Thursday, July 29, 2021

Ohio River Valley Institute: Poll Finds PA Voters Want Tougher Regulation Of Natural Gas Drilling Wastes; Support Community Regulation Of Drilling; Favor Clean Energy Sources

On July 29, the
Ohio River Valley Institute released a new poll of Pennsylvania voters which found by wide margins they support tougher regulation of the natural gas drilling industry, community regulation of drilling and the development of clean energy sources.

“Our recent research shows there is very little data to support the contention that the Appalachian natural gas boom has been or can be an engine for economic prosperity. In fact, in some cases, the industry may have the opposite effect [Read more here]. It follows, then, that this poll confirms what other polls have been finding: that public support for fracking in Pennsylvania is eroding precipitously,” said Joanne Kilgour, Executive Director of the Ohio River Valley Institute. 

The poll found voters are especially concerned about fracking waste. 

By 69 percent to 29 percent, they believe that fracking fluids should be subject to the state’s "hazardous waste" safeguards, a clear repudiation of Pennsylvania’s current loophole for the industry. 

And, by 82 percent to 6 percent, they support requiring safer transport of the contaminated waste created from fracking sites, consistent with recommendations from state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

The poll showed that Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s recommendations to restrict fracking operations were extremely popular, while tax breaks and public subsidies for fracking companies are extremely unpopular. 

By a 29-point margin, Pennsylvania voters believe that fracking companies should not receive financial incentives such as tax breaks or subsidies from the state government, including a majority of Republicans and Independents. 

And, by at least a 17-point margin, voters oppose tax breaks for the Shell ethylene cracker plant in Beaver County.

Alternatively, voters strongly favor subsidies for clean energy development. Voters support tax credits to bring clean energy manufacturers to Pennsylvania by 60 points, including almost all Democrats and clear majorities of both Republicans and Independents.

According to Center for Coalfield Justice Executive Director Veronica Coptis “Pennsylvanians know better than most that despite promises from industry and their political cheerleaders, poverty in Pennsylvania and Appalachia has persisted for decades. People want fossil fuel companies to clean up the messes they’ve left behind. Unfortunately, our legislators refuse to listen to what we are all saying because too many of them are beholden to those very same corporations.”

“This polling confirms there is growing momentum among Pennsylvanians who are demanding, in a unified voice, more accountability from corporate polluters in the fracking industry,” said PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo. “By staggering numbers, voters have made it clear they support more regulation, enforcement and scrutiny on an industry that has shown, time and again, it doesn’t have our best interests in mind. It’s incumbent upon our elected leaders in all facets of government to hear these concerns and to hold to account an industry that is increasingly unpopular across all of Pennsylvania.”

Some of the specific findings in the poll include--

-- Authority To Prosecute: 62 percent of voters support authorizing the Attorney General to directly prosecute oil and gas companies without need of a referral;

-- Waste Should Be Considered Hazardous: 69 percent of voters believe fracking fluids should be subject to the state’s "hazardous waste" safeguards, a clear repudiation of Pennsylvania’s current loophole for the industry.

-- Safer Transport Of Waste: 82 percent of voters support requiring safer transport of the contaminated waste created from fracking sites by a 76 point margin.

-- Comprehensive Health Response: 79 percent of voters support conducting a comprehensive health response to the effects of living near drilling sites by a 70 point margin

-- More Financial Support For Clean Energy: 70 percent of voters strongly favor subsidies for clean energy. Voters support tax credits to bring clean energy manufacturers to Pennsylvania by 70 percent to 10 percent, including 89 percent of Democrats and clear majorities of both Republicans and Independents.

-- Community Regulation Of Drilling: 56 percent of voters  believe that cities, municipalities, and counties should be able to protect people from fracking if local voters choose to do so, a clear repudiation of the state’s current restriction on local authority.

-- Increase Setbacks From Drilling Operations: 74 percent of voters support new regulations to increase the required distance between fracking infrastructure like well pads and pipelines and homes, schools, hospitals, childcare centers, and other residential buildings.

-- Economic Benefits Don’t Outweigh Health Impacts: Less than half-- 42 percent-- of state voters agree that the economic benefits of fracking outweigh the impacts on community health.

-- Economic Benefits Don’t Outweigh Environmental Costs: Less than half-- 43 percent-- of state voters agree that the economic benefits of fracking outweigh the environmental costs

-- Concerned About Climate Change: 73 percent of voters are concerned about climate change

-- Support Conservation Corps: 75 percent of voters support creating new Climate Conservation Corps to restore forests and wetlands

-- Support Plugging Of Abandoned Wells: 79 percent support creating new jobs by cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells

Click Here for a copy of the poll results.

For more information on research and other resources available, visit the Ohio River Valley Institute website.

Related Articles:

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Why The Appalachian Natural Gas Boom Failed To Deliver Jobs And Prosperity And What It Teaches

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Repairing The Damage From Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Repairing The Damage From Orphan Wells And Abandoned Mine Lands

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: New Report Demonstrates How RGGI Could Fund Opportunities For PA Coal Plant Communities

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Options And Opportunities For Coal Plant Communities: Pennsylvania And The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

[Posted: July 29, 2021]  PA Environment Digest

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