WASHINGTON, January 27, 2015 – More than seven in ten South Carolina voters support offshore drilling for domestic oil and natural gas resources, according to a new poll conducted by Harris Poll for API’s “What America is Thinking on Energy Issues” series.

"America is now the world leader in energy, but keeping that position will take a real commitment to producing oil and natural gas in new areas," said Kay Clamp, executive director of the South Carolina Petroleum Council. "Opening the Atlantic bring tens of thousands of of new jobs to our state and billions of dollars to our economy while strengthening our energy security. With offshore oil and natural gas, South Carolina has a great opportunity to take part in our nation's energy renaissance."

Areas throughout the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) could be made available for oil and natural gas development, creating more than 280,000 jobs, $200 billion in government revenue and 3.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to a recent study by Quest Offshore Resources.

The state-wide telephone poll, conducted for API by Harris Poll among 604 registered South Carolina voters also found that:

• 88 percent agree increased oil and natural gas production could strengthen America’s energy security.
• 82 percent agree that producing more U.S. oil and natural gas could help lower energy costs for consumers.
• 82 percent say increased oil and natural gas production could benefit federal and state budgets through lease payments, royalty fees and other sources of revenue.
• 59 percent say that the federal government does not do enough to encourage U.S. oil and natural gas development.

The South Carolina Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.

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Methodology The telephone study was conducted by telephone on January 13-15, 2015 by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute among 604 registered voters in South Carolina, with a sampling error of +/- 4 percent. A full methodology is available upon request.

"What America is Thinking on Energy Issues" is a public opinion series provided by API, offering data to inform policy discussions and ensure policymakers and others know Americans' perspectives on key energy issues.