Shale gas could be an enormous game changer. It could tear up the energy and the political map for good.
I've been following events in Alberta. If only our government - which remember, declared it would be the Greenest ever - went for it and allowed production to go ahead, our energy needs for decades to come would be met.
However, the Green lobby will do everything in its power to stop this bounty being exploited. The Canadian national government is tacking the "environmentalists" (sic) head on and taking them to court.
So, instead, over here, expect a twenty year enquiry and lies and obfuscations from the Greens.
I doubt our politicians will have the guts todo the same. Especially when Cameron's father in law's beak is firmly in the trough of renewable energy.
Enormous amount of opposition here......from the usual hysteric band wagon types.........if guarantees given and the company monitored, then no worse than lots of other industries.....EARTHQUAKES my A*R*S*E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not a fracker P, but I agree it's a brilliant idea. So long as the 3,000 jobs are created from local labour and not brought in staff, it would be great for the area. I suppose it depends on where it is to be located and what oposition there is from naturalists. If the company agrees to keep the site as unobtrusive as possible, with tree screening etc., why not?
I don't know enough about it H, areas of outstanding natural beauty are just 1000s of acres un-natural( non-indigenous) fir trees....and two big lakes and permanent rain.........plus its an area of high un-employment.......s*o*d all prospects.
If you have to lose a few trees, the company could always agree to plant some more suitable natural trees to replace them, there is always a way to shut protesters up and also work with them to make the place better, once on side it should slide through, it just has to be given some thought.
I think the the CO2 MMGW lobby is now so powerful in this country that there will be no chance in getting these fields opened. The sooner Greanpeace et al, lose their charitable status and are seen for what they have become: far left, viciously anti-capitalist, political organisations, the better.
Guy's having seen the quarries for my self in Alberta I am not so sure any of us would like them in our back yard. I'm no tree hugger but there is a reason that stuff has been left alone for so long.....
But this is a more refined less invasive type of mining Peter.....not even going to use any chemicals due to the low depth of drilling....no actual quarrying as such I believe
Completely agree. To echo some of the above comments, I.m no tree hugger either, and all the enviorementalists ever seem to do is say No, No, No, without ever offering a practical alternative. We should ban beards and wooly jumpers. Oh, and people who live in Islington, and vote labour, and love foxes. Oh my, that was nearly a rant.
Lets face it; in Canada the expanses are so vast it doesn't matter, to me anyway, that these huge quarries are there. No on sees them unless they work there or fly over them, so what does it matter? Canada benefits hugely from the resources that are found therein so, what is the greater sin; digging big holes or leaving the resources lying there untouched? Anyway, some would argue that Ireland is already a hole but I wouldn't necessarily agree! If the politicians can work a back-hander out of it, the scheme will likely go ahead and if they can't, it wont.
The silly thing is I don't think they will be digging any big holes, just drilling in to the shale below. There should be no mess hardly at all and the rewards should be terrific.
If we get rid of all the beards and woolly jumpers, this would devastate such places as Bradford, Birmingham and Leicester, there would be hardly anyone left. A good rant is good for the sole!!