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2022-02-10

"Net Zero Watch has called on ministers to overrule the fracking regulator which is trying to terminate any prospect of shale gas developments in the UK"

"Ruling to press ahead with closure described as ‘utter madness’ by Tory MPs who support controversial drilling"

"Net Zero Watch is warning that the government’s approach to the energy crisis remains dangerously incoherent. On the one hand, the Prime Minister is openly calling for increased domestic gas extraction and has brought forward approvals for North Sea developments, while at the same time regulators are preventing lower-cost onshore fields from ever being exploited"

Incoherence from our government? Who would have thought it.

Nevertheless there is a not inconsiderable public backlash against fracking, in my view soundly based upon a level of distrust that the regulator can do its job of protecting the environment from unsafe fracking processes used by companies that only consider their bottom line. Until this situation can be addressed we will have a stalemate.

Nevertheless we should take care not to close the door on fracking for ever. What we actually need is a competent and truly independent regulator that will inspire the trust of the public.