Citing economic benefits over environmental concerns, Pennsylvania voters support 58-33 percent drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Friday.
Except for Democrats, who oppose drilling 48-41 percent, there is support among all partisan, gender and age groups finds. Support by region ranges from 48 - 43 percent in the Philadelphia suburbs to 70-23 percent in the northwest corner of the state.
Pennsylvania voters oppose 57-36 percent, however, Gov. Tom Corbett's Executive Order allowing drilling for natural gas under state parks and forests.
Unfortunately, the question asked by the Quinnipiac poll-- “Gov. Corbett has issued an executive order that would allow drilling for natural gas under state parks and forests. Do you support or oppose allowing drilling for natural gas under state parks and forests?”-- does not include the key words “non-surface disturbance leasing” which could skew the poll’s results.
There is a wide gender gap as women oppose the measure 65-26 percent, while men are divided 47-48 percent. Voters in northwest Pennsylvania support drilling in the parks 53-44 percent, while voters in every other region are opposed.
Republicans support drilling in parks 58-38 percent, with opposition at 71-20 percent among Democrats and 58-35 percent among independent voters.
"Pennsylvanians are generally willing on drilling, but it depends on where, drawing the line at state parks and forest land," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
Because of Gov. Corbett's executive order, 39 percent of Pennsylvania voters are less likely to vote for him, with 13 percent more likely and 46 percent who say it won't affect their vote.
Click Here for a fact sheet on Gov. Corbett’s new Executive Order on Non-surface Disturbance Leasing of DCNR Lands issued last week. For more information, visit DCNR’s Natural Gas Development and State Forests webpage.