New Poll: Swing State Voters Support Policies to Encourage Oil and Natural Gas Production

                       Poll shows overwhelming support for permitting reform; strong opposition to energy and vehicle mandates

WASHINGTON, August 15, 2024 – The American Petroleum Institute (API) today released new battleground state polling conducted by Morning Consult demonstrating widespread support for policies that encourage domestic oil and natural gas production and limit reliance on foreign sources. The poll shows inflation remains a top concern for voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and an overwhelming majority oppose vehicle mandates. As Congress continues to debate bipartisan permitting reform legislation, voters in battleground states expressed strong support for reforms to streamline the approval process for energy infrastructure projects. 

With less than 100 days until Election Day, API is urging policymakers on both sides of the aisle to support commonsense energy policies, including those outlined in API’s Five Point Policy Roadmap to unleash America’s energy security and help reduce inflation.

“The U.S. continues to be a global leader in energy production, but the American people recognize that our leaders in Washington must advance an agenda to grow our nation’s energy advantage for decades to come,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said. “With geopolitical tensions rising and inflation remaining a top concern, we need policies that reinforce the role of American energy on the world stage and support access to the affordable, reliable energy consumers need.” 

The poll conducted by Morning Consult found: 

• More than 9 in 10 voters are concerned about inflation. (AZ: 94% GA: 93% MI 94% NV: 94% NC: 92% PA: 91% WI: 91%)
• 8 in 10 voters agree that producing more oil and natural gas here in the U.S. could help lower energy and utility costs for American consumers. (AZ: 83% GA: 88% MI: 84% NV: 86% NC: 85% PA: 83% WI: 80%)
• A majority of voters oppose government mandates that restrict consumer choice, including banning new gasoline, diesel and hybrid vehicles. (AZ: 69% GA: 76% MI: 80% NV: 75% NC: 75% PA: 77% WI: 78%)
• Approximately 8 in 10 voters support fixing our broken permitting system to streamline the process of approving energy infrastructure projects. (AZ: 79% GA: 81% MI: 82% NV: 81% NC: 80% PA: 84% WI: 80%)
• More than 8 in 10 voters agree producing oil and natural gas here in America helps make our country more secure against foreign adversaries. (AZ: 89% GA: 91% MI: 87% NV: 85% NC: 88% PA: 86% WI: 87%)
• More than 8 in 10 voters support leveraging America’s domestic resources rather than relying on other regions of the world. (AZ: 85% GA: 89% MI: 86% NV: 82% NC: 82% PA: 86% WI: 84%)
• Nearly 8 in 10 voters support advancing a sensible federal tax policy that encourages American energy production and strengthens the country’s economic and energy security. (AZ: 82% GA: 85% MI: 80% NV: 76% NC: 80% PA: 78% WI: 76%)

View the full poll results by state here. 

Methodology: These polls were conducted between August 2-7, 2024, among a sample of Registered Voters (AZ=600; GA=602; MI=602; NV=400; NC=601; PA=600; WI=502). The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of Registered Voters by State of Residency based on race, educational attainment, marital status, home ownership, 2020 presidential vote, and gender by age. Results from the full surveys in the individual states have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, except for Nevada which has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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