Differing opinions about natural gas drilling in two adjacent counties with different levels of drilling activity

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 58; pp. 228 - 236
• Main Authors: Kriesky, J., Goldstein, B.D., Zell, K., Beach, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; attitudes and opinions; Counties; Drilling; Economic data; Economic opportunities; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Exact sciences and technology; Fossil fuels and derived products; Gas; General, economic and professional studies; Hydrofracturing; leasing; Natural gas; Natural gas drilling; Oil shale; Public opinion; Residents; shale; Studies; surveys; Pennsylvania; Allegheny County Pennsylvania; United States > US; Washington County Pennsylvania; Public opinion; Hydrofracturing; Natural gas drilling
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.03.005
• EISSN: 1873-6777
• ISSN: 0301-4215

The pace of development of shale gas plays varies greatly among US states and globally. Through analysis of telephone survey responses, we explore support for natural gas drilling in residents of Washington County (WC), PA (n=502) vs. residents of Allegheny County (AC), PA (n=799). WC has had intense Marcellus Shale (MS) drilling activity, in comparison to adjacent AC, which has had little drilling activity. WC residents are marginally more supportive of MS drilling than are AC residents (p=0.0768). Residents of WC are more likely to perceive MS as an economic opportunity than are AC residents (p=0.0015); to be in a family that has signed a MS lease (p<0.0001); to follow the MS issue closely (p=0.0003); to get MS information from neighbors, friends, and relatives (p<0.0001); and are marginally less likely to perceive MS as an environmental threat (p=0.1090). WC leaseholders are significantly more supportive of MS drilling than WC non-leaseholders and AC non-leaseholders (p=0.0024). Mediation analyses show that county-based differences in support of MS drilling are due to WC residents seeing more of an economic opportunity in the MS and their greater likelihood of having a family-held lease.
•Telephone survey analysis of sources of support for Marcellus Shale drilling.•Perceived positive economic impact of drilling drives support among respondents.•Mineral rights leaseholders are significantly more supportive than non-leaseholders.