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Showing posts with label survey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label survey. Show all posts

Friday, July 30, 2010

New Poll: Americans Support Energy Production, Oppose Unfair Taxes by a 3-1 Margin

/PRNewswire/ -- A new survey released today by the American Energy Alliance (AEA) found that 77 percent of registered voters oppose efforts in Congress to tax American companies twice on income earned abroad. The poll also found that 3 out of 4 Americans agree that our energy companies should be allowed to continue offshore exploration for energy and, separately, that we should increase U.S. oil production.

"These results may not be what the leaders on Capitol Hill want to hear, but it is no surprise that even with the tragic events unfolding in the Gulf, Americans recognize the realities of our nation's economy, the abundance of energy still available here in the U.S., and the overall exemplary safety record of our nation's drillers," AEA president Thomas Pyle said.

"AEA recently commissioned a study that showed 12,000 jobs would be lost and $2.8 billion in economic activity with it, because of the Administration's six-month moratorium in the Gulf. This unpopular and unnecessary ban is costing more jobs every day and will cost every American in terms of higher energy prices and increased reliance on energy from unstable foreign regimes. Again, we urge the Administration to listen to the American people and reopen the Gulf to responsible energy development."

The survey, conducted by Jan R van Lohuizen from Voter/Consumer Outreach, comes at a time when the President and Congress are attempting to pay for environmental and other pet projects on the backs of American oil and gas companies. Two specific changes to the tax code included in the President's 2011 budget and under discussion on Capitol Hill would have the impact of increasing the cost of energy in the U.S. and could lead to even more job losses in the energy sector. The U.S. currently taxes the global income of its international companies, but provides a credit against domestic tax liability on that income in hopes of keeping American companies from being "double-taxed" on their overseas earnings. Targeting our own energy producers with this double-tax will weaken American energy companies' ability to compete with foreign energy companies.

Additionally, policymakers are looking to repeal Section 199 tax provisions which gives all businesses that manufacture goods within the U.S. an incentive to grow their U.S. operations and hire more U.S. workers. Some in Washington are attempting to repeal these provisions just on the oil industry, essentially discriminating against energy jobs. Today, the energy industry employs some 9 million workers. However, many of these jobs could be in jeopardy if the Administration and Congress continue the drilling moratorium and impose new and onerous taxes on these companies.

The survey also found that Americans overwhelmingly oppose new regulations on the energy industry and, instead, support efforts to better enforce existing laws (16%-75%).

The poll was commissioned by Save U.S. Energy Jobs, a project of the American Energy Alliance - a free market energy advocacy organization. To learn more and get exclusive information on upcoming projects, follow Save U.S. Energy Jobs on Twitter and Facebook.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Deloitte Survey: Age of Plenty Predicted for Natural Gas

/PRNewswire/ -- The United States is entering an age of plenty for natural gas, according to a survey of oil and gas professionals conducted by the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions.

"The survey numbers are striking," said Gary Adams, vice chairman and leader of Deloitte's oil and gas practice. "The overwhelming majority of survey respondents, 84 percent, say the best days for the natural gas industry are still ahead of us, despite today's low prices."

Current industry thinking would attribute this enthusiasm about natural gas to a surge in production from unconventional formations, such as shale and coal bed methane, and to the expectation that climate change legislation will increase the demand for gas-powered electricity generation.

Adams notes the survey confirms the increasingly common perception among many energy pundits that America's energy future will become more closely aligned with natural gas than we thought just a few years ago. In contrast, oil will continue to be a dominant fuel source for transportation for many years to come, but difficulties are expected to continue when it comes to finding and producing the fuel in the future, mainly because oil is increasingly found in challenging environments such as deep water and arctic regions, or in reserves controlled by national oil interests.

"While most analysts agree that oil will remain vital for transportation, the current belief in a vibrant future for domestic natural gas -- driven by significant technological advances in the production of gases from unconventional fuel sources -- stands in contrast to the industry's thinking just a few years ago, which indicated that natural gas supplies in the United States would not grow dramatically," said Adams.

The survey further supports the optimism about a natural gas future by looking at several key perceptions:

-- While oil is expected to remain the single most widely used energy
source in the United States for some time, its usage is expected to
decline over time. The number of respondents that expect oil to remain
the most widely used overall energy source in the United States drops
16 points over the next five years -- sinking to 41 percent who
believe oil will dominate in 2015 from 57 percent who currently think
oil is the most widely used overall energy source.

