The Northants Green Party Blog
The Government has renewed its push to promote controversial “fracking” for shale gas, as French energy giant Total confirmed it was investing in the industry in the UK.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced that local authorities in England would receive 100% of the business rates collected from shale gas schemes, rather than the usual 50%.
It is the latest move by the Government to promote the exploitation of unconventional gas in the UK, which the Prime Minister claimed could bring the UK 74,000 jobs, more than £3 billion of investment and cheaper and more secure energy.
But environmentalists criticised the business rates incentive as a “bribe” to reluctant local authorities.
And they warned that it raised serious concerns over conflicts of interest if the councils benefiting from the money were the ones deciding on planning applications.
Opponents fear fracking, a process in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high…
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