NEW YORK -- In a year of intense media scrutiny on hydraulic fracturing, the manner in which most oil and natural gas companies access natural gas, two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they believe the benefits of natural gas outweigh the risks while 17% say the risks outweigh the benefits.

The results come from a Harris Poll of 2,056 adults surveyed online between Feb. 6 and 13, 2012, by Harris Interactive.

Natural gas has maintained a relatively low price, compared with other fuels with similar uses such as oil and gasoline. ...