As we've mentioned on this blog many times, energy development is a primary driver of job creation. Developing the nation's abundant oil and natural gas resources could create tens of thousands of additional jobs.

A new Gallup poll proves this point and demonstrates that energy-producing states are among the best in job creation.

North Dakota has been breaking oil production records and sits atop Gallup's Job Creation Index. The Index also shows that the "energy-producing states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas are in the top 10 state job markets for the first half of 2010, as they were in 2008 and 2009."

Alaska, another state where energy development is crucial, made the list in addition to Pennsylvania and West Virginia--two states that saw 57,000 new jobs last year from Marcellus Shal... more »

Each week the National Journal's Energy and Environment blog poses a question and invites a select group of authorities to respond. The question for the week asked about a Gallup Poll showing that Americans are less concerned about the environment than at any time in the past 20 years.

National Journal asked, why? And what does the lack of concern portend for climate legislation?

API's President and CEO Jack Gerard posted a response that made two key points:

• Americans are focused on jobs and the economy; and

• It's likely that many Americans are aware that the environment has improved markedly during the past several years.

According to a report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the levels of six common air pollutants have fallen 41 percent on average since 1990, de... more »

Americans are less worried about a series of environmental problems than at any time in the past 20 years. That's the conclusion of a new Gallup poll released today. According to the poll, Americans are least concerned about global warming and most concerned about drinking water.

The poll, which was conducted by telephone in early March, shows for six of eight items the percentage of respondents who said they worry "a great deal" is the lowest point Gallup has ever measured. For all eight items, concern declined. The number of respondents who were worried about drinking water cleanliness fell from 59 to 50 percent during the past year. The number who were worried about climate declined from 33 to 28 percent.

Gallup attributes the decline to the fact that Americans "perceive environmental... more »