Dakota Access Pipeline Survey

P R E PA R E D B Y:
Micah Roberts, Partner
Micah@pos.org

#19445
Methodology
Survey
• Public Opinion Strategies
conducted a phone survey
of adults in North Dakota
to understand views about
the Dakota Access Pipeline.
2
Time Frame Audience
• The surveys were • The surveys were conducted
conducted among N=600 adults in North
November 1-4, 2019. Dakota. The margin of error for
an N=600 is ±4.0%.
 Importance of the Industry and
Using Pipeline in North Dakota
3
Nearly all residents surveyed say the oil industry is important to the state’s economy.

IND
31%
Total important: Total Important 97% 94% 92%
95%
64%

Very Important 79% 63% 44%

Very important Somewhat important
Not very important Not important at all
Don't know/refused

4 Now, thinking about North Dakota’s oil industry, how important would you say the industry is to the state’s economy as a whole?
A bi-partisan aspiration in North Dakota is for the US to produce all of its own energy and
become energy independent.

4% IND

31% Total important: Total Important 96% 91% 91%

93%
62%

Very Important 77% 58% 46%

Very important Somewhat important
Not very important Not important at all
Don't know/refused

5 How important is it to you that the United States produce all of its own energy and becomes energy independent?
A vast majority of respondents say it is important that North Dakota oil be transported by
pipeline and not by rail or truck.

9% IND
13%

Total important:
40%
Total Important 89% 71% 64%
77%

37% Very Important 54% 31% 28%

Very important Somewhat important
Not very important Not important at all
Don't know/refused

6 How important is it to you that oil produced here in North Dakota is transported by pipeline instead of by rail or by truck?
 Majorities of residents across the political spectrum say pipelines are the safest way to
transport oil, with just 17% choosing rail and 6% saying trucks are safest.

+53% +78% +42% +26%

85%

70%
63%
55%

29%
21%
17%
6% 7% 9% 6%
4%

Total Republican Independent Democrat

By pipeline By rail By truck

7 What do you think is the safest way to transport oil?
 Increasing capacity on the
Dakota Access Pipeline
8
 Dakota Access Pipeline Language

Currently, the Dakota Access Pipeline transports five

hundred seventy thousand barrels of oil per day. Adding
60%
Strongly
a pump station in North Dakota along the existing line
to create additional horsepower would allow it to
39%

transport up to one point one million barrels of oil per

Strongly 32%
Strongly 28%
Strongly

day, doubling its capacity, with no mainline

13%
Strongly
14%
Strongly
16%
Strongly

construction or additional pipe needed. 2%

Strongly

9 Would you favor or oppose increasing the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline?
 This issue is being viewed through a strong partisan filter.

+46% +79% +41% +1%

86%

68% 65%
60%
Strongly

45% 44%
39%
Strongly 32%
28%
22% Strongly 24% Strongly
16%
14%
13%
10% Strongly 11% Strongly 11%
Strongly 7% 7%
2%
Strongly

Total Republican Independent Democrat

Total Favor Total Oppose Don't Know/Refused

10 Would you favor or oppose increasing the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline?
 Dakota Access Pipeline
Statements
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 Large majorities of residents agree with these positive statements about the
Dakota Access Pipeline.
Ranked By Very Convincing
Strongly Agree Total Agree

The Dakota Access Pipeline is providing a safer

means of transportation of our energy resources 51% 79%
compared to truck or rail.

The Dakota Access Pipeline has been safely 31% 71%

operating for over two years.

The Dakota Access Pipeline has paid millions of

dollars in state and local taxes that helps fund local
34% 64%
schools, police, fire departments, and social
services.

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 Summary of Key Findings

13
 Summary of Key Findings

1) By huge margins the oil industry is seen as important

to the state economy.

2) Pipeline is seen as the safest way to transport oil.

3) By 77% to 22% residents say it is important to

continue to transport oil by pipeline than other
means.
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 Summary of Key Findings (Cont’d)

4) Most residents agree that DAPL is the safest way to move oil
(79% agree), has been safely operating for two years (71%
agree) and has brought millions of tax dollars to local
communities' schools, first responders and social services
(64% agree).

5) This survey shows very high and strong support of expanding

capacity on DAPL with 68% total and 39% strongly favoring this
proposal statewide and just 22% of residents opposed.

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Dakota Access Pipeline Survey
P R E PA R E D B Y:
Micah Roberts, Partner
Micah@pos.org

#19445