-- In contrast, expectations that natural gas will be the most widely
used fuel source by 2015 double over the next five years, rising to
almost one quarter (24 percent) who believe it will dominate in 2015
from one in 10 respondents who see natural gas as the currently
dominant fuel source. Current industry thinking would indicate that
much of the rising demand for natural gas will be for power
generation.

-- Additionally, almost one in 10 respondents expects unconventional
natural gas to be the main source of energy in five years -- as well
as an additional 4 percent who think it will be liquid natural gas
(LNG) -- further elevating the status of natural gas in respondents'
views as a critical energy source.

-- When it comes to fossil fuel production, 85 percent of respondents
believe the domestic production of natural gas will increase in the
next five years, compared to only 45 percent who think American oil
production will increase during the same time period.

-- A higher percentage of survey respondents believe oil prices will
increase versus respondents that think natural gas prices will
increase. More than half (51 percent) believe the price of oil will
greatly increase over the next five years. In contrast, only 32
percent of respondents foresee the price of natural gas greatly
increasing in the same time period, probably due to the abundant
supply of natural gas versus increasingly constrained oil supplies.



Climate Change Legislation Expected to Pass; Industry and Consumers to Feel Impact

Survey respondents also were in accord regarding climate change legislation, anticipating some form of the legislation would pass within two years, but that it would penalize oil and gas companies, and increase fuel prices for consumers.

"According to our survey," said Adams, "a solid majority of respondents, 60 percent, think that some form of the climate change legislation currently under discussion in Congress will be finalized and passed within the next two years. A mere 14 percent think Congress will never pass such legislation."

While oil and gas professionals are split on whether or not climate change legislation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they are united in their opinions that it will push consumer prices higher and penalize oil and gas companies:

-- More than 90 percent of respondents believe climate change legislation
will lead to higher gasoline and natural gas prices for consumers.
-- Three quarters (75 percent) of all respondents expect climate change
legislation will lead to significantly lower profits for oil and gas
companies and 68 percent say it will lead to more layoffs in the
industry.
-- Most oil and gas professionals (76 percent) believe that climate
change legislation is not likely to create more jobs for Americans.



"All of this speaks to a general concern about the effectiveness of governmental energy policies among oil and gas professionals," said Adams. "The survey reveals that most oil and gas professionals, 76 percent, think the energy industry is heading in the wrong direction and a similar amount, 63 percent, say it is in worse shape now than it was even a year ago."

Despite Concerns about Layoffs and Expense Cutting, Respondents are Optimistic about Exploration and Production Revenues

When the survey looked at recession-related business issues, it found that concerns about layoffs and expense cutting persisted among oil and gas professionals:

-- Almost one in two oil and gas professionals expects that layoffs in
the industry will increase over the next year.
-- Most oil and gas professionals say their companies are reducing
operating expenses (75 percent) and many say their companies are
reducing overall capital expenditures (56 percent) in response to the
recession.



Despite these concerns, respondents do not expect revenues to shrink in the various oil and gas industry sectors in the next year, with the exception of the refining sector:

-- 76 percent expect revenues to grow at national oil companies
-- 76 percent expect revenues to grow at international oil companies
-- 67 percent expect revenues to grow at independent exploration and
production companies
-- 61 percent expect revenues to grow at supply and service companies
-- 58 percent expect revenues to grow at outside energy consultancies
-- 35 percent expect revenues to grow at refining companies



The survey also shows that, contrary to speculation by many analysts about mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector, most oil and gas professionals do not currently see such activity at their own companies. When asked how their individual companies are responding to current oil and gas prices, only 14 percent say their company is pursuing a merger or acquisition.

"What we are seeing here is an underlying confidence in the sustainability of the oil and gas industry," said Adams. "Oil and gas companies have survived severe volatility over the past decades, and despite the current recession, these companies have sophisticated, adaptable business models and believe they can post healthy revenues well into the future."

