Does upstate New York favor—or oppose—hydrofracking for natural gas? It depends on the poll.
A Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday found statewide opinion of fracking split, with 43 percent of New York voters in support and 42 percent opposed.
Regionally, the poll found greater support upstate—48 percent—and the greatest opposition in New York City, with 48 percent of city voters opposing drilling.
Here’s the regional breakdown from Quinnipiac:
But a Siena poll released earlier this month came to different conclusions. The poll still found a significant statewide split on fracking—44 percent opposed, 40 percent in favor—that was trending toward the opposition. The regional breakdown, however, found the opposite of the Quinnipiac survey when it comes to upstate.
Siena’s poll suggest the most opposition from fracking comes from upstate—with 51 percent of voters opposed. From the Jan. 17 Siena poll:
The poll questions, as you can see, have some differences. Quinnipiac gives background on the arguments in favor of fracking (economic benefit) and against it (environmental impact) before asking which comes closer to the voter’s point of view. Siena does not include similar background, but asks specifically whether the voter would favor allowing fracking “in parts of upstate New York.”
Why does it matter? The state’s portion of the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation, which is targeted by the gas industry for fracking and shale-gas drilling, covers parts of more than 15 counties upstate. High-volume fracking has been on hold in New York since 2008, when the Department of Environmental Conservation first launched a technical review that continues today.
A plan floated last year would have limited large-scale fracking to five upstate counties near or along the Pennsylvania border, where the shale is believed to be richest.
UPDATE 2: Quinnipiac’s public-relations firm wrote in to point out the sample size in each poll. Quinnipiac surveyed 1,127 New York voters, while Siena polled 676.
UPDATE: After the jump, see reaction from shale-gas opponents and proponents:
New York State Petroleum Council Executive Director Karen Moreau:
“Today’s Quinnipiac poll demonstrates once again that Upstate New Yorkers have seen through the fear and scare tactics pushed by so-called environmentalists who have waged a four-year campaign of misinformation.“Upstate needs jobs and New Yorkers know that safe natural gas development offers the best hope for the future, with 25,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirect jobs. It will provide millions in revenue for schools and local governments, save family farms and lift entire communities throughout the struggling Southern Tier.
“The facts are clear and we are confident Governor Cuomo will recognize them just as Upstate New Yorkers have. This is an issue of jobs and there is no question that the surest path to job creation upstate is safe natural gas development. It’s time to move forward.”
Alex Beauchamp of New Yorkers Against Fracking:
“New Yorkers don’t want to be poisoned, like the Pennsylvania fracking victims who visited Albany yesterday. After losing support from people who are opposed to the gun control measure, the last thing the Governor should do is go forward with something that roughly half the state vehemently opposes.”
6 Comments
I have to wonder if the surveys made any attempts to find out or classify the amount of knowledge people have about the topic. My experience is that most people who take the time to learn the risks of HVHF wind up opposed or at least wanting strict limitations and controls over the process.
It also seems that as time goes on more and more people are becoming aware. Case in point, the regulations despite only a 30-day comment period over the holidays received 204,000 comments, way more than the comments received on the SGEIS even though the comment period was much longer. In the end, it is science that should rule, and the regulations have little scientific support or documentation justifying setbacks and other items.
Yeah, the Petroleum Council Executive Director is the representative of “proponents of fracking.” They are the representative of the only group that will benefit from fracking by profits, and the fossil fuel industry is notorious for “accidents” which devastate the environment.
Anti-fracking groups are just people. They are citizens who either live in areas being fracked, live in areas threatened to be fracked, or are just concerned about the lives of their fellow citizens and the environment of all of us. The US media does nothing to spread the word about the devastating possibilities of fracking.
How about getting off the fossil fuel industry bandwagon and thinking of the everyday people who read your “news”paper?
The difference in polls is dependent on a huge variety of issues. And no Ms. Moreau “Upstate New Yorkers have seen through the fear and scare tactics pushed by so-called environmentalists” is about as far from reality as your publicity maneuvering and go!
