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

"North Dakotans understand the impact of high gasoline costs and they support increasing domestic supplies of oil and natural gas," said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC). "Unfortunately, Congress is ignoring this surge of public support and blocking a common sense 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 time has come for Congress to lift the ban on offshore drilling."

The poll was conducted by telephone between July 10 and July 21, 2008 by Harris Interactive and commissioned by API. The survey of 500 registeredNorth Dakota 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 15 percent of respondents said they opposed increased access. An overwhelming 97 percent said they are somewhat or very concerned about the price of gasoline.

"It is clear that our country must respond to the tightening of supplies of oil resources in the face of booming worldwide demand. The impact that increased domestic supplies would have on business not only inNorth Dakota but across this country would be phenomenal," said Dave MacIver, president and CEO,North Dakota Chamber of Commerce.

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.

For complete text of the survey and more information -- including survey methodology -- please go to www.energytomorrow.org/northdakota.

SOURCE North Dakota Petroleum Council

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Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Tags: ,OIL,RCY,POL,LEG,SVY,STP,NDPC-energy-survey

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