Survey: People Concerned About
Fracking's Effect on Drinking Water
Three out of five Pennsylvanians are already very or somewhat aware of the controversy about hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") drilling used to tap cheap natural gas supplies in the state, according to a new Infogroup/Opinion Research Corporation (Infogroup/ORC) survey of 403 state residents conducted for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI).
Among Pennsylvanians who already are aware of "fracking," more than four out of five are concerned about the drilling technique's possible threat to clean drinking water.
The Pennsylvania fracking survey conducted by CSI was released today along with two separate survey reports, one of which is national in scope and the other of which focuses on New York State/New York City residents. All three full survey reports are available online at http://www.CivilSocietyInstitute.org.
Key findings of the Pennsylvania survey include the following findings:
* More than four out of five Pennsylvania residents (81 percent) who are very/somewhat aware of fracking are "very concerned" (44 percent) or "somewhat concerned" (37 percent) "about the potential for Pennsylvania drinking water sources to be compromised by the natural gas drilling process known as 'fracking'." Concerns are strong across party lines, including 67 percent of Republicans, 94 percent of Independents and 91 percent of Democrats.
* More than three out of five Pennsylvania residents (62 percent) who are very/somewhat aware of fracking think state and federal officials are either "not doing as much as they should" (47 percent) or "not doing anything at all" (15 percent) to "require proper disclosure of the chemicals used in natural gas drilling." Democrats (73 percent) and Independents (80 percent) are more likely than Republicans (45 percent) to fault government efforts to date. .
* More than three out of four Pennsylvania residents (76 percent) would tell their Member of Congress, governor or state lawmaker: "When it comes to energy production that requires large amounts of water or where water quality is in jeopardy as a result of the energy production, my vote would be for coming down on the side of the public's health and the environment. We should favor cleaner energy sources that use the least water and involve the lowest possible risk to the public and environment." Only about one five (21 percent) would say the following: "When it comes to energy production that requires large amounts of water or where water quality is in jeopardy as a result of the energy production, my view is that energy production priorities have to come first. There is always going to be some risk involved when it comes to energy production. We have to accept that there are going to be tradeoffs when it comes to the public's health and the environment." Clean water is
favored over energy production by Republicans (62 percent), Independents (87 percent), and Democrats (85 percent).
In presenting the three surveys, Pam Solo, founder and president, Civil Society Institute, said: "Clean energy production is strongly favored by Americans over energy sources that create a danger to human health and safe drinking water in particular. Fracking is a perfect illustration of the fact that Americans don't think of an energy source as 'cheap' or 'clean' if there is a hidden price in terms of safe drinking water and human health. The message from our new survey is clear: Americans of all political persuasions prefer to see clean energy development that protects water supplies over traditional fossil fuel production that endangers safe drinking water and human health."
Among Pennsylvanians who already are aware of "fracking," more than four out of five are concerned about the drilling technique's possible threat to clean drinking water.
The Pennsylvania fracking survey conducted by CSI was released today along with two separate survey reports, one of which is national in scope and the other of which focuses on New York State/New York City residents. All three full survey reports are available online at http://www.CivilSocietyInstitute.org.
Key findings of the Pennsylvania survey include the following findings:
* More than four out of five Pennsylvania residents (81 percent) who are very/somewhat aware of fracking are "very concerned" (44 percent) or "somewhat concerned" (37 percent) "about the potential for Pennsylvania drinking water sources to be compromised by the natural gas drilling process known as 'fracking'." Concerns are strong across party lines, including 67 percent of Republicans, 94 percent of Independents and 91 percent of Democrats.
* More than three out of five Pennsylvania residents (62 percent) who are very/somewhat aware of fracking think state and federal officials are either "not doing as much as they should" (47 percent) or "not doing anything at all" (15 percent) to "require proper disclosure of the chemicals used in natural gas drilling." Democrats (73 percent) and Independents (80 percent) are more likely than Republicans (45 percent) to fault government efforts to date. .
* More than three out of four Pennsylvania residents (76 percent) would tell their Member of Congress, governor or state lawmaker: "When it comes to energy production that requires large amounts of water or where water quality is in jeopardy as a result of the energy production, my vote would be for coming down on the side of the public's health and the environment. We should favor cleaner energy sources that use the least water and involve the lowest possible risk to the public and environment." Only about one five (21 percent) would say the following: "When it comes to energy production that requires large amounts of water or where water quality is in jeopardy as a result of the energy production, my view is that energy production priorities have to come first. There is always going to be some risk involved when it comes to energy production. We have to accept that there are going to be tradeoffs when it comes to the public's health and the environment." Clean water is
favored over energy production by Republicans (62 percent), Independents (87 percent), and Democrats (85 percent).
In presenting the three surveys, Pam Solo, founder and president, Civil Society Institute, said: "Clean energy production is strongly favored by Americans over energy sources that create a danger to human health and safe drinking water in particular. Fracking is a perfect illustration of the fact that Americans don't think of an energy source as 'cheap' or 'clean' if there is a hidden price in terms of safe drinking water and human health. The message from our new survey is clear: Americans of all political persuasions prefer to see clean energy development that protects water supplies over traditional fossil fuel production that endangers safe drinking water and human health."
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