Georgia Mountain News

With gas prices continuing to rise in Georgia, a recent poll by the American Petroleum Institute shows that more Americans support domestic energy production.

Nine of 10 voters in the United States would support domestic energy production over the use foreign energy, according to the poll. The poll also revealed that 92% of Democrats and 90% of Republicans backed the development of more U.S. energy sources.

“While it’s unclear what lies ahead as Russia invades Ukraine, we know one thing for sure,” said Mike Sommers, API president and CEO in a recent press release. “American energy is a positive force in difficult times, helping to provide stability for the U.S. and our allies. We have the technology, innovation, and resources here in the U.S. to meet this moment while at the same time furthering progress toward our shared climate goals.”

The poll shows that bipartisan groups of Americans support increased energy independence. Georgians are suffering through gas prices that average about $4.17 per gallon, while the national average is $4.25, according to the American Automobile Association’s gas tracker.

The API poll showed that 84% of voters agreed that domestic production of oil and gas would safeguard the U.S. and its allies against aggressive actions by Russia or other nations. Of those, 83% were Democrats and 88% were Republican, the poll showed.

“Now more than ever, is the time for President (Joe) Biden to confirm the United States’ role as a global energy leader and send a clear message that America will be a reliable producer and supplier of natural gas and oil at home and abroad for decades to come," Sommers said.

Early in the year, Biden signed a series of executive orders that stifled energy production and prioritized fighting climate change, according to a CNBC report. Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse said the Biden administration is to blame for the current high energy costs.

"By effectively shutting down our own supply of critical oil and gas, the Biden administration increased our reliance on foreign countries for our energy needs, increased global emissions, and increased gas prices for American families," he wrote on his website March 8.

While the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in Georgia is currently $4.17, it was $3.53 the previous week, and $3.31 the month before, AAA reported.

Biden stated on Twitter March 8 that the U.S. was "banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy,” adding that the ban would target “the main artery of Russia's economy."

However, the API poll showed that 85% of voters stated that domestic oil and gas production help America maintain leadership during a period of global uncertainty and could help keep costs down for consumers.