New Poll Shows Voter Support For Marcellus Shale Drilling Fee Increasing

A new poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University shows Pennsylvania voters support the economic benefits of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale outweigh environmental concerns 59 – 32 percent, compared to 63 – 20 percent support in a June 14 survey.

The poll also found support for drilling is 79 – 16 percent among Republicans and 55 – 35 percent among independent voters. Democrats split 44 – 45 percent.

Voters support 63 – 28 percent, including 53 – 38 percent among Republicans, a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.

By an even larger 78 – 17 percent, voters support a proposed fee on drilling companies, with proceeds used to reimburse local communities for the impact of drilling. Support is high among all groups and in every region of the state.

“By almost 2-1 margins, Pennsylvania voters remain convinced of the benefits of tapping the natural gas reserves in the Marcellus Shale,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “And by overwhelming margins, they want to tap the financial resources of the companies doing the drilling.”

The same poll found Pennsylvania voters like their governor as a person 48 – 15 percent, with 37 percent still undecided. But voters say 43 – 40 percent that they don’t like Gov. Corbett’s policies.

Voters disapprove 45 – 41 percent of the way Corbett is handling the state budget, but that is a better score than many governors are getting during these difficult economic times.

“Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, who had a 39 percent job approval in each of our first three polls this year, might be seeing some daylight,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “He’s doing better than his Republican neighbors, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who had a negative 35 – 50 percent approval in our July 20 survey, and New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie, who had a negative 44 – 47 percent score June 21. Both of those governors suffer from big negatives among women voters.”

More detailed polling results are available online.