Poll: Americans Don't Want the Keystone XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline

This weekend Politico reported on polling (paywall article) showing that Americans support President Obama’s decision to deny TransCanada’s Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.

The Hart Research Associates poll (PDF) surveyed voters in Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, and Colorado and showed that after hearing the pro and con arguments about Keystone XL, 47% of voters said President Obama made the right decision in denying the permit (36% were against his decision).   Among those polled, concern about drinking water contamination resulting from an oil spill was a major reason to support President Obama’s decision to deny Keystone XL.

Women are also overwhelmingly opposed to the pipeline and supportive of Obama’s decision.

Pollsters Geoff Garin and Allan Rivlin concluded that “there is broad concurrence that the President should not give the project a go ahead until he is satisfied that the project will not be dangerous or lead to an environmental and economic disaster.”

Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress keep trying to push through a bill that would approve Keystone XL and expedites its construction. By 45% to 38%, the poll showed that voters in these states trust Obama over congressional Republicans on addressing America’s energy needs.

It’s time for Congress to listen to Americans – we don’t want the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.

-- Lena Moffitt, Washington Representative for the Sierra Club Dirty Fuels Campaign