A new poll being released by the American Petroleum Institute finds broad support for domestic energy production and decreasing reliance on foreign sources amid the three-week-old Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The poll shows that 82% support oil and gas production in the United States to protect the country and our allies against actions by Russia, while only 3% disagreed and the rest didn’t register an opinion. There were similar margins for whether oil and gas development strengthens U.S. national security and whether it “helps America maintain a leadership role during a period of global uncertainty.”
There were 499 registered Pennsylvania voters in the poll, which was done in the first week of March by Morning Consult. It found broad concern — 93% of those surveyed — for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and even higher levels of concern, 98%, about rising inflation and cost of living.
API, which is based in Washington, D.C., is a trade group for the oil and gas industry. It also has a Pennsylvania unit.
“Given the crisis in Ukraine and the rising cost of energy at home and abroad, the world is focused on the importance of access to secure, reliable and affordable energy,” said API SVP of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola. “Also on the top mind of voters across the United States is that more than ever America’s energy is critical for meeting global demand and increasing national security.”
API, along with others in the industry, are calling for the government to lower what they say are barriers to increased production of oil and gas to not only meet the needs of the U.S. but also its allies around the world. Natural gas and oil development, particularly in the Northeast, has been stymied by, primarily, legal challenges to pipelines as well as a market that drillers say doesn’t favor long-term development without government action. While drilling is up over a year ago and two years ago, it still hasn’t achieved prepandemic levels.
API PA Executive Director Stephanie Catarino Wissman said that the war in Ukraine, and the energy shocks, have spotlighted what API has been talking about for a long time.
“Americans would like us to be energy secure and Pennsylvania is playing and will continue to play a leading role in natural gas development,” Wissman said.
Wissman and Macchiarola say the industry needs the government to make oil and gas development a priority, and the action that gets pipelines and infrastructure like liquified natural gas export facilities built.
“With the policy uncertainty out there and the lack of clarity (from government), that’s a problem,” she said. “The industry needs signals that development is something that’s welcomed and we lack that, unfortunately.”
The poll also found agreement by 84% of voters surveyed that domestic oil and gas production will help lower what consumers and small businesses pay for energy.
“We all benefit from prolific natural gas production,” Wissman said. “It keeps energy costs down, which Pennsylvania has seen for the past several years … I truly believe that Pennsylvanians are making that connection.”
Author: Paul J. Gough, Pittsburgh Business TimesPublication: Pittsburgh Business Times
https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/