The American People on Energy Issues
By SBE Council at 24 July, 2023, 9:47 am
by Raymond J. Keating –
While the Biden administration, many in Congress, and an assortment of extreme green activists seek to end the use of oil and natural gas, the American people show themselves to be far more sane in a new poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute (API).
Among the key findings in the survey of more than 2,000 registered voters (June 23-23, 2023, with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points) were:
• 88 percent of registered voters agreed that it is important that the U.S. is producing natural gas and oil.
• 90 percent agreed that the U.S. producing natural gas and oil strengthens the U.S. economy.
• 88 percent agreed that U.S. natural gas and oil production could help lower energy costs for American consumers and small businesses.
• 85 percent agreed that U.S. natural gas and oil production helps to make the U.S. more secure against actions taken by nations like China and Russia.
• 80 percent supported the development of U.S. energy infrastructure.
• 83 percent agreed that the government should consider economic data when developing regulations affecting U.S. energy production.
For good measure, it’s worth noting that when we’re talking about U.S. oil and natural gas production, we’re very much talking about small business. For example, consider the percentage breakdowns of employer firms by number of employees in a variety of these sectors (2020 data latest from the U.S. Census Bureau, calculations by the author):
| Oil and Gas Extraction Sector | Percent of Firms by Number of Employees |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 81.3% |
| Fewer than 20 employees | 88.9% |
| Fewer than 100 employees | 95.5% |
| Fewer than 500 employees | 98.1% |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells | Percent of Firms by Number of Employees |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 69.9% |
| Fewer than 20 employees | 80.1% |
| Fewer than 100 employees | 93.8% |
| Fewer than 500 employees | 97.0% |
| Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations | Percent of Firms by Number of Employees |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 68.7% |
| Fewer than 20 employees | 80.1% |
| Fewer than 100 employees | 94.7% |
| Fewer than 500 employees | 98.4% |
| Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction | Percent of Firms by Number of Employees |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 43.5% |
| Fewer than 20 employees | 57.1% |
| Fewer than 100 employees | 83.9% |
| Fewer than 500 employees | 94.6% |
| Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing | Percent of Firms by Number of Employees |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 39.3% |
| Fewer than 20 employees | 55.8% |
| Fewer than 100 employees | 81.1% |
| Fewer than 500 employees | 91.0% |
And yes, the American people have also made clear that they support small business. Small business led the way in a recent Gallup poll as the institution in the U.S. earning the greatest confidence among Americans, as SBE Council recently noted.
Perhaps it’s time for our elected officials to listen to the American people more about energy, as opposed to anti-energy activists. After all, the views of the American people turn out to be far more sound on the economics of energy.
Raymond J. Keating is chief economist for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. His latest books on the economy are The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist and The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist.
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