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SD Area residents strongly support the Hyperion Energy Center
September 14, 2007

ELK POINT, South Dakota – Residents of Union County and neighboring areas overwhelmingly support the proposed Hyperion Energy Center, according to a scientific poll conducted by a nationally recognized polling firm.

Seventy-one percent of those surveyed said they favor building the energy center in Union County, while 19 percent said they are opposed. More than half of the 71 percent who support the project said they “strongly favor” the Hyperion Energy Center. 

Hyperion decided to release the poll results after several requests from the media and other interested parties. “We wanted an independent organization to look at how the public views our project in and around Union County, so we had an accurate sense of that for ourselves,” said Preston Phillips of Hyperion.  “After the media asked us for the results, we decided to go ahead and release them.”

Phillips said such a poll is a snapshot of public sentiment at the time it was taken.  “We know that if Union County is the site chosen for the Hyperion Energy Center, we’ll need to work hard to maintain this strong level of community support,” Phillips said.  “We don’t take it for granted, and we know we’ll have to work cooperatively with area residents to move the project forward in a way that’s mutually beneficial.” 

Public Opinion Strategies conducted the survey of 400 registered voters (200 from Union County and 200 from the Siouxland area) on July 11 and 12.  The margin of error on the sample is plus or minus 4.9%.

Phillips also said Hyperion was disappointed to hear that someone was conducting “push polls” in the region, apparently to foster opposition to the Hyperion Energy Center.  Push polls are techniques sometimes used in political campaigns to smear candidates through phone calls designed to appear to be legitimate polling. 

Dallas-based Hyperion is in the process of selecting a site for its Hyperion Energy Center, and Union County is one of those under consideration.  The energy center will include a 400,000 barrel per day, highly complex full-conversion oil refinery.

Summary results of public opinion survey regarding Hyperion Energy Center in Elk Point, South Dakota

A public opinion survey was conducted on behalf of Hyperion Resources on July 11 and 12 by Public Opinion Strategies of Washington, D.C., a nationally recognized polling firm. 

The survey found that strong support exists for the proposed Energy Center in Elk Point, South Dakota.  In fact, nearly three-quarters of those polled favor building the Energy Center in Union County. According to the survey:

• 71% favor building Energy Center in Union County
• 19% opposed

Among the 71% of respondents who favor the proposal, more than half of them say they “strongly favor” building the facility (44%).
The Hyperion project has broad support.  There is little difference between support among political parties, gender, or age demographics. 

Hyperion’s commitment to environmental responsibility clearly resonates with residents.  Two-thirds of respondents who self-identify as “environmentalists” indicate that they favor the Energy Center plan.

The overwhelming reason offered by voters for their support of the proposal:  The economic benefits and new jobs brought to the area.  Other reasons offered for supporting the project include:

• Reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil
• State of the art environmental technology will be used to build the most environmentally sound energy center in the United States
• Project has the support of state and local officials

The proposal has attracted an unusual amount of attention and scrutiny, but is still overwhelmingly popular.  At the time the survey was conducted (July 11 and 12), public awareness of the Energy Center project was very high (85% of respondents say they know at least something about the proposal).

Public Opinion Strategies conducted the survey of 400 registered voters from Union County and surrounding areas.  The margin of error on the sample is +- 4.9%.