A new Washington Post/ABC News poll on the Keystone XL pipeline adds to the drumbeat of strong public support for building the pipeline. The Post/ABC survey shows a nearly 3 to 1 margin, with 65 percent saying Keystone XL should be approved.
Details of the poll show why: 85 percent say the pipeline will create a significant number of jobs. They also show support is broad and bipartisan: Democrats (51 percent), Independents (65 percent) and Republicans (82 percent) want the Keystone XL approved. The poll graphic below also shows that support for the pipeline has grown since June 2012:
Cindy Schild, API’s senior refining and oil sands issues manager, talked about why President Obama should approve the project during a conference call with reporters this week:
Without question, construction of Keystone XL is in our nation’s interest, and the project should be approved immediately. Keystone XL will result in no significant environmental, climate or cultural impacts, yet it will create jobs immediately and significantly contribute to the U.S. economy. Keystone XL will also appreciably enhance the country’s energy security with a safe, secure, and reliable domestic and Canadian supplies.
The Keystone XL would mean job creation – more than 42,000 jobs during the project’s construction phase, according to the U.S. State Department – economic stimulus and increased energy security thanks to a stronger partnership with Canada. The pipeline would be integral to a broad energy strategy that could see the U.S. meet 100 percent of its liquid fuel needs from North American sources by 2030.
Jobs, economic growth and energy security – all could become a reality with a stroke of the president’s pen. Schild:
Increasing trade with our reliable neighbor will produce ongoing economic benefits even beyond the 500,000 U.S. jobs and $775 billion in GDP growth projected from increased investment in the development of Canada’s oil sands. Canadians return up to 89 cents through purchases of U.S. goods and services for every dollar the U.S. spends on Canadian products, including oil. Compared to the 27 cent return we get from energy trading partners like Venezuela, the benefits of Canadian trade are obvious – as are the national security advantages. … The fact is, oil and natural gas will still be responsible for providing nearly 60 percent of the country’s energy and more than 90 percent of our transportation fuels 25 years from now, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
It’s time to build. The State Department has conducted five environmental reviews over five years, each determining that the project will be safe for the environment. Right now State is weighing whether Keystone XL is in the national interest. Jobs, economic growth and improved national security – on a foundation of safe energy – argue that it is in the national interest.
Make your voice heard by clicking here and leaving a comment by 11:59 p.m. ET Friday. More than 500,000 API grassroots advocates have submitted comments, and other organizations have gathered another 500,000 comments in support of the Keystone XL. All together, the president is hearing from more than 1 million Americans who want him to say yes to the Keystone XL – reflected in the new Washington Post/ABC News survey. Supporters include a number of former members of the Obama administration – former national security advisors Tom Donilon and Gen. Jim Jones, former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Marcia McNutt, the former head of the U.S. Geological Survey. The labor community supports the jobs it would create. Schild:
The time for study is over. Bipartisan majorities in Congress and a majority of the American people support moving forward with the Keystone XL pipeline, including nearly 500,000 API grassroots advocates who have submitted comments to the State Department. The Obama administration has all the evidence it needs to approve the Keystone XL pipeline without further delay.
Let’s build the Keystone XL pipeline.
By Mark Green
Originally posted March 7th, 2014
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