Pennsylvania voters are divided on fracking but show broad support for stricter regulations

Pennsylvania voters remain divided over fracking. A poll this week of 700 potential voters in September shows 58% support a fracking ban while 42% oppose it.

In general, about half of respondents support fracking, while 30% are against it and 19% are unsure.

The survey, conducted by the left-leaning Ohio River Valley Institute, aligns with previous polls showing that state residents have varying views on fracking, a practice that extracts oil and gas from deeply buried shale deposits.

In 2022, a Muhlenberg College poll also showed divided opinions on fracking: 48% of respondents supported it and 44% opposed it.

And while the ORVI poll shows voters believe fracking brings economic benefits, there is also widespread concern about the impact and support for greater regulation of the industry.

When voters were asked about their support for specific environmental measures, 90% supported increasing opposition to schools and hospitals, while 92% called for greater air monitoring at fracking sites and 94% called for greater disclosure of fracking chemicals.

“[Residents] are being forced to do a math,” said Sean O’Leary, a senior researcher at the institute. “Some bad things happen. But we believe it is important for jobs. And how do we deal with it? And the answer is that on the one hand they will recognize that they believe fracking is making an economic contribution, but on the other hand they will still be dissatisfied with the harm it is doing to their communities.”

O’Leary said the poll shows voters of both parties overwhelmingly support environmental protections.

“Support for mitigating measures like regulation and enforcement is strong across all demographics we surveyed,” O’Leary said, “from Democrats and environmentalists on the left to hardcore Republicans on the right.”

O’Leary said the perception of economic benefits was exaggerated and pointed to his research at ORVI that showed the opposite.

“First, the natural gas industry is one of the most important sectors of the U.S. economy,” he said. “It is the least employment-intensive, with only about $0.08 of every dollar the industry earns or invests in the industry going to supporting workers. So, to begin with, there aren’t very many jobs.”

In Pennsylvania, there are currently about 17,000 direct jobs in the industry, although an industry report estimates the number at 123,000.

And while “banning fracking” has emerged as an issue in the presidential campaign between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, only an act of Congress could enact a federal ban on fracking. Both presidential candidates say they support fracking. States like New York have banned fracking, but there are no plans to do so in Pennsylvania, where it has bipartisan support.

Likewise, both major Senate candidates — incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and his Republican challenger Dave McCormick — support fracking in the state.