Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

MP backs gas fracking despite reports of quakes in Blackpool

 

Tom Bawden
Thursday 03 November 2011 21:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The head of an influential cross-party energy committee yesterday threw his weight behind "fracking" for gas, a day after a report linked the controversial process to earthquakes for the first time in the UK.

Tim Yeo, the chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, said that "on the information available at present, there is no need to impose a moratorium" on drilling for shale gas. Mr Yeo, whose committee is a key adviser to the Department for Energy and Climate Change, said he was aware of the concerns raised by an independent report into hydraulic fracturing on Wednesday, which linked the drilling of a single well in the Blackpool area to 50 tremors, most of them tiny.

The process involves pumping a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the rock at high pressure to release the gas. Mr Yeo said people needed to recognise that there is a "degree of risk" associated with recovering all fossil fuels, whether oil, gas or coal. He argued that, on balance, the apparent benefits of fracking appear to outweigh the risks, so long as the safety and environmental actions of the practice are closely monitored.

Britain's recently discovered, apparently vast, reserves of shale gas "have the potential to be a game-changer", Mr Yeo said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in