Albany, N.Y. (AP) - A new poll shows New York voters evenly split on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region.
The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows 43 percent support drilling because of the economic benefits and 42 oppose it because of environmental concerns surrounding high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The technology frees natural gas from shale deep underground by injecting a well with chemically treated water and sand.
Support is stronger upstate, with 48 percent in favor of lifting the ban on fracking and 40 percent opposed.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,127 voters between Jan. 23 and 28. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
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