ANWR DEVELOPMENT GAINS MOMENTUM
Poll Shows Americans Favor ANWR Development
February 6, 2002 – Washington, DC – Arctic Power announced today that a recent poll shows 48% of Americans favor opening part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to energy exploration. Arctic Power, the Alaskan-based non-profit organization that supports legislation to open the coastal plain of ANWR to oil and gas development, says that the findings clearly indicate the necessity for immediate passage of a National Energy Plan.
Although environmental issues have traditionally garnered support along party lines, the issue of ANWR development is more widely supported among Americans. "This poll is yet another sign that Americans are in favor of ANWR development and yet, ironically, the outcome of ANWR will ultimately be left to politicians," said Roger Herrera, Washington, D.C. spokesman for Arctic Power. "The Senate needs to listen to Americans, move beyond partisan politics and enact a National Energy Plan." Energy legislation is currently stalled in the U.S. Senate.
Proponents say that the development of domestic resources in ANWR could increase energy independence, promote national security and create jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans. While critics say that the events of September 11 have heightened Americans concerns over energy independence and national security. In reality, the polls findings are in line with the viewpoints of Alaskans, Veterans, Farmers, Labor and Small Business, who have been supporting the passage of energy legislation long before the terrorist attacks. "The American people are clearly calling on our government to take steps now to improve our national security and protect our economy," said Jerry Hood, Special Assistant to James Hoffa on Energy, International Brotherhood of Teamsters. "Because it is expected to create over 735,000 jobs across the United States, opening ANWR now and passing comprehensive energy legislation should be a top legislative priority. I know it is with the working men and women of the Teamsters."
The 2,000 acres of the ANWR designated for exploration could replace Iraqi imports for the next 70 years, create hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide and help promote national security.
The poll, conducted by the Los Angeles Times, contacted 1,545 Americans nationwide by telephone between January 31 and February 3, 2002 and has a margin error of +/- 3%.
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About Arctic Power
Arctic Power is a grassroots, non-profit citizen’s organization that advocates jobs and energy for Americans through development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s (ANWR) resources. The organization is committed to securing congressional and presidential approval of legislation opening the Coastal Plain of the ANWR to responsible oil development. The grassroots coalition comprises of citizens from Alaska and across the nation who hail from a full economic spectrum including miners, fishermen, tourism operators, transportation companies, labor unions, Alaska Native Corporations, elected officials and more. The organization is governed by a board of directors representing all regions of the state of Alaska. http://www.anwr.org
