Maurice Carroll, Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5334 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: APRIL 18, 2013

GAS DRILLING DIVIDES NEW YORK BY REGION, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; VOTERS SAY 3-1 FRACKING WILL HURT ENVIRONMENT
New York State voters remain divided on drilling for natural gas, as 42 percent support drilling because of the economic benefits, while 46 percent oppose it because of environmental concerns, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This slight opposition compares to the results of a March 20 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, in which voters opposed natural gas drilling 46 39 percent. In todays survey, upstate voters are divided 45 46 percent on the issue of drilling, while New York City voters oppose it 47 37 percent and suburban voters are split with 47 percent in favor and 44 percent opposed. Republicans support drilling 68 25 percent, with Democrats opposed 58 29 percent and independent voters divided 43 45 percent. There is also a large gender gap as men back drilling by a narrow 47 42 percent, while women are opposed 49 38 percent. By a larger 50 38 percent margin, New York State voters support a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas. Support for a drilling tax is 59 30 percent among Democrats and 51 36 percent among independent voters. Republicans opposed the tax 53 37 percent. Fracking continues to divide the state by party, region and gender. The thumbs-down we found last time is moving back into a grey area. Voters still think it will bring new jobs and some environmental damage, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/April 18, 2013 page 2 New York State voters say 72 20 percent that drilling for natural gas will create jobs. There is almost no difference among upstate, New York City and suburban voters. Voters also believe 54 16 percent that using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to extract natural gas will damage the environment. Republicans are divided 32 33 percent on whether fracking will hurt the environment, while most voters in all other groups believe it will. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is dragging his feet and trying to avoid making a decision on fracking, 32 percent of voters say, while 24 percent say he is carefully evaluating the issues, with 41 percent undecided. There's a sense of impatience among voters, Carroll said. Is Gov. Andrew Cuomo doing a careful evaluation or dragging his feet? Slightly more voters see the scuff marks. From April 9 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,404 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

13. Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Tot Drilling No drilling DK/NA 42% 46 12 Rep 68% 25 7 Dem 29% 58 13 Ind 43% 45 12 Men 47% 42 10 Wom 38% 49 13 Wht 47% 45 8 Blk 27% 49 24 Hsp 38% 45 17

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Drilling No drilling DK/NA 39% 54 7 44% 41 15

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 38% 47 14 42% 46 11 49% 45 5

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 41% 47 13 41% 50 8 44% 43 12

AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Drilling No drilling DK/NA 45% 46 9 37% 47 16 47% 44 9

UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind 66% 29 5 30% 63 7 40% 48 12

HEARD OF FRACKING Q16 Yes No 42% 50 8 44% 36 20

TREND: Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? DRILLING...... High Low Apr 18 Mar 20 Jan 31 Dec 13 Sep 12 Aug 11 Mar 20 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 2011 2013 Drilling No drilling DK/NA 42 46 12 39 46 14 43 42 15 44 42 15 45 41 13 47 42 12 39 46 14

14. Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 50% 38 12 Rep 37% 53 10 Dem 59% 30 11 Ind 51% 36 13 Men 54% 37 9 Wom 47% 38 15 Wht 52% 37 11 Blk 39% 43 18 Hsp 50% 35 15

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Support Oppose DK/NA 60% 32 8 44% 41 15

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 44% 41 15 54% 34 12 63% 31 6

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 51% 43 7 53% 36 11 49% 36 15

AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Support Oppose DK/NA 50% 38 12 51% 34 15 50% 42 8

UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind 37% 54 10 59% 31 10 52% 32 16

HEARD OF FRACKING Q16 Yes No 55% 35 10 39% 45 16

TREND: Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? SUPPORT....... High Low Aug 11 Jul 26 2011 2012 59 29 12 47 39 14

Apr 18 2013 Support Oppose DK/NA 50 38 12

Dec 13 2012 54 32 14

Sep 12 2012 51 34 15

Jul 26 2012 47 39 14

Dec 21 2011 57 31 12

15. Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 72% 20 8 Rep 85% 11 4 Dem 66% 26 8 Ind 73% 18 8 Men 77% 19 4 Wom 68% 21 11 Wht 75% 17 7 Blk 67% 23 10 Hsp 67% 26 7

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes No DK/NA 76% 18 5 69% 21 9