Energy Independence will be Hard to Achieve in the Near Term

A final area of interest in the survey concerned energy independence. Oil and gas professionals are more or less evenly split on whether or not the United States can realistically achieve energy independence with 53 percent saying the United States can achieve independence while 46 percent say it cannot. Among the half that believes it is possible, most do not expect it for at least 15 years.

Concerns about independence from foreign oil are further complicated by climate change legislation. The majority of oil and gas professionals (62 percent) think climate change legislation will worsen the United States' dependence on foreign nations for oil.

Adams believes the survey responses reinforce the idea that oil and gas professionals are clearly looking to the future and that they see their industry as a vital part of the bridge to alternative energy and renewables. "Oil and gas will continue to be critical to meeting energy demand for many years to come, with natural gas playing an increasingly important role in our energy future. The oil and gas industry is healthy, innovative and enthusiastic about the opportunities before it," he added.

To view a graphic related to this survey, visit www.deloitte.com/us/OilSurvey2009. A high resolution version of the graphic is available upon request.

To obtain the full findings, contact Jon Rucket at 713-819-0712 (mobile) or 713-982-4217 (office) or jrucket@deloitte.com.

Survey Methodology

Deloitte conducted 200 quantitative interviews among oil and gas professionals from Oct. 30, 2009 to Nov. 5, 2009. All respondents were energy sector employees who have worked in the industry for at least five years, are college educated and earned at least $100,000 per year.

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Monday, November 2, 2009

Electric Utilities Are Invited to Shed Light on Energy Efficiency

/PRNewswire/ -- Electric utilities across the country are invited to help bring consumers out of the dark about the importance of energy efficiency. Power companies can now provide easy access to information about their energy efficiency programs at no charge on www.ziptogreen.com, a new one-stop online resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. ZiptoGreen's user-friendly format can link consumers by ZIP Code to energy efficiency and renewable energy programs offered by their electric utility. A survey conducted by ZiptoGreen found that more than 75 percent of consumers do not connect to their utility for help in reducing energy consumption.

Beginning with the end of daylight savings time until the clocks move forward again, power companies can collaborate with ZiptoGreen to illuminate the importance of energy efficiency by providing links to their energy efficiency programs and incentives at no charge. When daylight savings time arrives in March, ZiptoGreen hopes consumers are "enlightened" about the importance of partnering with their utility to meet their energy reduction goals. Utilities that collaborate with ZiptoGreen during this period can become Charter Members and substantially reduce their participation fees thereafter.

"Many consumers are too busy and overwhelmed to spend time looking for programs offered by their utility company," says Julia Glenn Carter, founder and CEO of ZiptoGreen. "A comprehensive website was needed that gives residential consumers easy access to the wealth of energy efficiency solutions available right now, including those offered by utilities. Such a website is essential if we are going to tackle our energy challenges any time soon. Consumers need and want help reducing their monthly costs."

According to a report released in October by the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, a weak economy has contributed to lower energy consumption in both the commercial and residential sectors. Experts expect consumption to increase as the economy rebounds, however. According to a U.S. Department of Commerce report released last week, modest but consistent growth from July to September suggests economic recovery has begun. While natural gas prices have fallen with the economy, coal prices for electricity generation are expected to increase by 7 percent, according to the EIA report.

ZiptoGreen helps consumers become energy efficient by making it easy for them to create and implement a customized action plan. Users of the website can see in real-time the impact actions have on estimated energy usage. When a user clicks on an incentive icon associated with a specific action, ZiptoGreen calls up a window with incentive information. Currently, federal tax incentive information is featured; however, participating utilities and state governments can provide incentive information on their programs by ZIP Code.

ZiptoGreen also provides ongoing support to help consumers achieve energy reduction goals. Users can schedule and receive email reminders of their actions. In addition, they are given a personal page to monitor and update their reduction plan, and product discount "rewards" to motivate action.

"Most people need a little hand holding to change a habit. How we consume energy is definitely a habit," says Carter.

From the personal page, ZiptoGreen supports users by providing links to local resources serving their ZIP Code, including the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs of participating utilities. The sustainability programs of cities that have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Program are also featured. Any community, however, can provide these links to their residents at no charge. Interested local governments should email ZiptoGreen at communities@ziptogreen.com.

User access to all resources on www.ziptogreen.com is free of charge.

