Visit to IGas Doe Green

Visiting the IGas site at Doe Green in Warrington last week, I had the opportunity to see first-hand what a potential hydraulic fracturing site might look like.

Shale can provide a cost-efficient bridge to lower-carbon energy use, and will be especially significant as we move away from coal generation. Exploring for shale will also help create jobs and grow local economies. Investment in shale could reach £33 billion and support 64,000 jobs in the oil, gas, construction, engineering and chemical sectors.

Home-grown shale gas can help secure our energy supplies. By 2025 we’ll be importing over half the oil and gas we use - shale is vital to reducing our reliance on imports.

Today we have launched three informative and engaging online films to give people the information they need to know about the potential shale industry and hydraulic fracturing, including how it would be regulated.

I hope these will go a long way to informing debate.