Pew: 66% Support Keystone XL Pipeline

New Pew Research Center polling shows a solid, consistent majority of Americans want the full Keystone XL pipeline built. The 66 percent favoring the project is unchanged from Pew’s survey of just over a year ago – despite the administration’s delay in approving it and misinformation campaigns from opponents. That Americans want the full Keystone XL built is reflected in poll after national poll:

• Pew (April 2013): 66 percent
• Rasmussen Reports (March 2013): 58 percent
• Harris Interactive (February 2013): 69 percent
• Fox News (February 2012): 67 percent
• Pew (February 2012): 66 percent

That's what national consensus looks like.

Consensus to stop delaying a shovel-ready project that could put thousands of Americans to work – more than 42,000 average annual jobs across the United States over the project’s construction period, according to the State Department’s most recent review.

Consensus that a stronger energy relationship with Canada, our No. 1 supplier of imported oil, via the Keystone XL will strengthen America’s energy security. Consensus that building a pipeline that will pick up 25 percent of its oil from the U.S. Bakken region makes logistical sense. Consensus that the Keystone XL will be the safest, most efficient way to transport more than 800,000 barrels of oil a day to modern U.S. Gulf Coast refineries that are among the world’s best at handling heavy crudes.

Pew’s new survey shows support for the Keystone XL virtually across the board, including:

• Men – 71 percent
• Women – 61 percent
• Age groups – 18-29 (60 percent), 30-49 – (63), 50-64 (70), 65+ (74)
• Education – Post graduate (56 percent), college graduate (67), some college (68), high school or less (66)
• Political views – Republicans (82 percent), Independents (70), Democrats (54)

Pew found nearly three times as many Americans favor building the full Keystone XL pipeline (66 percent) as oppose it (23 percent). Again, it’s strong majority support that has remained steady through review after review by the federal government, a series of public hearings and volumes of news reports, editorials and other opinion articles.

It’s time for the president to approve construction of the full Keystone XL pipeline – the kind of infrastructure project he called for just last week in Miami. It’s time to end the delays and get the full Keystone XL under way.