ZiptoGreen was a featured link on the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy during its launch in Washington, D.C. The website is owned by LaCour Incorporated, a privately-held corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia. For additional information visit www.ziptogreen.com.

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Monday, May 4, 2009

Energy Independence Not Attainable Until 2030 or Beyond, Says KPMG Survey of Oil and Gas Executives

/PRNewswire/ -- More than three-quarters of oil and gas executives surveyed by KPMG LLP's Global Energy Institute say that energy independence is not attainable until 2030 or beyond, despite the emphasis on alternative energy sources in current and proposed government energy policies. The executives also said mass production of alternative energy is not viable in the short term. While there is a marked shift upward in the number of executives who acknowledge that global warming is occurring, the vast majority still don't support proposed regulations to stem CO2 emissions.

The KPMG Global Energy Institute survey polled 382 financial executives from oil and gas companies in April 2009. A total of 63 percent of respondents believe energy independence will not be attainable until after 2030; sixteen percent say it can happen by 2030, while nine percent deem it possible before 2020.

"Despite the increased focus on domestic energy sources, energy infrastructure, and alternative energy sources, a realistic assessment of technology and investment in the industry suggests energy independence is not realistic for at least two decades," said Bill Kimble, executive director of the KPMG Global Energy Institute. "The executives' perceptions of energy independence mirror their views on the viability of alternatives in the near-term as well."

Executives expect alternative and renewable energy sources to receive the most focus in President Obama's energy policy, the KPMG survey found. However, 52 percent said it will not be viable to mass produce any alternative energy sources by 2015, compared to 54 percent last year and 60 percent two years ago.

Winners and Losers in the New Energy Policy

Although executives did not think alternative energy sources were immediately viable, they did have clear opinions on which ones would benefit most from the Obama administration's energy policy. Thirty-five percent of respondents said that wind energy would be the biggest winner as a result of Obama's policy, followed by 18 percent for natural gas and 17 percent for biofuels. Conversely, 42 percent of executives see coal as the biggest loser while 36 percent say oil.

"These results clearly show the momentum wind energy has gained as a clean energy solution," said Kimble. "But 93 percent of our respondents see wind generation growing to only six percent of our energy generation by 2015 and only 17 percent say wind energy is viable for mass production by that year."

Marked Shift: More than Half Now Acknowledge Human Impact on Global Warming

When asked which areas in the Obama administration's energy policy would receive the most focus after alternative energy, executives cited greenhouse gas emissions and cap-and-trade. And, though the EPA recently pointed to CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels as the main cause of global warming, nearly half (47 percent) of executives still believe that global warming, is a natural weather cycle, although this number is down from 62 percent in 2008.

"Our data shows a noted swing in executive perceptions on the issue of greenhouse gases and global warming," said Kimble, "but there is clear reluctance to support proposed actions and regulations to stem CO2 emissions."

In fact, when asked if they would support a cap-and-trade or carbon tax to reduce CO2 emissions, KPMG found that 59 percent do not support either, 23 percent would support carbon tax, and 18 percent would support a cap-and-trade system.

Spending and Business Challenges

When asked about capital spending and key business challenges in the coming year, KPMG found that executives have a subdued view. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed expect their company to decrease capital spending, including 47 percent who predict a drop of greater than 10 percent. Only 17 percent expect an increase over 2008 levels. These views are in stark contrast to those from KPMG's 2008 survey, when 70 percent expected an increase in capital spending and only five percent saw a decrease.

While oil prices have stabilized after extreme volatility in 2008, KPMG found that executives still rank commodity pricing the most significant challenge facing their companies in the coming year. Other key business challenges in order of significance include the economy, access to capital and regulatory concerns.

Also, 63 percent believe eliminating intangible drilling costs (IDC) will result in companies drilling outside the U.S. and unconventional wells not being drilled, a factor that may further slow the race toward energy independence

"There is no question that the economy has had an impact on U.S. energy companies, both in terms of pricing and capital," said Kimble. "However, with the current regulatory and legislative environment, oil and gas executives are also faced with the challenges of an evolving and dynamic industry pushing toward non-traditional energy sources."

KPMG will be discussing these survey results during its Seventh Annual Global Energy Conference, the event for financial executives in the energy industry on May 12th and 13th at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston. This year's keynote speakers will be Madeleine Albright, Former United States Secretary of State, and Marvin Odum, President, Shell Oil Company.

