute among 605 registered voters in North Carolina, 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.

Downloads

What America is Thinking - Offshore Drilling Poll - North Carolina

File Size: .4 MB

What America Is Thinking On Energy Issues: Offshore Drilling – North Carolina (Winter 2015)

File Size: 1.2 MB

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