Shale can help UK cut carbon emissions says Andrea Leadsom, Minister of State - EUA responds

24th Sep 2015

 

Minister of State, Andrea Leadsom MP outlined the benefits of shale gas yesterday in a press release from DECC, pointing out to the anti-fracking lobby the ‘inconvenient truth’ that shale will cut emissions and help to secure the UK’s energy supply.

Isaac Occhipinti, External Affairs Manager at EUA said “It is imperative that this Government realises that we need to keep the lights on and keep bills down. Exploiting the shale beneath our feet is more environmentally friendly than shipping in gas from places like Qatar. In addition the shale industry will deliver employment opportunities and additional tax revenues can be utilised to help improve energy efficiency across the whole of the UK.

We are all aware of the pressing need to reduce our carbon emissions but renewables alone won’t deliver the energy we need, so we need to accept that gas, shale or otherwise will have a role to play.”

Ms Leadsom’s comments came in response to a recently published report from the independent Task Force on Shale Gas.