A majority of the U.S. still supports building the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that has become a political hot button for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, according to a new poll.
A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found 53 percent of U.S. voters support building the 1,700-mile pipeline from oil sands facilities in Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Port Arthur, Texas. However, support appears to be waning, according to the poll.
A similar Rasmussen survey in mid-November found 60 percent of U.S. voters favored the new pipeline.
Republicans, seeking to force Obama’s hand on the matter, won a provision in a two-month payroll tax cut extension last week that requires the administration to make a final decision on Keystone XL by February.
The Obama administration announced in November that it would delay its decision until past the 2012 election to examine alternative routes. Environmentalists cheered the decision, but Republicans warned it would delay more than 6,000 jobs associated with the pipeline.
In recent days, both groups have latched onto Iran’s threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery that transports one-fifths the world’s oil. Supporters say it would help end the U.S.’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil, but environmentalists say the threats show the need to reduce oil reliance in general.
Rasmussen surveyed 1,000 likely voters nationwide for the Keystone XL poll. The survey found more than 70 percent of Republicans still favor approval, and support was even stronger for Tea Party members.
However, 49 percent of unaffiliated voters approved the construction of the pipeline, down from 61 percent in the November poll.
The margin of error was plus or minus three points.
Rasmussen has a terrible record of confirmation bias.
I support nuclear energy, too. But I would not want a nuclear plant close to me.
I thought the article would be about Keystone Light Beer. My bad. =;o)
Thats because most Americans have no clue of the dangers posed to those along the route. Those of us in its path are very concerned about the pipeline failures already associated with the pipeline and the ecologic damage that could be unleashed on our communites.
Nothing wrong with working to decrease dependence on hydrocarbons, but it is a long term project and in the meantime, we need to find ways to supply our own needs without prices being tied to the guys who run things in the Middle East. Of course, as we have seen from other polls on issues facing President Obama’s Administration, if the majority of the American public support an issue, he will probably go the opposite direction. With the pending shortage of gasoline back east due to refinery shutdowns, bet that old Colonial pipeline is looking pretty good to him.
“New-poll-shows-Americans-still-support-Keystone”
Anti-Americans don’t.
Well, Real Americans are for oil independence, but Obamabots are not because they hate America, love to reward their corrupt green energy friends and want $9.00 gasoline (in order to do so).
If it takes more than 15 years for oil from the Gulf to reach the land refineries. (Some oil from wells drilled in the 1950′s has not yet reached the land refineries.) Just how long it will take oil from Canada to reach Texas is anybodies guess. Meantime the public is waiting since the 50′s for gasoline prices to drop when the first drop of Gulf oil hits those land refineries in the USA. Should be anytime soon. I can hear the pitch of the displaced air going higher as those hydrocarbon fumes start coming through.
We do not need that oil-sand garbage running through this country. It’s been an environmental disaster in Canada. The line ruptures repeatedly.
With the saber rattling that Iran is starting, it makes even MORE sense to undertake this project. Every President beginning with Nixon has stated that the US needs to end its dependence on foreign oil, yet none of them have been able to do this. There are thousands of miles of pipelines criscrossing the country already and we do not have the “daily leaks” the naysayers are using to doom this project before it even begins. Without this pipeline, the friendly Canadians will sell this oil to China. We need the oil, we need the pipeline, we need the project.
I PROMISED YOU IN THE LAST ELECTION I WANTED OUR ENERGY PRICES TO SOAR.
HERE IS THE ENERGY POLICY THAT COINCIDES WITH GREEN JOBS JUST NOT IN AMERIKA.
THIS IS YOUR COMMIE OBAMIE SPEAKING. BUY THE NEW COMMIE GENERAL MOTORS CHEVY VOLT THAT HAS THE TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED 7500 DOLLAR TAX CREDIT. OH AND YOU STUPID TAXPAYERS PAID THE UNION MEMBERS A 4300 DOLLAR BONUS LAST YEAR. YES, AND THEY JUST NEGOIATED A NEW CONTRACT AND THE UNION MEMBERS GET A 5000 DOLLAR SIGNING BONUS. IN ADDITON, HE ALLOWED GM TO OPEN 2 NEW PLANTS IN MEXICO. NOW THAT’S IS GREAT FOR AMERIKAN JOBS – EH!!! YEA AND US IDIOTS ALLOWED COMMIE OBAMIE TO USE OUR BAILOUT TAX MONEY TO DO IT!!!! WONDERFUL.
