Oil rigs are seen in Midland, Texas May 9, 2008. Credit: Reuters / Jessica Rinaldi

Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Lisa Shumaker
WASHINGTON
Tue Apr 6, 2010 11:20am EDT (Reuters) – For the first time in 10 years Americans are more likely to say the United States should give more priority to developing oil, natural gas and coal than to protecting the environment, according to a poll on Tuesday. The poll was conducted a few weeks before President Barack Obama announced he would open offshore oil drilling in some parts the U.S. East Coast, Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Half of 1,014 U.S. adults, who were surveyed March 4-7 by Gallup, said the country should give more priority to developing and producing the fossil fuels. Only 43 percent said protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies. It was the first time in the 10 years that Gallup has been asking the question that energy production was favored over environment. …

Public supports energy over environment: poll

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