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Fracking is 'not evil', says Ed Davey Fracking is 'not evil', says Ed Davey
(14 days later)
Fracking is "not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be," energy secretary, Ed Davey, has claimed.Fracking is "not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be," energy secretary, Ed Davey, has claimed.
Anti-fracking activists have staged a series of protests at various sites over the past weeks.Anti-fracking activists have staged a series of protests at various sites over the past weeks.
Fracking firm Cuadrilla has withdrawn an application seeking a six-month extension of its oil exploration in a Sussex village which has been the scene of protests, but will be submitting a new one.Fracking firm Cuadrilla has withdrawn an application seeking a six-month extension of its oil exploration in a Sussex village which has been the scene of protests, but will be submitting a new one.
"If we can have gas safely in this country that will mean jobs, tax revenue and greater energy security - so fracking is not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be," he said."If we can have gas safely in this country that will mean jobs, tax revenue and greater energy security - so fracking is not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be," he said.
Davey, who was answering questions from a live studio audience as part of Radio 5 live's Energy Day programmes, said: "It is the early days of this.Davey, who was answering questions from a live studio audience as part of Radio 5 live's Energy Day programmes, said: "It is the early days of this.
"We are in the exploratory days."We are in the exploratory days.
"I wanted to make sure that as we go ahead with it that we have tough regulations to tackle things like methane emissions and any pollution to make sure that we have got things like water sustainability right."I wanted to make sure that as we go ahead with it that we have tough regulations to tackle things like methane emissions and any pollution to make sure that we have got things like water sustainability right.
"If we are going to do fracking we have got to make sure that it does not hurt our environment and local communities benefit from it."If we are going to do fracking we have got to make sure that it does not hurt our environment and local communities benefit from it.
"We are going to need gas over the next 20 or 30 years as we transition to low carbon."We are going to need gas over the next 20 or 30 years as we transition to low carbon.
"Gas is a part of the transition for sure and the question is where is that gas going to come from?"Gas is a part of the transition for sure and the question is where is that gas going to come from?
"Gas production from the North Sea is going down."Gas production from the North Sea is going down.
"We are importing more gas and quite a lot from the other side of the world."We are importing more gas and quite a lot from the other side of the world.
"If we can have gas safely in this country that will mean jobs, tax revenue and greater energy security - so fracking is not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be.""If we can have gas safely in this country that will mean jobs, tax revenue and greater energy security - so fracking is not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be."
Fracking - short for "hydraulic fracturing" - involves drilling deep underground and releasing a high-pressure mix of water, sand and hundreds of chemicals to crack rocks and release gas stored inside.Fracking - short for "hydraulic fracturing" - involves drilling deep underground and releasing a high-pressure mix of water, sand and hundreds of chemicals to crack rocks and release gas stored inside.
Water companies are worried the process could contaminate drinking water aquifers that lie above shale gas reserves.Water companies are worried the process could contaminate drinking water aquifers that lie above shale gas reserves.
But supporters of fracking say it is safe and essential to making the UK more energy self-sufficient.But supporters of fracking say it is safe and essential to making the UK more energy self-sufficient.
Widespread fracking has not started in the UK yet, but Cuadrilla began exploratory drilling in Lancashire in 2011 and many other possible sites have been identified.Widespread fracking has not started in the UK yet, but Cuadrilla began exploratory drilling in Lancashire in 2011 and many other possible sites have been identified.
Radio 5 live commissioned a poll as part of its Energy Day programming which asked how much, if anything, would you say you know about fracking?Radio 5 live commissioned a poll as part of its Energy Day programming which asked how much, if anything, would you say you know about fracking?
Of those who responded, 4% said a great deal, 19% said a fair amount, 40% said a little, while an accumulative figure of 77% said they knew a little or nothing at all.Of those who responded, 4% said a great deal, 19% said a fair amount, 40% said a little, while an accumulative figure of 77% said they knew a little or nothing at all.
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