Reporting of the regulation of the shale oil and gas and hydraulic fracturing industry, including planning permissions and permits
http://www.InvestigatingBalcombeAndCuadrilla.com has been trying for nearly a fortnight to get answers from Cuadrilla to some simple questions. Cuadrilla responded this afternoon and the answers are below, unedited. Will Balcombe be able to take advantage of the community benefit scheme? This single well exploration activity that Cuadrilla has been undertaking […]
Environment Data Services (ENDS) Report revealed today (17/1/14) that the Environment Agency has had its budget cut by £10m more than expected. The Environment Agency (EA) will receive £397.4m of revenue funding from the government for the year 2014-15, down from £467m in 2013-14. According to ENDS, the […]
The shale industry needs to improve its engagement with the public, according to one of the UK’s leading environmental advisors. In a report published this week, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) said there was a “disappointing degree of defensiveness” from people closely involved in […]
The Guardian reported that Britain has defeated European Union attempts to set legally binding environmental regulations for the shale gas industry. According to the paper, David Cameron has led intense lobbying against the proposals, arguing that existing rules are strict enough to keep fracking safe and that new rules would delay investment and increase […]
The report commissioned by the Government to assess the impact of onshore shale oil and gas development admits to multiple uncertainties and makes assumptions that opponents regularly challenge. Uncertainties The report (released 17/12/13) is part of the preparation for the government’s sale of onshore oil and gas licences […]
On September 15th, the Lib Dem conference passed several motions on fracking. They were part of the party’s policy on transition to a zero carbon Britain. The motions on fracking (F10 4m and 4n) committed the party to: 4 (m) Limiting shale gas exploration until it has been shown […]
Regulation is not a “magic wand” that will prevent fracking accidents, the head of Bloomberg New Energy Finance told a debate on the sustainability of the industry last night. Michael Liebreich, speaking at the Green Alliance Annual Debate in London, said there would be accidents and anyone who […]
The Green Alliance, a environmental think-tank, asked this question at its annual debate in London last night. Below are selections from the speeches of the four participants. Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion “Exploitation of finite resources can never be sustainable.“ “The question of whether it […]
Can fracking be sustainable? This is the subject of the Green Alliance Annual Debate in London tonight (Monday November 11th). It is expected to focus on the compatibility of shale gas exploitation and decarbonisation of the energy sector. The speakers are: Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton […]
Kent County Council has confirmed Coastal Oil and Gas has withdrawn three planning applications for exploratory boreholes at Shepherdswell, Eythorne and Guston near Dover. In a letter to East Kent Against Fracking, the council said the company, which says it wants to explore for coal bed methane, would […]
DRILL OR DROP? 