Lancashire shaken over fracking proposal6 October 2011
Energy company Cuadrilla Resources wants to expand shale gas operations in Lancashire. It claims that exploiting a huge natural gas field would create up to 1,700 new jobs.
It plans to extract the gas by using hydraulic fracturing - known as fracking.
This controversial technique involves fracturing the rock and then using water, sand and chemicals to release the gas.
Cracks are showing
There are serious concerns about fracking:
- Cuadrilla suspended explorations this year after fears they were causing tremors.
- The chemical mix used could pollute water supplies.
- Shale gas is a fossil fuel - a major contributor of greenhouse gases.
- It could take vital funding from investment in renewable energy.
Friends of the Earth wants a moratorium on fracking until these issues have been addressed.
Drilling for shale gas raises serious safety concerns and risks polluting water. It could also take vital funding from the clean energy solutions we know work and are safe.
Tony Bosworth, Climate Campaigner, Friends of the Earth.
Energy solutions
To avoid dangerous climate change, it's very likely that we will only be able to use a tiny amount of gas by 2030.
Existing green technologies could cut carbon emissions and stabilise bills - without the need to depend on risky or dirty techniques.
We are calling for:
- Investment in renewable energy
This could create up to four times as many jobs as fossil fuel sources. - Home and office insulation
A labour-intensive task that would create tens of thousands of jobs.
What you can do
Tell us your energy horror story.
