{"id":1340,"date":"2013-09-09T15:56:17","date_gmt":"2013-09-09T19:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alexprudhomme.com\/?p=1340"},"modified":"2013-09-09T15:56:17","modified_gmt":"2013-09-09T19:56:17","slug":"hydro-fracked-gas-uks-new-north-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alexprudhomme.com\/2013\/09\/09\/hydro-fracked-gas-uks-new-north-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"Is hydro-fracked gas the UK’s new North Sea?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, protestors shut down a hydrofracking site in northern England. \u00a0This week, the government makes the case for fracking (carefully) in the UK. As this speech demonstrates, the Brits are struggling to balance the costs and benefits of shale exploration, just as we are … \u00a0as I detail in my new book “HYDROFRACKING; WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW,” available in Nov.
\n 
\nThe Myths and Realities of Shale Gas Exploration\u00a0<\/strong>
\nSpeech by Edward Davey, Secretary of State, for Energy and Climate Change on shale gas exploration.\u00a0Originally given at The Royal Society, London.
\nThe debate on shale gas
\nThere has been quite a debate on the future of shale gas this summer.
\nAnd if you took at face value some of the claims made about fracking, such has been the
\nexaggeration and misunderstanding, you would be forgiven for thinking that it represents
\na great evil;
\nOne of the gravest threats that has ever existed to the environment, to the health of our
\nchildren and to the future of the planet.
\nOn the other side of the coin, you could have been led to believe that shale gas is the sole
\nanswer to all our energy problems;
\nThat we can turn our backs on developing renewables and nuclear, safe in the knowledge
\nthat shale gas will meet all our energy needs.
\nBoth of these positions are just plain wrong.
\nI understand the concerns people have that shale gas extraction could be taken forward
\nirresponsibly and without proper protections.
\nAnd I stand shoulder to shoulder with those who want to tackle climate change;
\nJust as I stand shoulder to shoulder with those who want to keep our homes warm and our
\nbusinesses powered at a price people can afford.
\nBut our society is ill served when we allow myths to proliferate or when we allow debates
\nto be hijacked by zealots or vested interests.
\nSo, today, I want to make the calm, rational, objective case for shale gas exploration in
\nthe UK in the light of the three equal and overarching objectives I have as Secretary of
\nState for Energy and Climate Change.
\nFirst, powering the country \u2013 keeping the lights on – planning properly to meet our future
\nenergy needs.
\nSecond, protecting the planet \u2013 cutting carbon emissions and preserving our environment
\n– being responsible guardians of our children\u2019s inheritance.
\nAnd third – making sure the whole of society benefits from the exploitation of energy
\nresources \u2013 revenues, growth and jobs \u2013 and, of course, affordable bills.
\nMy message to you today is this:
\nUK shale gas can be developed sensibly and safely, protecting the local environment,
\nwith the right regulation.
\nAnd we can meet our wider climate change targets at the same time, with the right
\npolicies in place.
\nGas, as the cleanest fossil fuel, is part of the answer to climate change, as a bridge in our
\ntransition to a green future, especially in our move away from coal.
\nGas will buy us the time we need over the coming decades to get enough low carbon
\ntechnology up and running so we can power the country and keep cutting emissions.
\nWe have to face it: North Sea gas production is falling and we are become increasingly
\nreliant on gas imports.
\nSo UK shale gas could increase our energy security by cutting those imports.
\nHome-grown gas, just like home-grown renewables and new nuclear, also provides jobs
\nfor our people and tax revenues for our society.
\nTaking all this together shale gas could have significant benefits.
\nBut – let me be equally clear \u2013 shale gas is no quick fix and no silver bullet.
\n 
\nFor the speech, see:
\nhttps:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/speeches\/the-myths-and-realities-of-shale-gas-exploration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week, protestors shut down a hydrofracking site in northern England. \u00a0This week, the government makes the case for fracking (carefully) in the UK. As this speech demonstrates, the Brits are struggling to balance the costs and benefits of shale exploration, just as we are … \u00a0as I detail in my new book “HYDROFRACKING; WHAT…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIs hydro-fracked gas the UK's new North Sea? - Alex Prud'homme<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alexprudhomme.com\/2013\/09\/09\/hydro-fracked-gas-uks-new-north-sea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is hydro-fracked gas the UK's new North Sea? - Alex Prud'homme\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Last week, protestors shut down a hydrofracking site in northern England. \u00a0This week, the government makes the case for fracking (carefully) in the UK. 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