A group of 50 academics from some of the UK’s leading universities today call on politicians to fast-track a UK shale gas industry, the latest salvo in an increasingly polarised debate around fracking.
In a letter to the Guardian on Thursday, the scientists argue there are “undeniable economic, environmental and national security benefits” from shale being produced in the north-west of the country. The move comes just days after Sir Paul McCartney and 150 other celebrities called on the government to immediately halt all drilling operations on the grounds that they could damage the environment. New measures were included in the Queen’s speech to allow shale companies to drill more easily under people’s homes. The government, aware of the risk of a backbench rebellion and the threat of legal actions, stressed any proposals to reform the trespass laws were “entirely dependent on the outcome of a government consultation”.
Cameron assured MPs that the measures would not impact on anyone’s garden, with his officials saying any digging would take place at a minimum of 300m underground with compensation provided to local communities.
Tory whips are nervous that southern MPs will protest and the Liberal Democrats will flake off. The signatories of the Guardian letter which was organised by North West Energy Task Force, a business group funded by Centrica, the owner of British Gas, and Cuadrilla Resources chaired by former BP boss, Lord Browne.
via Shale gas firms to get more power to drill under homes | Environment | The Guardian.
Shale gas firms to get more power to drill under homes
Europe will need to tap more diverse sources of gas and develop more supplies of controversial shale gas within the continent, amid concerns over the Ukraine crisis, according to a new energy security strategy unveiled by the European commission on Wednesday.
Allowing fracking companies to drill under peoples’ homes without their permission and watered-down standards for zero-carbon homes are expected to be the key green measures in the Queen’s speech on Wednesday.The proposals in the speech, which sets out the legislative programme for the year and is the last before the 2015 general election, marks a further hardening of the Conservative party’s attitude against environmental measures.Their coalition partners, the Lib Dems, see the survival of any zero-carbon home policy as a victory but failed to get other green proposals into the speech.Current laws of trespass require land- and home-owners to give permission for shale gas and oil drilling under their land, but the government intends to end this requirement in order to speed up fracking. Drilling can extend up to 3km horizontally underground from a central well pad.Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said: “Not only does this bill defy public opinion, it denies people a voice. To allow fracking companies to drill under people’s homes and land without their permission is to ignore public interest in pursuit of the vested interests of a few.”Tory ministers argue that fracking can deliver improved energy security for the UK but opponents warn of safety concerns and the need to cut carbon emissions to tackle climate change. The former Conservative energy minister Lord Howell has also warned fracking will cost the Tories thousands of votes in crucial rural constituencies.The shale gas industry welcomed as “very timely” the change in the trespass law, which is considered a major obstacle to exploration. It argues the changes update the law and will give fracking companies the same drilling rights already held by utility companies.Marcus Pepperell, spokesman for Shale Gas Europe, said: “We are only able to consider shale gas as a commercially viable energy source because of important advances in modern technology [including] horizontal drilling. Shale gas drilling will be deep underground and far less intrusive than many other energy sources. Utility facilities are far closer to the surface and their facilities can be much larger.”
DRAX GROUP has won national recognition for its efforts to create one of Europe’s biggest renewable energy plants.Business in the Community, a leading charity, will present the Yorkshire company with a Big Tick award for its commitment to responsible business practice at a ceremony in London this month.The award recognises Drax’s efforts to significantly reduce its carbon emissions through substantially increasing the amount of biomass burnt at Drax power station in place of coal.Peter Emery, production director, said: “We are delighted to have received BITC’s Big Tick Award in recognition of our biomass transformation project.“This is a huge achievement and means we are making a significant contribution to the UK’s carbon reduction and renewables commitments in a cost effective way without jeopardising the flexibility and reliability our power station is known for.“It is great that our staff and the contractors who contributed to this project have been recognised – the Big Tick is not just an endorsement of our strategy, but also recognition of their hard work.” Stephen Howard, chief executive of Business in the Community, said the awards shine a much-needed spotlight on the powerful impact of business.
Cuadrilla, the UK’s fracking pioneer, has submitted its planning application for a new site in Lancashire, where the company wants to drill four new exploratory wells.