New Polling Shows Americans’ Strong Belief in the Value of U.S. Natural Gas and Oil

Mark Green
Posted August 20, 2020

Results of polling from a dozen key battleground and other states show voters recognize the present and long-term value of domestic natural gas and oil – to their daily lives, to the broader economy, to our nation’s security. Three thoughts from polling conducted by Morning Consult:

• Access to domestic natural gas and oil – safely and efficiently developing the country’s leading energy sources – is important to voters and should be to political candidates as well. Two-thirds say they’re more likely to vote for office-seekers who support natural gas and oil access.
• Opinions of Americans in these key states reflect a pragmatic view of the country’s energy picture. They appreciate the role natural gas and oil play in U.S. energy leadership and security, and they recognize their importance in everyday life.
• Americans support an all-of-the-above approach to energy, leading to greater U.S. self-sufficiency – suggesting that voters acknowledge the essential role of natural gas and oil in meeting our nation’s energy needs for decades to come, even as renewables enter the resource mix.

API President and CEO Mike Sommers:

“As we approach the election, it is clear a majority of voters know and support the critical role the natural gas and oil industry plays in driving the economic recovery, keeping energy costs low and protecting national security.

“U.S. energy leadership has been a priority of every one of our last seven presidents, Democrat and Republican – a trend this polling shows American voters want to see continue. Proposals to ban U.S. energy production are out of step with bipartisan support for an all-of-the-above energy approach and would set America back by returning us to the days of relying on foreign energy.”      

Detail from the polling conducted in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas:

• 93% say it’s important for the U.S. to produce enough energy to avoid being dependent on other countries
• 92% believe keeping energy and gasoline prices affordable is important.
• 82% recognize the value that natural gas and oil provide to their personal life
• 73% believe natural gas and oil will be a significant part of America’s energy needs in 2040
• 63% believe the natural gas and oil industry will have an important role in helping the economy recover from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic
• 78% support Congress taking an all-the-above approach to achieve energy self-sufficiency and ensure the U.S. is not reliant on foreign sources of energy

Sommers:

“The Morning Consult poll also shows an overwhelming majority of voters prioritize American energy security and believe it is important for the U.S. not to rely on foreign energy sources.”

Americans see domestic natural gas and oil as foundational to security in a chaotic world, as a key driver for the national economy and personally valuable – positions with significant relevance as the nation prepares to vote this fall.