The KPMG Global Energy Institute (GEI) has been designed to provide an open forum where industry financial officers, risk officers, internal audit directors, and tax executives can share knowledge, gain insights, and access thought leadership about key oil and gas or power and utilities issues and emerging trends. It offers ideas and innovative tools that help organizations apply rigor to compelling, real-world business and energy issues. GEI interacts with their members through a variety of channels, including Web-based videocasts, podcasts, conferences, share forums, and a web portal, www.kpmgglobalenergyinstitute.com.

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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Protecting Indoor Air Quality Required as Homes Go Green

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Just like an old neighborhood as it gentrifies, so is the residential construction industry as it undergoes a significant shift from old ways of building to new sustainable (green) practices. With this change, comes a requirement to insure healthy indoor air for those inside, while protecting the natural resources of our planet outside. Architects, homebuilders and contractors are learning that a homeowner's right for non-toxic, healthy indoor environments ranks right up there with energy and environmental conservation.

Results of a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and McGraw-Hill bear this out in terms of market share and homeowner attitudes. For example, the U.S. residential green building market is expected to double in size garnering 12% to 20% ($40 billion to $70 billion) market share by 2012. The survey results also showed that 70% of homebuyers were more apt to buy green even in today's economic climate, and 87% were at least moderately knowledgeable about green home construction. Homeowners cited lower operating costs through energy savings (91%), having a healthier place to live (84%) and environmental concerns (80%) as the top three most important reasons for buying green homes.

Yet, according to the survey results, which were reported in the McGraw-Hill Construction 2008 SmartMarket Reports, builders still tend to focus more on energy and environmental conservation in their selection of green features, such as tight construction, insulation, Energy Star(R) products and water-efficient plumbing. While these features are excellent choices for lowering energy costs and conserving water, they may inadvertently contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ).

"As with commercial buildings, super tight, insulated homes with minimal ventilation and low air change rates can result in indoor mold growth and indoor air pollutants building up to levels that threaten occupant health. Conversely, pursuing good IAQ without considering the efficient use of energy may unnecessarily increase construction and energy costs, create financial hardships for families, and increase emissions of greenhouse gases, thereby contributing to outdoor air pollution" said Tony Worthan, President of Air Quality Sciences, Inc. (AQS).

A new white paper from AQS, titled Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Benefits of Achieving Both in Homes, explains the importance of balancing the efficient use of energy with good indoor air quality. It also emphasizes that all those involved in building and renovating homes must strive towards adopting one defining common set of green principles that place equal emphasis on energy efficiency and protecting occupant health (good IAQ). The two must work in concert with one another. In addition, this white paper reviews who is most at risk from indoor air pollution, common indoor air contaminants found in homes, their sources, health impacts and what steps can be taken to achieve efficient use of energy and good IAQ.

This white paper completes a three-part series on energy and indoor air quality. The other two papers in the series, Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Partnering to Protect Human Health, and Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Lessons From the Past Have Relevance for the Future, are recommended reading to gain a valuable perspective on the interdependence of IAQ and energy conservation and the benefits of considering them as primary and complementary goals for healthy indoor environments. All three white papers are available free of charge from the Aerias-AQS Indoor Air Quality Resource Center at www.aerias.org, Premium Content tab / White Papers.

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Deloitte Survey: Seventy-Three Percent of Voters Say America on the Wrong Track

/PRNewswire/ -- Voters feel the country is headed in the wrong overall direction by a five-to-one margin, according to a national survey from Deloitte's Oil & Gas industry group.

The Deloitte survey also identified the four most urgent issues facing the new presidential administration: the nation's economy, 84 percent; the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 39 percent; health care, 26 percent; and energy, 19 percent (multiple responses were permitted; numbers do not add up to 100 percent).

The survey placed a special focus on the national energy situation, which voters believe is on the wrong track by a three-to-one margin -- 79 percent claiming that the nation's energy situation is in worse shape now than five years ago.

The survey shows that Americans have a particular passion for renewable energy, but may not realize the need for more hydrocarbons like oil and gas, which are projected to account for the majority of the world's transportation fuels through 2030. Given this fact, the new presidential administration could face a challenge meeting the public's short-term aspirations for renewable energy.

