A new poll by Harris Interactive for the American Petroleum Institute (API) shows strong public support for energy development and its ability to create jobs and improve the economy.

The poll finds that 90% of voters believe more domestic energy development will lead to more jobs, more than seven in ten voters support more oil and natural gas development, and by more than a two-to-one margin (65% to 32%), voters oppose raising taxes on the oil and gas industry because they know that’ll hurt consumers.

Here are some other findings:

• 75% support the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to move Canadian shale oil to U.S. refineries.
• 63% think Washington is on the wrong track on energy policy.
• 92% think energy security and producing more domestic oil and gas will be important to them in November’s election.

On a conference call rolling out these findings, Jack Gerard, API president & CEO asked “to see more than lip service from this administration” on an all-of-the-above energy policy. He mentioned the administration successful efforts to limit offshore oil and natural gas development in the Gulf of Mexico, off Alaska’s coast, and on federal lands in the West.

Gerard also addressed the federal regulatory environment creating uncertainty and holding back further investment. "We shouldn't overlook the regulatory chilling effect." Mark Green at API's Energy Tomorrow dubs it, "The United States of Red Tape." In one specific case, Gerard noted that currently twelve federal agencies are looking at regulating hydraulic fracturing, the technology that has caused an shale energy boom in North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and elsewhere. [Check out the Institute for 21st Century Energy to learn how shale energy is creating jobs and economic growth.] Gerard stated that state agencies are regulating hydraulic fracturing in a responsible way, and that an aggressive regulatory posture from the federal level will only hold backs energy development’s economic benefits.

"This is about good, sound public policy that will create jobs and help our economic situation recover," said Gerard.

The full poll results are below.