A new poll released this week by Quinnipiac University found that Americans’ support for hydraulic fracturing comfortably exceeds opposition.  More specifically, Quinnipiac found that American voters support the use of this important well completion technology by a nine-point margin: 45-36.

When asked about the safety of hydraulic fracturing, voters categorizing it as “very safe” or “somewhat safe” outnumbered those who said it was “not safe” by an amazing 11-point margin.

This should come as little surprise, though: just last month a national poll by Robert Morris University showed strong support for hydraulic fracturing, and a previous poll from the University of Texas found that more than 80 percent of Americans support natural gas.

Clearly, Americans have grown weary of the efforts of elitists and activists opposed to shale development, and they’re simply not buying the spin. And why should they?  Thanks to shale development, U.S. household income will likely rise by an average of $2,700 per year and create 1.2 million new jobs by 2020.  Because of low-cost natural gas – made possible through the responsible use of hydraulic fracturing – we’ve started to see a re-shoring of American manufacturing jobs, not to mention unprecedented energy security.

Nor are the benefits all about economic growth.

Take New York City, for example. Thanks to the increased use of clean-burning natural gas, residents of the city are experiencing the best air quality in 50 years.  Looking at it from a national perspective, U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide are at their lowest level in two decades, thanks once again to natural gas.

It’s also important to note that the Obama administration has embraced responsible natural gas development on both economic and environmental grounds. White House officials have also specifically defended the safety of hydraulic fracturing, and confirmed that any risks are “manageable.”

In the last few national polls we have seen increased support for the continued development of our nation’s shale resources. As more benefits of development are brought to light, it’s likely that support for hydraulic fracturing will continue to grow.