Fracking risks polluting our water supplies.

John Bunting (Star 22.02.25) thinks Fracking in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire could solve our energy problems. 

Victims of coal mining subsidence must have been furious about it – but by then it was too late. We shouldn’t repeat the same mistakes with fracking which causes earthquakes. 

Fracking is a technique to get oil and gas out of the ground. Water, sand and chemicals are pumped deep underground at high pressure to open up cracks (or fractures) in the rock, releasing the oil or gas trapped inside.

The Government stopped fracking development in 2019 due to mass opposition and many unsolved problems. 

Most of the gas that companies have discovered but not yet extracted needs to stay in the ground. Otherwise, the world will keep heating and our food supplies will plummet. 

Fracking risks air, water and noise pollution. An accident could pollute our water supplies with toxic chemicals.

The impact of fracking on the countryside would be enormous. Huge numbers of trucks delivering chemicals and taking away contaminated wastewater would be needed. Protected habitats and species would be affected, as well as local communities.

Fracking won’t even bring down our energy bills. The way the energy market works means any gas from it will be sold to the highest bidder globally. New oil and gas supplies can take years or even decades to get up and running. So it wouldn’t solve short-term problems with energy prices and supply. 

Why doesn’t John like solar?  Panels are best on rooves but there is no reason why solar farms can’t also be used for food production.  The energy needed to produce solar panels is negligible. If John installs solar panels on his house, these will give him free energy! What’s not to like?

Yours sincerely

Graham Wroe

Don’t let the algorithms determine what you read! Subscribe today for free

Here’s Seize the Day’s Frakka Hakka. Enjoy!