Poll Suggests Energy Independence Trumps Environmental Concerns

U.S. and Canadian policymakers in favor of TransCanada Corp. TRP.T +1.42%’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline got a bit more ammunition for their cause Monday.

A new poll of American and Canadian residents suggests a majority in both countries–74% of Americans, 68% of Canadians–either support or “somewhat” support the controversial pipeline, which has been the target of intense opposition by environmentalist groups and key Democratic lawmakers.

A majority of the poll’s respondents indicated efforts to secure a stable energy supply for North America should trump policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Pollster Nanos Research, of Ottawa, asked participants — 1,007 Americans and 1,013 Canadians — which was more important: reducing greenhouse-gas emissions or having North America free from oil imports. In the poll, 63% of Americans and 55% of Canadians said reducing the reliance on oil imports from outside North America was more crucial.

“The American public has a fixation on ensuring a stable supply of energy,” said Nik Nanos, president of Nanos Research.

In speeches and pitches to U.S. audiences, a number of Canadian officials have championed Keystone XL as not just a safe way to get crude oil to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast, but also a means to enhance continental energy security and cut reliance on oil from the politically volatile Middle East.

Mr. Nanos noted, though, that his research shows people on both sides of the border share a desire to see policymakers follow through on carbon-reducing policies. Asked independently, 78% of Americans and 73% of Canadians indicated reducing carbon output is “important” or “somewhat important.” But asked on an either-or basis, respondents opted for energy security.

The Obama administration is, for the second time, reviewing TransCanada’s application to build Keystone, after rejecting the project early in 2012. A preliminary review from the U.S. State Department, released March 1, didn’t reach any firm conclusions about the environmental impact of the pipeline. The draft, however, said building the pipeline would not “significantly” impact the further development of Canada’s oil sands or U.S. demands for heavy oil.

Original Article
Source: blogs.wsj.com
Author: Paul Vieira