Fracking in UK Attracting Major Opposition

The controversial technology of extracting shale gas from under the ground by a process known as fracking, is beginning to generate opposition from local people in the UK close to the sites where shale gas has been identified. Despite the fact that shale gas is not expected to get into serious production until the 2020s,  resistance is spreading across Britain.  For example, here in Balcombe, West Sussex, in the South of England:

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Looking at the letters to UN daily papers and to local papers, many are forming groups and writing letters of protest, claiming that the dangers of subsidence, tremors and earthquakes from fracking have been understated and not researched sufficiently. The influential green pressure group, Friends of the Earth, also do not advocate fracking. In a volte face, some groups are saying that they would rather have wind turbines on their doorsteps than fracking underneath it!

But the London Mayor has opined in ignorance that shale gas is the best solution to Britain’s looking energy crisis and has questioned the effectiveness of wind farms. Interesting that London has not been suggested as a suitable site for fracking! The UK government’s approach to date has been to replace closing coal stations with wind and nuclear power stations. Despite significant progress in developing the wind energy industry, Mayor Johnson believes that shale gas represents a more secure supply.

His comments on wind farms came just days after the UK coalition governemnt announced it would offer developers generous subsidies to continue to install wind turbines over the next six years.  According to the government, onshore wind farms should receive at least £100 per megawatt-hour. The market rate for electricity currently stands at less than £50 per megawatt-hour. Offshore wind farms will receive £155 per megawatt-hour.  According to the energy secretary,  Ed Davey, these new costs are “broadly comparable” to 2013 prices. However, it remains to be seen whether the new system will see consumers pay more for wind power. The coalition government has expressed reservations regarding shale gas after drilling near Blackpool caused a mini-earthquake in May. There are also fears that it could contaminate drinking water if the process is not carried out properly.

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Fracking site near Blackpool

Even if a safe way can be found to extract shale gas,  it will not come about sufficiently quickly and therefore it is right to continue to promote the creation of onshore and off shore wind farms in the UK.  And let’s not forget that  some studies have shown that the extraction and use of shale gas may result in the release of more greenhouse gases than conventional natural gas! During the fracking process, small amounts of methane are released directly into the atmosphere. Methane is considered more dangerous to the environment than carbon dioxide because it heats the Earth. Despite the fact that the methane breaks down relatively quickly so it doesn’t remain a heat source for long  (unlike carbon dioxide, which can stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of thousands of years) it’s still thought of the more harmful of the two. Give me a wind farm any day!