(PRWEB) March 12, 2014 -- One of the most fundamental results of the oil boom is obvious: there is much more oil.
Thus, increased efficiency in drilling for crude also comes with a greater need for the infrastructure required to ship it to processing facilities. One proposal to help facilitate this process is the construction of a new pipeline, known as Keystone XL. This project would create a direct link between Canada and the United States, connecting oil-producing areas in Alberta with refineries on the Gulf Coast.
According to a new survey, Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of this initiative.
The Washington Post, in conjunction with ABC News, conducted a poll of Americans aimed at determining how they feel about the pipeline. For most, the answer was "positively." In fact, those in favor outnumbered those opposed by a margin of almost three to one: 65 percent said it should be approved, and just 22 percent felt that it should not. These positive feelings extend across party lines, proving that regardless of affiliation, there are many benefits to be had from this initiative.
The poll was conducted with a random sample of over 1,000 American adults. Both landline-only and cell phone based respondents were questioned, giving the final numbers a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
One of the factors for the widespread public support is likely the amount of jobs the project will create. Eighty-five percent of those questioned indicated that the pipeline would be significant driver in job growth, with about three fourths of those people believing "strongly" in their position.
Safety is also a top concern. Several of those interviewed remarked that they saw the pipeline as the safest way to transport oil, making it not only a financially smart choice but also an environmentally sound one.
"I'm concerned about the environment, but we also use a lot of oil and we need to transport that oil," said Laura Dabose, 54, a retiree in Palm City, Fla.. "There's an inevitability in it. It's just a matter of finding the right route, and getting people to go along with it."
According to the State Department, job creation would happen both in the short and long terms. The department estimates that nearly 2,000 jobs would be created for a two-year period, of which 50 would be permanent. According to the poll results, that figure might even be conservative in terms of economic impact.
Cindy Schild, the American Petroleum Institute's senior refining and oil sands issues manager, highlighted these findings in a conference call.
"Bipartisan majorities in Congress and a majority of the American people support moving forward with the Keystone XL pipeline," said Schild.
At Chem Rock Technologies, we understand the critical role that oil production plays in meeting our nation's energy needs, and are happy to do our part to support it. Just like this proposed pipeline expansion, our drilling fluid additives and fracturing chemicals can help the provide the energy our nation needs while ensuring the safety of citizens and the environment.
Andrew Ward, Enersciences, 3372912778, [email protected]
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