Public Opinion 9 - Marcellus Drilling News

Cornell Conference: Majorities in NY & PA Support Drilling

December 15, 2011December 15, 2011

Results from two different surveys on resident’s attitudes toward shale gas drilling in New York and Pennsylvania were delivered at the Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference, held Dec. 13 at Cornell University. Richard Stedman, associate professor of natural resources at Cornell, reported the following from a survey of 6,000 residents in both New York and Pennsylvania:

Binghamton DEC Hearing will be Ground Zero This Week

November 14, 2011November 14, 2011

pro-drilling rally This week will be important for the effort to get shale gas drilling moving in New York State. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is conducting a series of four public hearings nominally to accept comments on the most recent changes to the draft drilling regulations, also known as the SGEIS (Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement). MDN says “nominally” because each of the four events will be used by both those for and against drilling to try and show their side has the most support.

One of the four hearings, in Binghamton on Thursday of this week, is likely to be the largest hearing outside of the New York City hearing later this month. MDN has received several email notices from landowner groups in favor of drilling, and from one group opposed. Both say similar things: These hearings are vitally important.

Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

Sixteen NY Community Groups Unite to Support Gas Drilling

November 11, 2011November 11, 2011

A new organization called Clean Growth Now has formed to support shale gas drilling in New York State. The interesting and newsworthy aspect of this new organization is that it is not drilling industry-backed, but rather made up of 16 community organizations that believe shale gas drilling is safe and will provide an economic and jobs windfall for the state.

From the Clean Growth Now press release issued yesterday:

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Public Opinion | Statewide PA

Mercyhurst Poll: Majority of PA Residents Support Fracking

November 3, 2011November 3, 2011

Mercyhurst College recently completed a statewide poll in Pennsylvania covering several issues, one of which is Marcellus Shale drilling in the state. A copy of the full questions and responses is embedded below. On the straightforward question, “Do you favor or oppose extracting natural gas through fracking in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale region?” the results were: Favor 55%; Oppose 27%; Depends 9%; Don’t Know 9%. A very clear and convincing majority of Pennsylvanians support fracking.

From the Mercyhurst press announcement summarizing the results:

Allegheny County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Public Opinion

Occupy Pittsburgh Protests Marcellus Shale…All 12 of Them

November 2, 2011November 2, 2011

It seems more and more that anti-drillers who need bodies for protests are turning to the Occupy malcontents, who seem to be willing to protest anything, especially things they don’t understand. That is, if you can get them out of bed…

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

NY Anti-Drilling Groups Launch Campaign to Write 1M Letters

October 27, 2011October 27, 2011

Groups opposed to shale gas drilling have organized to purchase radio advertisements promoting an effort to get residents to write one million letters to Gov. Andrew Cuomo asking him to ban hydraulic fracturing. It’s not entirely clear who is funding the effort.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Public Opinion

Occupy Wall Street Protesters Recruited to Oppose Fracking

October 26, 2011October 26, 2011

It appears the fine, upstanding protesters of the Occupy Wall Street movement—the same people who want to abolish capitalism and redistribute all wealth from producers to those who won’t work—are prime targets to be recruited to oppose fracking. Birds of a feather…

Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Public Opinion | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Ohio Democrats Want to Ban Shale Gas Drilling

October 13, 2011October 13, 2011

While it would be unfair to say that support or opposition to shale gas drilling breaks strictly along political party lines, it is not unfair to point out this observation: Those who oppose drilling are mostly Democrats, while those who support drilling are mostly Republican. MDN has seen it again and again in public opinion polling data, and in news stories. Here’s the latest news story, this one from Ohio, which further supports MDN’s observation:

Energy Companies Big Help with Flood Relief in PA

October 7, 2011October 7, 2011

helping hand Central and northwest Pennsylvania saw record-breaking amounts of rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee, and massive flooding along with it. It brought devastation to a wide area of Pennsylvania. Although some accuse the Marcellus drilling industry of only being in it for the buck, a number of drillers stepped up to the plate to help with flood relief.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

List of Health Care Pros Who Oppose Gas Drilling in NY

October 6, 2011May 6, 2016

boycott A list of 250+ physicians and other health care professionals, along with the usual group of opposition groups, sent a letter to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday requesting more study of shale gas drilling’s affects on health before approving new regulations and issuing permits to drill. A copy of their letter is embedded below.

A copy of the list of “health care professionals” which includes doctors, nurses, psychologists, veterinarians, dentists, professors, students and others is listed below in case those who support drilling might want to re-think whether or not they continue using the services of these people given their activist stance against drilling.

Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Public Opinion

Prize-Winning Author Says Fossil Fuels Not Going Away Soon

October 4, 2011October 4, 2011

Comments from a recent interview with Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and member of President Obama’s energy subcommittee examining shale gas (see MDN’s previous article about Yergin).

Mr. Yergin was interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer and had these observations:

Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Public Opinion

Obama Advisor Says Shale Gas Drilling is Here to Stay

September 28, 2011September 27, 2011

get used to it Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and member of President Obama’s energy subcommittee examining shale gas, says the debate about whether or not to drill for shale gas is already over and decided—shall gas drilling is here to stay.

Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

Siena College Poll: NYers Still Closely Divided on Fracking

September 28, 2011September 27, 2011

Hey, it’s another week, so that must mean it’s time for another New York opinion poll. We can’t seem to let a week go by without taking the temperature of the Empire State on the issue of hydraulic fracturing. This poll is an ongoing monthly poll done by Siena College. The actual questions and percentage responses are embedded below.

Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

New Quinnipiac Poll Shows NY Remains Split on Gas Drilling

September 22, 2011September 22, 2011

Another week, another public opinion poll in New York about whether or not residents support Marcellus Shale drilling. This one is a regular poll done by Quinnipiac University and has trending details, showing previous vs current opinion. Bottom line from this poll: Residents remain split about evenly about whether or not drilling should be allowed, with a slight majority in favor. The full questions and responses, by category, is embedded below.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Public Opinion

119 Groups Ask Obama to Support Fracking

September 21, 2011September 21, 2011

Arguing that existing federal and state regulations are sufficient, a diverse group of organizations sent a letter to President Obama yesterday asking him to not impose new regulations on hydraulic fracturing and instead to support it. The 119 organizations signing the letter included bankers, bowlers, grocers, the energy industry and many others. The full text of the letter and the groups signing is embedded below.

Western PA Township Residents Try to Ban Gas Drilling

September 13, 2011September 13, 2011

Several thousand residents of Peters Township, a small township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, are attempting to force a ban of all natural gas drilling in the township by amending the township’s charter. It’s not clear whether or not the town council will allow a vote on the proposed measure: