In today’s Queen’s Speech, it was announced that the Westminster government is hoping to change the law so that fracking companies can drill under your house without your permission. Shale rock (the stuff that will be fractured to release pockets of gas) is notoriously unstable. When the Brynglas Tunnels were first drilled into the self-same shale rock, there was a collapse, and people lost their homes.
Around the world fracking has been cited in small earthquakes and contamination of water. It takes almost as much energy to recover these pockets of gas as the amount of energy gleaned. The Tullett Prebon report puts this at a ratio of 5:1, with the amount of recoverable gas depleting quickly after the first couple of years.
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader said, “Fracking is not even borderline sustainable. Worse, it sucks up valuable investment which should be directed to clean renewables for energy security, price stability and long term jobs.
“It is pure folly to go to these ridiculous lengths to prop up the failing fossil fuel companies and their outdated business models. We are on the brink of unthinkable changes to our weather systems, and the time to stop burning fossil fuels is now.”
Scotland is well on its way to producing 100% of its energy from renewables by 2020. Wales has more than twice the renewable energy it needs, but is lagging pathetically behind the curve when it comes to realising this vast potential.
Ms Bartolotti added, “Taking away the right to decide what happens under your home is to open the gates to a plethora of rogue activites. If they can drill under your home, they can inject harmful chemicals. Renewables will give us better health, worthwhile jobs and energy security. The technology to arrest the march of climate change is here, so let’s use it.”