MEANWHILE THE EPA IS TRYING TO CLOSE AS MANY COAL FIRED ELECTRIC PLANTS AS POSSIBLE – SO PLUG IT IN IF THERE IS ANY THERE OR IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT. HECK WITH THIS GAS STUFF.
IN THE MEANTIME THE COMMIE OBAMIE GM HAS HIRED CHINA TO DO ALL OF ITS ELECTRIC CAR STUFF – YES THE CHINESE COMMUNISTS – NOW AIN’T THAT GREAT? SEE HOW MUCH YOUR COMMIE OBAMIE DOES FOR YOU!!!! SEE HOW GOOD THIS IS FOR GREEN JOBS – JUST NOT IN AMERIKA. SHUCKS GM IS NOT EVEN HONORING SOME PRE-BANKRUPCY WARRANTIES AND RECALLS -HAVE SOME APPLE PIE AMERIKAN OWNERS OF GM. IN ADDITION COMMIE OBAMIE HAS APPROVED LOANS TO BUILD AMERICAN CARS IN FINLAND AS A PART OF HIS USA JOBS PROGRAM – AIN’T THAT GREAT?
REMEMBER FOLKS VOTE COMMIE OBAMIE FOR BEST COMMUNISM OF ALL CANDIDATES.
Be for real. The party of NOthing is not concerned about jobs. They are concerned about living up to the return on investment that is expected by their political investors, I mean contributors. The jobs numbers they are touting are not accurate and are an outcome of their true objective. Frankly, I agree the project should be given serious consideration and should move forward once due diligence is complete.
Pipelines in America are safe. There are probably 50,000 miles of large diameter types criss-crossing the nation. Which ones should we be concerned about?
OK Don Brown, I’ll bite.
Tell us all dangers posed to those along the route and back up your hyperbole with FACTS instead of rhetoric.
We have thousands of miles of pipeline already. When was the last time you heard of an environmental issue concerning one? It is much safer to use a pipeline rather than a truck or a ship. Not only safer but more economically sound and environmentally safer. So what’s the problem? The problem is that the President will lose the environmentalist wacko vote. And that is just about all he has left. If this should bring all the jobs it claims then there will be fewer people dependent on the government. Which means less control for him. And last but not least, not being dependent on foreign oil would be a blow against his already failed green energy plan.
“…it would help end the U.S.’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil, but environmentalists say the threats show the need to reduce oil reliance in general.”
Uh, HELLLOOOOOO, anyone out there hear the voice of reason??? Jobs to kill the planet and keep us dependent, or jobs for clean technology, and no need to either soil our planet or use oil at all. Hey, if it makes plain and simple sense, don’t fight it. See into the future, for God’s sake.
Maybe someone can answer these questions. Is this oil going to be sold on the world market? How would this pipeline make our gas cheaper? Isn’t oil a commodity that can be speculated on? I understand that there are construction jobs to be had, but after it is built how many jobs will be permanent? Why doesn’t Canada build their own refineries? Is this stuff really hard to refine?
The only thing that matters is..how much of a kickback/bribe it will take to get Odumba on their side
With all the lies that the administration and the greeny weinies put out of course suport slips…we need jobs…not a freaking EPA that regulates everything.
Faye, you are right that pipelines don’t leak often, but it does happen more often that people are aware. For example, El Paso has a leak in Louisiana on Dec. 22. According to the Natural Resource Center, there have been 1,144 leaks from pipelines this year. To give you some clarity, there have been about 4,500 leaks from ships and a little more than 3,000 from ground transportation. The overall number is more than 32,000, which is done from 2010. Here is a link: http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/incident_type_2000up.html
I don’t like the fact that TransCanada Corp. is going around east Texas threatening landowners with eminent domain lawsuits if they don’t sell their land for this pipeline. TC should be able to build its pipeline, but they shouldn’t be allowed to bully landowners that don’t want it running through their property.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/us/transcanada-in-eminent-domain-fight-over-pipeline.html
There is enough pipe crisscrossing the country today to go around the Earth 25 times. Pipelines are the safest way to transport oil. There is little or no danger of the pipeline leaking. Every weld is x-rayed for integrity and the pipe is wrapped with a rubber like material to prevent corrsion.
These idiot enviro-mental cases that claim Iran’s threat means we need to use less oil are unbelievably ignorant and foolish. Canada will extract the oil. That’s a given. If we don’t buy it the Chinese will. The oil will then be SHIPPED in tankers which which may be the most hazardous method of transporting oil.
What will you enviro-maniacs say when a tanker sinks at sea or runs aground as what happened in Prince William Sound?
