Differences in Public Perceptions and Leaders’ Perceptions on Hydraulic Fracturing and Shale Development

Abstract

New technologies and rising energy prices have resulted in many energy companies investing significant amounts of capital in rural America. Much of the recent focus of energy companies has been on the development of shale oil and natural gas. We examine the differences in levels of support and opposition to shale oil and gas development, building on the literatures of the growth-machine coalition, polluter-industrial complex, and environmental justice. Specifically, we examine different frames of shale development held by government leaders and the public who reside above the New Albany shale play in Southern Illinois and Northwest Kentucky. Using a combination of interview, survey, and participant observation data, we find that government officials emphasize economic growth and many support shale development. While most government leaders claimed that there was not a major division in their communities about shale development, we found the public to be split, with a large countercoalition to shale development in existence.

Social Position Influencing the Water Perception Gap Between Local Leaders and Constituents in a Socio‐Hydrological System

“…There have been previous empirical studies on leaders' water perceptions (Coppock & Brown, ; O'Connor et al, ), the public's perceptions of various water issues (Canter et al, ; de França Doria, ; Flint et al, ; Po et al, ), and gaps between expert and layperson values on other types of environmental issues (Anderson & Theodori, ; Crowe et al, ; Lazo et al, ; Sjoberg, ). In the analysis below, we extend this work to explore perceptions and concerns about water issues between community residents and their water system leaders and managers.…”

Evaluating the effects of living with contamination from the lens of trauma: a case study of fracking development in Alberta, Canada

“…Social-scientific literature on fracking is also emerging, with some studies focused on political and media discourse (Vasi et al 2015;Upham et al 2015;Hilson 2015;Hudgins and Poole 2014;Jaspal, Turner, and Nerlich 2014); state responses (Carter and Eaton 2016;Crowe, Ceresola, and Silva 2015a); civil society organizational responses (Neville and Weinthal 2016;Dodge 2015;Vesalon and Cretan 2015;Jalbert, Kinchy, and Perry 2014) and attitude studies (Crowe et al 2015b;Boudet et al 2016Boudet et al , 2014Heuer and Lee 2014;Kriesky et al 2013;Theodori 2009). A smaller set of studies focuses on social impacts.…”

The Influence of Value Orientations, Personal Beliefs, and Knowledge about Resource Extraction on Local Leaders' Positions on Shale Development

“…Thus, leaders representing areas with a greater number of economic opportunities (other than shale development) may not be as easily influenced by the oil and gas industry (see Crowe et al. [forthcoming] for further discussion of growth machine politics and the influence of polluting industries on local government officials in shale areas). These findings add to the literature about boomtowns and major economic development projects, as they identify the characteristics of leaders who are most able to be influenced about their position on major resource extraction projects, and by extension the potential boom‐bust cycle that often occurs with such development.…”