Recent polls show that Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support expanding natural gas development as a key solution to high energy costs and grid reliability concerns. With 75% of voters backing increased energy development and 74% favoring more natural gas infrastructure, it’s clear that Pennsylvanians recognize the value of investing in domestic resources to address their energy needs.
Energy prices are top of mind for many Americans, especially as inflation continues to impact household budgets. A staggering 71% of Pennsylvanians reported concern about affording their family’s energy needs, according to survey results from a Commonwealth Foundation poll. With electricity demand on the rise, voters are increasingly seeking reliable, cost-effective energy solutions.
Natural gas is a vital component in this equation, offering a low-cost, domestic option while helping to maintain power grid stability and enhance air quality. Consider, just last year, Pennsylvania natural gas consumers saved $1.8 billion compared to 2022.
And Pennsylvanians aren’t alone – a separate poll conducted by Morning Consult surveying voters in battleground states found that 9 in 10 respondents are worried about inflation. More than 80% of those surveyed believe that boosting U.S. production of natural gas and oil could help reduce energy costs for consumers, underscoring a growing national consensus that developing domestic energy resources is crucial to stabilizing costs and strengthening the country’s energy security.
Critically, the need to fix the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects is an area of reform that has gained widespread support. The Morning Consult poll revealed 82% of voters favor streamlining the broken permitting system to expedite the approval of projects that would enhance energy capacity and lower costs. Providing a predictable and efficient permitting process for infrastructure investments, such as pipelines, processing facilities and LNG export terminals, is essential to ensure Pennsylvanians, Americans and our global allies can access clean, reliable energy when it’s needed most. These policies are viewed as pivotal for ensuring the long-term growth and stability of the U.S. energy sector, particularly as global energy markets face uncertainty.
Interestingly, even in polls conducted by groups funded exclusively to undermine the natural gas sector, such as the Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI), Pennsylvanians demonstrated strong support for natural gas. According to their findings, natural gas held a 75% favorability rating—higher than wind energy (73%) and only slightly behind solar energy (80%). This shows that Pennsylvanians see right through ORVI’s attempts to paint the industry in a negative light and they understand natural gas as a critical part of our current and future energy mix.
“Pennsylvanians want more domestically produced natural gas because it is affordable, clean and reliable,” Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Callahan told the Center Square.
“The resource, developed under one of the most stringent regulatory frameworks in the country — directed by more than fifty permit, regulation and technical guidance documents — allows Pennsylvania operators to lead in environmental performance, energy production and job creation. It is for these reasons why there is such widespread, bipartisan support for the natural gas industry in this battleground state.”
As inflation continues to weigh heavily on voters, Pennsylvania’s support for expanding natural gas development remains clear and resounding. The state’s abundant natural gas resources offer an immediate, cost-effective solution to address rising prices, grid reliability, energy security and the environment– not to mention being an economic gamechanger and job creator.
With broad public backing for pro-energy policies that enhance our investment and use of the abundant natural resource, the time is ripe to advance Pennsylvania natural gas as the keystone of achieving the nation’s energy, economic and environmental initiatives.
