Press release
Environment Agency chair gives cautious support to fracking
8 May 2012
Ahead of a keynote speech by Environment Agency Chairman Lord Chris Smith at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) this evening, in which he is to give his support to fracking and nuclear power as well as the development of renewable energy, Friends of the Earth Energy Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
"Lord Smith rightly highlights the unknown environmental impacts of fracking - until it's proven to be safe, this technology should be shelved in the UK as it has been elsewhere in the world.
"We know 85 per cent of people want to see more clean British energy, not gas - Ministers should focus on this instead of backing technologies which are unproven or, like nuclear, are consistently late and reliant on vast public subsidies.
"The Government's plans for the electricity market must ensure that renewable energy fills the gap caused by the closure of power stations and the collapse of nuclear investment - this will boost our economy by creating thousands of new jobs."
ENDS
1. The Government has a once-in-a-generation chance to fix our broken power system with an Electricity Market Reform Bill set to be announced in the Queen's Speech tomorrow.
2. Friends of the Earth's Clean British Energy campaign, backed by Deborah Meaden (Dragon's Den), is urging the Government to listen to the public and transform our broken energy system by developing clean and affordable power from our wind, sun and water. For too long the Big Six energy companies have locked Britain into importing costly gas and coal - causing our fuel bills to rocket. Now 85 per cent of people want the Government to back UK renewable power instead. This, and cutting energy waste, will stabilise fuel bills and create new jobs.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: May 2012
