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Wealthy Democratic environmentalists are considering withholding support for a 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential bid unless she reassures them about their top priority: Killing the Keystone XL pipeline.

Shes kind of a closed book on the environment, said Guy Saperstein, an Oakland-based venture capitalist and former president of the San Francisco-based Sierra Club Foundation. I, for one, would not support her until she gives us more information.

So far, Clinton has demurred on Keystone -- she declined to answer directly a question about it during a March 5 event in Vancouver -- even though it was under review by the State Department for much of her tenure as secretary.

She could be a leader on Keystone if she wanted to be, Saperstein said. This is a great opportunity for her to show a little courage.

Its also an issue that comes with risks. If Clinton were to oppose the proposed pipeline that would carry oil sands crude from Canada to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast, it may help in a primary presidential bid while complicating her candidacy in a general election.

The public backed the pipeline construction by 65 percent to 22 percent in a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted from Feb. 27 through March 2. It is more controversial among Democrats, according to the survey, which showed they approve of it by a 51 percent to 32 percent margin. Among self-identified liberal Democrats, who often make up an out-sized share of the primary electorate, only 36 percent favored the project compared with 47 percent who didnt.

Democratic activists also must calibrate their actions as Clinton is favored in polls to be the party nominee, regardless of her position on Keystone and other climate matters.

Betsy Taylor, a political strategist who is working with environmental activists and donors, has heard other contributors talk of backing away from Clinton without more assurances on their top issue. To ward off that action, shes using data to nudge the would-be candidate to clarify her stance.

Many of Mrs. Clintons most prominent supporters hope she will acknowledge the rapidly changing data on climate disruption, Taylor said. New data is in, and Hillary is a woman who respects the facts. We hope shell encourage the president to step up and deny this permit.

The nations elite environmentalists have another form of leverage: money.

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Clinton Keystone Dodge Prompts Donors to Rethink Support