"It's clear from our survey that most voters believe renewable energy is the way of the future," said Gary Adams, vice chairman, oil and gas, Deloitte LLP. "While this is very important, many voters may not understand the current costs and complexities of developing renewable energy."

In the survey, renewables like solar power and wind power have an 86 percent favorability rating, consistent across all age and education groups. Moreover, a plurality of voters (41 percent) believe renewable energy is the cheapest type of energy today, with an additional 10 percentage points (51 percent overall) claiming renewable energy will be the cheapest energy source 25 years from now.

In contrast, the percentage of voters surveyed who believe oil and gas is currently the cheapest energy source trails renewables by 25 points (16 percent feel oil and gas is currently a cheap energy source). What is more, the percentage trails renewables by a full 45 points when voters look into the future (6 percent believe oil and gas will be a cheap energy source 25 years from now).

Adams points out that there is confusion among voters about the real costs of renewable energy sources. "Right now, renewables simply are not as cheap as fossil fuels, which adds to the challenge of satisfying the public's desire to move away from conventional oil and gas in a short time period."

When it comes to sustainability, oil and gas decline even further in voters' minds: 25 percent surveyed say oil and gas are a sustainable energy source today, but only 8 percent say the same will be true 25 years from now -- a 17 point drop.

Adams points out that America urgently needs a comprehensive energy policy that will promote investment in the development of economical alternative fuels, such as renewables and, at the same time, encourage local exploration and production of oil and gas to bridge to the gap to the future.

"The world will be primarily reliant on fossil fuels for at least two generations -- the bridge to tomorrow's new energy future depends on this. The key is to have a sensible plan to transition to a new, cleaner energy era. It is also clear that the oil and gas industry needs to do more to educate the public on the challenges ahead."

Deloitte's survey offers a few clues as to how voters would like go about this transition. First and foremost, voters widely agree on requiring more stringent and mandatory fuel economy standards for all cars sold in America. Most voters, especially younger ones, are also in favor of funding major clean energy projects despite high costs.

Surprisingly, the survey showed that oil and gas are viewed with less outright disdain than one might assume: Conventional oil and gas generally enjoy two-to-one support as an energy source among all voters surveyed, although the level of support is highest among those over the age of 55. At least one in three voters prefers using fossil fuels more efficiently rather than moving away from them. Older voters are also in favor of building new refineries to produce more gasoline.

Still, voters are increasingly skeptical about the longevity of oil and gas as an energy solution. While they are evenly split over whether oil and gas are a short-term or medium-term solution for fulfilling America's energy needs, a mere 10 percent think oil and gas are a long-term solution.

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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

New Survey Finds Georgians Support Increased Access to Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Resources

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Georgians are concerned about the price of gasoline and the majority of them support increased access to domestic oil and natural gas resources, a new survey finds.

"This research confirms what every recent poll has shown. Georgians, like Americans everywhere, are feeling the crush of high gasoline costs and support increasing domestic supplies of oil and natural gas," said Ric Cobb, executive director of the Georgia Petroleum Council (GPC). "Sadly, some in Congress are ignoring this groundswell and blocking a balanced energy policy that includes development of America's vast natural resources, along with more conservation, energy efficiency and increased supplies of all sources of energy."

The poll was conducted by telephone between July 10 and July 27, 2008 by Harris Interactive and commissioned by API. The survey of 501 registered Georgia voters who are likely to vote in the upcoming presidential election found 66 percent of those surveyed said they somewhat or strongly support increased access to domestic oil and natural gas resources. Only 23 percent of respondents said they opposed increased access. An overwhelming 97 percent said they are somewhat or very concerned about the price of gasoline.

"America's oil and natural gas companies are ready to work with government at all levels to enact a comprehensive energy plan that includes increasing domestic supplies while protecting our environment," said Cobb. "It's time for Congress to lift the ban on offshore drilling."

Currently, Congress is blocking the exploration and development of abundant oil and natural gas reserves beneath non-park federal lands and coastal waters. Advanced technology means America's oil and natural gas companies can efficiently explore for these resources while protecting the environment. Based on federal government data, these resources could provide enough oil to fuel more than 65 million cars for 60 years and enough natural gas to heat 60 million homes for 160 years.

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