Shale gas could be the solution to so many of our nation’s problems, from cutting the fiscal deficit to reducing the burden on consumers. A bright future of abundant, cheap energy beckons if only ministers would stop posing as environmental crusaders and start thinking of the real interests of the British people. --Leo McKinstry, Daily Express, 24 October 2011
For Britain, the implications are profound. The arrival of commercial shale gas on world markets could make nuclear power and offshore wind look very expensive. Dieter Helm, professor of energy policy at Oxford University, believes a rapid switch to electricity generation by gas, which has about half the emissions of coal, could save the taxpayer billions, cut household bills and bring about faster falls in CO2 emissions. --Tim Rayment , The Sunday Times, 23 October 2011
At least there are faint signs that a crunch is approaching, where it becomes obvious that our climate change make-believe can only lead to economic suicide. As yet, however, no vestige of reality seems to have entered the head of Mr Huhne. Last week he was again lamenting on the Today programme that we cannot afford to depend for our electricity on ever-rising imports of natural gas – without mentioning that our best hope of keeping Britain’s lights on is our vast potential reserve of shale gas. He hates this because it offers the prospect of electricity so much cheaper than that from his useless windmills. --Christopher Booker, The Sunday Telegraph, 23 October 2011
Later, I listened to a BBC radio programme on shale gas and that sinking feeling about our energy future suddenly lifted. Here, surely, is the answer. There is enough gas in the Lancashire site alone – some 200 trillion cubic feet – to meet the UK’s fuel needs for decades. But there seems to be a conspiracy to keep this from the public. The greens are determined to kill off shale gas because it is not a renewable source. The big energy companies don’t want to know and the Government has so far been lukewarm about the prospect. --Philip Johnston, The Daily Telegraph, 18 November 2011
The moral issues surrounding UK climate policy, as well as the underlying scientific and economic issues, are much more complex than is usually acknowledged. It is time for the Churches to recognise this, and to lead a debate which helps our society to a more sensible set of policies. --Peter Forster, Church Times, 21 October 2011
