26 September 2011
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Hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking', involves pumping water and chemicals
deep into the ground to fracture a layer of shale and force out natural gas
which would otherwise remain trapped within the rock. The process was initially
developed in the USA, where its environmental and health impacts have generated
a great deal of public concern and anger. The impacts including chemical
contamination of groundwater (a source of drinking water), and air pollution
leading to respiratory problems in communities living close to the drilling
sites.
Cuadrilla Resources has already begun exploratory drilling and fracking of the Bowland Shale which lies beneath large parts of Lancashire, and the UK Government looks set to issue licenses for more shale gas extraction across the UK. The French Government is concerned enough to have imposed a ban, and many people are now calling for the UK Government to do the same.
In her post in the Guardian of Sept. 22 Caroline Lucas outlines the reasons why fracking is not the solution to our energy problems the government seems to think it is. Read the post here.
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