The fossil fuel industry seems to have scored a goal over renewable energy in a European Union programme. It has been reported that billions of euros which were supposed to be invested in the research and development of clean energy, such as wave and solar power, have been diverted to subsidise the gas industry.
There seems to have been a re-branding of gas as a low-carbon, green option following intensive lobbying by the industry. This includes, of course, the controversial shale gas which is obtained by fracking, maybe at a location near you!
Gas is not a green option. Gas may be greener to burn in the production of electricity than either coal or oil but burning gas still means spewing out millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing disastrous climate change in many areas of the world.
The recent government report on fracking has given it the go-ahead as long as there is close monitoring to ensure it is safe. It would appear that present regulations in the UK are sufficient but it is vital that they are enforced if all the possible dangers from fracking are to be avoided. Recent earth tremors in Lancashire have resulted in damage to one of the wells being drilled, which could result in leaks of both chemical fluids and methane gas.
It is hoped that the robust enforcing of UK regulations may push up the price of production of shale gas, thus making it a non-viable option. Victoria Nicholls. DWI Transition Deal.
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