Another factor enviro-maniacs should consider is this: China’s air standards are nonexistent. The poorly refined products of that crude oil will then be pumped into the atmosphere, spilled into waterways, etc. Is that what you really want?
So why doesn’t Canada just build a refinery instead of transporting the oil thousands of miles? Oh wait, those “dumb hicks in Texas” can have all of the pollution that comes with refining.
@danx: for the number of miles of pipelines 1144 leaks is a very small number. The fact remains; pipelines are the safest and most economical way of moving oil.
Mikem, I wasn’t saying the number of leaks was large or small. I just wanted to give some information to chew on.
Wet Noodle, someone else might be able to answer this question better, but I would guess that a pipeline is cheaper and quicker to construct than a refinery.
What happened to the cars that went 40 in town & 50 on the hwy from the 70′s ? Big oil isn’t going anywhere until they run out.It takes huge amounts of water to turn tar sands into oil & it’s going to be exported.It’s not going to make a difference in what we use or pay.Folks were punching each other out over fuel shortages in the 70′s. We discovered the oil in Saudi Arabia & sold it back to them.It’s always about profits, not people or planet with Big Oil.When are we going to stop this madness & try different things? I saw a guy talk about using energy from volcanoes.Why can’t we try & get away from oil? We have to ban together & use our money for change instead of going down same old road.Google pipeline leaks if you want to see how messy it is.Main stream media doesn’t report everything.
The lack of rational thought on the left, and its supporters in the media would amaze, if it were not so commonplace.
Pipelines are the safest and most reliable means for transporting hydrocarbons. Concerned about a release? Then this should be the last pipeline one should be concerned about. It will be the newest, the best monitored, desinged to the latest codes, and built with the best technology.
If the pipeline opponents were honest about this position, then they should be far more concerned about the decades old lines which were poorly coated, have ineffective cathodic protection and were fabricated with low quality steel and welding procedures.
When you find your energy policy defined by a woman who’s only talent is pretending to be a mermaid, one should be concerned. When the media considers people thusly qualified to opine on such subjects, then you have a real problem.
I am still trying to figure out how this oil offshore hasn’t reached the refineries in fifteen years.
And while I am addressing falsities..
Why don’t you look in your backyards and all around you. There are natural gas pipelines everywhere and it is much more volatile then any crude pipeline. Just how many incidents are there in your community with these lines, yet you sure want your house warmed when it turns cold.
Americans are so foolish to support the Keystone XL pipeline when we can so easily procure oil from Iran and Venezuela, our kind allies in the UN and wonderful world neighbors, and avoid competing with that nasty British neo-colonial menace called Canada. Send back that bust of Churchill, we want sculptures of Che and the Ayatollah Khomeini. That is precisely how our President Obama thinks. What an utter embarrassment.
How was the question framed? My guess it was not something like this: “Do you support construction of the Keystone Pipeline given that its route takes it through a sensitive major aquifer zone, and eminent domain is being used to seize private property to secure its route?”
Polls like this make no sense, and are a waste of time, except to those who want to benefit from the results.
The fact is that most people know very little about the pipeline, and have no clue why anyone would be against it. But, if people are informed of details first, then polled, results can be VERY different. For example, when asked about individual components of the Affordable Health Care Act, people are in favor of 7 out of 8 parts.
As for me, I think the pipeline will pass, but first there are issues with the construction and route which need to be addressed, and it makes me wonder why the republicans would be in such a hurry to pass the bill. Perhaps there are details they would rather us not know.
Howie: “It will be the newest, the best monitored, designed to the latest codes, and built with the best technology.”
Isn’t that what BP said about the Macondo?
Bob: Your posts would be more believable if they were not so packed with BS.
It’s still foreign oil to me; are 6000 jobs really worth the hassles of this?
Nah, let’s just freeze in the dark so Obama can say he saved a million lives, just like he says he saved 3 million jobs. Pipeline? Why? It just makes sense, that’s why.
Port Arthur needs the jobs. The hell w/ the EPA
GoldBacon has it wrong about selling the land for pipelines.
Pipelines do have eminant domain authority to cross private land.
But they seldom buy it. They pay a large one time fee set by a
semi-legal process. The land may or may not permanently loose
market value. That depends on specifics.
Dan X. – There are a lot of car accidents too so we should ban the car.
Don Brown – I bet there are hundreds of pipelines all around you and you don’t even know it. If there are not pipelines around you then you will be first in line demanding that they be built so you could have a higher standard of living. Go to a third world county and see what life is like without pipelines and other improvements that civilization has produced.