Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
8th May 2012, 10:09
The chairman of the Environment Agency, Lord Smith, is expected to give his support to the expansion of the controversial "fracking" method of extracting natural gas from shale rock in the UK.
Energy companies say the use of fracking will lead to cheaper supplies.
But critics say there are risks from the process, which has been linked to two earth tremors in Lancashire.
Lord Smith is also expected to give his backing to nuclear power.
The process of fracking (fracturing) involves pumping water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas.
There has been a boom in the process worldwide, as nations seek new and less expensive ways to increase their energy supplies.
But fracking has been blamed for the pollution of underground and surface water supplies, as well as causing minor earthquakes.
(Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17987356)
Energy companies say the use of fracking will lead to cheaper supplies.
But critics say there are risks from the process, which has been linked to two earth tremors in Lancashire.
Lord Smith is also expected to give his backing to nuclear power.
The process of fracking (fracturing) involves pumping water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas.
There has been a boom in the process worldwide, as nations seek new and less expensive ways to increase their energy supplies.
But fracking has been blamed for the pollution of underground and surface water supplies, as well as causing minor earthquakes.
(Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17987356)