Reform UK contends fracking would fix Britain’s energy crisis. But here’s the truth: it wouldn’t cut your bills, it wouldn’t keep the lights on, and it would cause a lot of pollution.
Even in the best-case scenario, fracking would give us just a few years of gas. And guess what? That gas would be sold on global markets at the same price as gas from anywhere else. No discount for Britain. Plus, it would be pricier to produce than North Sea gas or imports of LNG (liquefied natural gas).
Experts have spoken. Britain’s shale reserves are tiny. The climate change committee and National Infrastructure Commission say it wouldn’t give us energy security. The British Geological Survey reckons it would supply less than three years of demand. That’s it.
And it would be slow, very slow. Industry insiders admit it would take a decade to get going. By then, Britain’s small fracked gas reserves would be a costly trickle into the volatile global market. Meanwhile, thousands of drilling rigs and pipelines would pop up across the countryside — disrupting farms, tourism, wildlife and people living nearby who will feel the impact of drilling if the results of the test drilling near Formby in my constituency are anything to go by.
Yes, fracking produces gas in the US. But they have huge shale reserves and loads of space. Britain is different. Our geology is very different to that of the US, and our land is crowded.
People know the risks. In Lancashire, fracking caused a 2.9-magnitude earthquake in 2019. The then Conservative government shut it down. And there’s more: fracking can pollute groundwater, which supplies a third of England’s drinking water. Pollution, tremors, traffic, no wonder only 17% of British people support it.
The good news is we have better options, much better options. Offshore wind, solar and nuclear are cleaner and cheaper. Home insulation, solar panels and battery storage cut demand and boost resilience. With smart investment and a carefully managed transition from oil and gas to renewables in the North Sea, Britain can build a secure, affordable energy future.
Fracking isn’t the answer. It doesn’t stack up at any level in the UK. Want energy security? Go for clean energy.
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