New Poll: Michigan Voters Want Answers on Energy Policy

LANSING, MI, October 2, 2024 – This week, as presidential candidates continue making stops in Michigan, the American Petroleum Institute (API) released new polling showing nearly 9 in 10 voters in Michigan and six other key battleground states are looking for details from presidential candidates on energy issues. The poll conducted by Morning Consult also found that 9 in 10 Michigan and other battleground state voters are concerned about inflation and more than 4 in 5 voters agree producing more oil and natural gas here in the U.S. could help lower energy costs for American consumers.

"American energy should be a bipartisan rallying point,” API Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Amanda Eversole said. “U.S. oil and natural gas production plays a critical role in fueling our economy and can help curb inflation while strengthening national security and protecting our allies around the world. We need a policy agenda aimed at expanding access to resources, fixing a broken permitting system and protecting consumer choice. In the final stretch to Election Day, voters deserve to know where candidates stand on the issues that will shape America’s energy future.” 

In Michigan, where one of the largest industries is automotive manufacturing, the poll found that about 3 out of 4 voters oppose government mandates that restrict consumer choice and ban new gasoline, diesel and hybrid vehicles.

The poll conducted by Morning Consult found that in Michigan: 

• 86% of voters would like to hear from presidential candidates about their position on energy issues. 
• 91% of voters are concerned about inflation. 
• 87% of voters agree that producing more oil and natural gas here in the U.S. could help lower energy and utility costs for American consumers. 
• 77% of voters oppose government mandates that restrict consumer choice, including banning new gasoline, diesel and hybrid vehicles. 
• 78% of voters support fixing our broken permitting system to streamline the process of approving energy infrastructure projects. 
• 79% of voters support advancing a sensible federal tax policy that encourages American energy production and strengthens the country’s economic and energy security. 
• 86% of voters support leveraging America’s domestic resources rather than relying on other regions of the world. 
• 89% of voters agree producing oil and natural gas here in America helps make our country more secure against foreign adversaries.

In Michigan, the natural gas and oil industry supports over 228,000 jobs and contributes more than $30 billion to the state’s economy, according to a PwC report.  

View the full poll results here. 

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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