1) Those working in the grassroots movement to ban fracking in NY are not “so-called environmentalists”. We are scientists, engineers, business owners, land owners, health professionals, nurses, doctors, elected officials, factory workers, teachers, ministers, insurance representatives, real estate agents … and just about every other profession you can name including very concerned parent and citizen. Thousands upon thousands of hours have been spent in research, analyzing, and connecting the dots. It is time for lobbyists from the petroleum lobby to stop falsely categorizing the vast network of activists as something other than serious, involved, concerned participants.
2. One poll is 1127 people. One poll is 676 people. We had MORE PARTICIPANTS than both of those polls combined at the last rally in Albany! I strong suggest the article is attempting to make some kind of a case on loose straw.
3. Did the poll ask: Do you want toxic waste storage facilities in your county?
4. Did the poll ask: Do you want to allow NY State to give drilling industries the right to draw millions of gallons of fresh water from our state for their industrial operations?
5. Did the poll ask: Do you believe NYS should cover health cares costs for all workers within the state border?
6. Did the poll ask: Have you received adequate information about the pros and cons of fracking?
And the poll should be minimum 100,000 people! Not 1800. New York ranks third among U.S. states in population size with an estimated 19,378,102 residents. I seriously think any poll less than 20,000 is useless.
Before any conclusion of what “NY wants” can be clearly claimed, there is but ONE poll to take – that is a statewide voters referendum on this issue alone: “Based on the information currently available, should NY State go forward with finalizing DEC regulations to allow high volume hydraulic fracturing commence in NY State.”
Wait. I thought the decision was supposed to be made on science. And that we are supposed to be looking seriously at climate science in particular. And greenhouse gas emissions. And handling of toxic wastewater. And cumulative impacts. And air pollution. And forest fragmentation. And dozens of other scientific and public health issues.
That a county or town or village can “want” fracking is impossible. Only an individual person is capable of wanting something, and, becuase we live in a society together, each person does not get to do everything they might want to do. I don’t have a right to blast 120 decibel music out my bedroom window if it is going to disturb my neighbors’ peaceful enjoyment of their property. I can’t burn a brush pile when the weather is dry becuase I put myself and others at risk. I can’t have industrial activity on my property becuase it would be a violation of my insurance and my home loan, against my town’s zoning, and would disturb my neighbors. Fossil fuel companies should not get exceptions to put industrial activity in areas that are devoted to other uses, such as agriculture, forest, wetlands, residential, etc. That a gas company and a landowner might “want” to do drilling does not make it right for the neighborhood, community, county, or state.
The polls didn’t ask if people wouldn’t mind having increased truck traffic and road damage. The polls didn’t ask people if they wanted the possibility of their water taint from fracking would it matter to them and their families. The polls didn’t ask if the people wouldn’t mind if there was a toxic pool put right next to their property line, would they like that? The poll didn’t ask if the people would enjoy hearing and seeing 30 foot flares burning methane gas constantly day and night for more than a week, that they would or wouldn’t like that? No these polls are not stating what is in store for us all if this dirty ILLEGALLY GOTTEN INDUSTRY THROUGH THE HALIBURTON LOOPHOLE, will be able to take our rights, our land , our air and our water which will ultimately take the most precious thing of all – our health, away from us. WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER . THERE IS NO PRICE ON THAT.
That conclusions can be drawn for an entire populous state based on the polling results of so few people is incredulous. How were those polled chosen, and were they aware of the pros and cons of the process of hydro-fracking? I have been educating myself on every aspect of the process and industry, the benefits, the deficits. Industry reviews, independent reviews, hydrology and geology studies, etc. I live in the Southern Tier, and I work in Rochester. My neighbors are aware of HVHF, and wether researching deeply, or basing their opinions on what’s going on in Pennsylvania, most want to see it banned. However, my friends, family and co workers in Rochester have very little if any knowledge of HVHF ( until after they talk with me). Many I’ve asked have responded “what’s that?” To them, natural gas is the “good” fuel, it pollutes less, it costs less. They have no idea where it comes from, or how dirty and dangerous its extraction is. They want to believe it is the answer to the energy and economy crunch, and they have no reason to look any further into it because it’s” not in their back yard”. I fear a large portion of people living in towns and cities removed from the actual targeted HVHF areas fall into this same catagory. Thankfully media has been covering more of this hydro-fracking division of late, and presenting more information on both sides. More people will have an opportunity to be informed. I just hope it’s not information after the fact, and I hope the current polls do not stand to seal our fate.