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 66% 25 10 77% 18 5 76% 19 5

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 70% 23 7 73% 22 4 72% 18 10

AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes No DK/NA 73% 20 7 70% 22 9 74% 19 7

UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind 83% 14 3 67% 26 7 72% 17 11

HEARD OF FRACKING Q16 Yes No 73% 20 7 70% 20 10

TREND: Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? YES........... High Low Sep 12 Apr 18 2012 2013 81 12 7 72 20 8

Apr 18 2013 Yes No DK/NA 72 20 8

Dec 13 2012 78 15 8

Sep 12 2012 81 12 7

Jul 26 2012 75 17 8

Dec 21 2011 75 18 7

16. Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Tot Yes No DK/NA 69% 30 1 Rep 73% 26 1 Dem 61% 39 Ind 75% 24 Men 77% 22 1 Wom 62% 38 Wht 79% 20 1 Blk 41% 59 Hsp 43% 57 -

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes No DK/NA 82% 17 61% 39 1

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 58% 41 1 75% 25 82% 18 -

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 58% 42 73% 27 72% 28 1

AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes No DK/NA 85% 14 1 53% 47 67% 33 -

UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind 88% 11 1 82% 18 1 88% 11 1

TREND: Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? YES........... High Low Apr 18 Sep 21 2013 2011 69 30 1 53 46 1

Apr 18 2013 Yes No DK/NA 69 30 1

Dec 13 2012 66 33 1

Sep 12 2012 65 34 1

Jul 26 2012 62 37 1

Dec 21 2011 59 39 1

17. Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know? Tot Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 54% 16 29 1 Rep 32% 33 34 Dem 66% 6 27 Ind 52% 18 29 1 Men 49% 23 28 1 Wom 58% 10 31 1 Wht 50% 19 30 1 Blk 60% 10 30 Hsp 58% 10 32 -

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 61% 15 24 1 49% 17 33 1

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 55% 14 31 1 57% 16 26 54% 19 27 -

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 50% 16 34 1 59% 13 27 1 52% 18 30 1

AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 52% 20 27 1 58% 11 30 1 50% 17 33 -

UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind 30% 36 34 1 72% 5 23 51% 22 26 1

HEARD OF FRACKING Q16 Yes No 56% 20 23 1 49% 7 44 -

TREND: Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know? YES........... High Low Dec 21 Sep 12 2011 2012 55 13 31 1 48 14 37 1

Apr 18 2013 Yes/Will damage No/Won't damage Don't Know REFUSED 54 16 29 1

Dec 13 2012 50 17 33 -

Sep 12 2012 48 14 37 1

Jul 26 2012 53 12 34 1

Dec 21 2011 55 13 31 1

18. Which comes closer to your point of view; Governor Cuomo is carefully evaluating the issue of hydro-fracking, or Governor Cuomo is dragging his feet and trying to avoid making a decision on the issue of hydro-fracking, or don't you have an opinion on that? Tot Carefully evaluating 24% Dragging his feet 32 No opinion 41 DK/NA 3 Rep 19% 41 38 2 Dem 28% 24 44 3 Ind 24% 33 40 3 Men 26% 40 33 1 Wom 23% 26 48 4 Wht 25% 34 37 3 Blk 28% 14 56 1 Hsp 21% 30 47 2

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Carefully evaluating 27% Dragging his feet 37 No opinion 32 DK/NA 4 23% 29 46 2

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 21% 27 49 2 28% 37 33 3 26% 34 38 2

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 20% 32 46 2 22% 34 42 1 28% 31 37 4

AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Carefully evaluating 23% Dragging his feet 37 No opinion 37 DK/NA 2 25% 27 45 2 25% 32 39 4

UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind 17% 46 35 2 32% 25 40 3 24% 40 37 -

HEARD OF FRACKING Q16 Yes No 28% 40 30 2 16% 17 65 3

TREND: Which comes closer to your point of view; Governor Cuomo is carefully evaluating the issue of hydro-fracking, or Governor Cuomo is dragging his feet and trying to avoid making a decision on the issue of hydro-fracking, or don't you have an opinion on that? Apr 18 2013 Carefully evaluating 24 Dragging his feet 32 No opinion 41 DK/NA 3 Mar 20 2013 21 30 46 3 Dec 13 2012 26 25 44 4