Energy: Shale Gas

Lord Howell of Guildford Excerpts

Wednesday 17th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

No, my Lords. I think the noble Lord knows from his question that that is not the case. We need to look at a wide range of energy sources and make sure that in the long term we fulfil our commitment to the 2030 target, but also that we utilise new renewable sources .

[Lord Howell of Guildford]

Further to my noble friend Lord Naseby’s Question, has my noble friend noticed that in the United States domestic gas prices are up to one-third lower than they are here, that its CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions are falling and are the lowest for 20 years, and that it is attracting a great deal of new industry and manufacturing back into America and creating new jobs? Is this not the sort of balanced model we should be considering?

[Baroness Verma]

My noble friend is absolutely right. However, the conditions in the United States are different from those in the United Kingdom. We first need to make sure that we thoroughly explore the ability to develop shale gas safely and securely. However, it is something that we are looking at very constructively.