I'm sure there are strong views on this but for me there appears to be double standards in Little Plumbton.
The residents drive cars which use fuel processed at one of the 3 main UK refineries. I doubt whether any of them as they fill up give a damn about how the refineries blight the local landscape where their fuel is processed.
I wonder as they switch their electrical appliances on do they care about the impact of the various power stations they draw their energy from.
I bet as long as North Sea gas is still available they don't care where their gas comes from as long as its not from Lancashire.

I use planes so I don't complain about living under a flight path, I drive a car and don't complain about the Ellesmere Port refinery. I use electricity and don't complain about that ugly monstrosity of a power station at Warrington.

NIMBY NIMBY NIMBY

We also need and use energy so we have to be prepared to make some sacrifices for the good of the UK economy.
Let the disagreements begin.

I'll go first then....
I think you are missing a few points of general concern in your post.
Personally, I think it would have to be a desperate last move to frack. I can't get my head past the fact that the water table at some point would be contaminated. I just don't believe it's as risk free to the environment as the frackers want us to believe.  Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

I think there is a lot of false information from both sides out there especially about the water contamination, but I do agree that it is something we should consider with a more positive attitude. Otherwise, we should all just ditch modern life and go and live in a cave. Things move on and advance, we need to embrace opportunities, within reason, and within logic. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

As far as my limited knowledge goes Fracking is an absolutely terrible idea. Especially on a small nation island. America can't sweep the damage under the carpet, but can just abandon area's of land as large as the uk if need be. Fracking will always end up contaminating ground water. Hydraulic fracturing fluid is cancer for the ground. Just my opinion tho. There are some good documentaries on the subject.

Only time will tell if fracking is a good idea but I have no doubt that Central govt will overturn the Lancs County decision because we need our own home grown energy sources. Fracking may present issues to the environment but we need to be in a position to possess and control our own strategic energy sources. We have become too reliant on energy being provided by others.

Am I correct in assuming that anyone who has concerns about the environmental issues never flies or never drives a car or never uses electricity or gas?

Also we have to remember that technology moves on, issues with past versions might have been sorted out. Much of the issues in the US of A are down to botched Shale wells which have now been improved.

You only have to look at some of the latest Nuclear power stations that are a huge contrast to the old ones and offer probably some of the cleanest and safest most efficient power around. As long as you don't build it on a fault line or high risk flood zone......

The internal combustion engine is one of the best examples, had they not gone ahead with the inefficient and dangerous versions at the end of the 1800s we would not have the brilliant engines of today. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Totally agree J90, personally i prefer nuclear power over the the other options where applicable of course. We all need the black gold. I thought Fracking in the uk was for shale gas only. The last and current govt are on record as quoting that it would never reduce prices although the initial public consultations promised cheap gas for the nation. When has any big oil,gas,electric player done anything truly positive to the world's environment. I understand these resources are a necessary evil but i feel a certain amount of accountability is required.

I power my ajv8 on good will and positive karma. Crystals and chanting work a treat too

Crossed fingers and toes also helps.

I'm not a tree hugger, I'm not concerned as such for the general environment as I think nature will eventually recover.. However, whilst myself and family are temporarily using the earth I would like us to be able to drink uncontaminated water.
I'd rather have a V12 than a Prius and don't lose any sleep about my carbon footprint.
Why don't we keep more of our oil for ourselves?
When was the last time you sat at the seashore and watched the power of the waves crashing down? That has to be the biggest untapped resource we have.
I just feel it's a last resort to start crapping on our own doorstep.... Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

As someone who started his career in engineering in 1971 as an apprentice at the UKAEA (United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority) and have been involved with the power industry (nuclear, oil ang gas, lng) ever since, I cannot get my head around why we just do not invest in more nuclear plants. Ok Chernobyl and Fukushima caused problems, but Chernobyl was bad maintenance and Fukushima was a natural disaster, but I'd rather have one nuclear station than gazillions of useless wind turbines that have to be shut down when it's too windy!
Cars like the Prius are the most polluting vehicles in the world when you consider the damage done mining the raw materials for the batteries in I believe Canada, shipping it halfway around the world to be processed and then you can't dispose of them!
What is the point of building new oil and gas fired power stations when nuclear is a clean fuel and virtually limitless?

During my time as an apprentice draffy in the drawing office, I did some work on the JET (joint European Torus) fusion reactor which, when technology cracks it, will mean almost limitless power from nuclear fusion rather than fission.

I'm also an Oil Industry guy but I'm also not convinced with Fracking.. Regards
Mark

2009 D4; 1993 Classic 3.9 VSE

is it true, or conspiracy, that wind farm 'towers' have a small engine to keep the rotor turning, at night when no wind, as they wont start turning unless real strong wind is present? and a guy has to go out and fill each one up sort of monthly?
or have I been gee'd up a bit on the old google?

I guess the fracking thing, has proved to be all about.............

MONEY!

PaulTyrer wrote:

As someone who started his career in engineering in 1971 as an apprentice at the UKAEA (United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority) and have been involved with the power industry (nuclear, oil ang gas, lng) ever since, I cannot get my head around why we just do not invest in more nuclear plants. Ok Chernobyl and Fukushima caused problems, but Chernobyl was bad maintenance and Fukushima was a natural disaster, but I'd rather have one nuclear station than gazillions of useless wind turbines that have to be shut down when it's too windy!
Cars like the Prius are the most polluting vehicles in the world when you consider the damage done mining the raw materials for the batteries in I believe Canada, shipping it halfway around the world to be processed and then you can't dispose of them!
What is the point of building new oil and gas fired power stations when nuclear is a clean fuel and virtually limitless?

During my time as an apprentice draffy in the drawing office, I did some work on the JET (joint European Torus) fusion reactor which, when technology cracks it, will mean almost limitless power from nuclear fusion rather than fission.

Here, here

But here's a radical thought for you - why not start building nuclear powered steam trains?

@Paul, Agree completely

Edit: Especially about the Prius, Southpark did an episode where America was covered with a cloud of "smug" because of all the Prius drivers thinking they were saving the world totally unaware of the pre-loaded pollution each one brought with it.

@Ric WANT!! imagine the sound I love that old chuff chuff sound whenever the old steam loc's come into Frodsham,

I'm sure somewhere around those Steampunk loving hipsters would love all the old brass and iron engines to be retrofitted with nuclear boilers!  Formerly happymadison1978

RiccartonRR wrote:

PaulTyrer wrote:

As someone who started his career in engineering in 1971 as an apprentice at the UKAEA (United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority) and have been involved with the power industry (nuclear, oil ang gas, lng) ever since, I cannot get my head around why we just do not invest in more nuclear plants. Ok Chernobyl and Fukushima caused problems, but Chernobyl was bad maintenance and Fukushima was a natural disaster, but I'd rather have one nuclear station than gazillions of useless wind turbines that have to be shut down when it's too windy!
Cars like the Prius are the most polluting vehicles in the world when you consider the damage done mining the raw materials for the batteries in I believe Canada, shipping it halfway around the world to be processed and then you can't dispose of them!
What is the point of building new oil and gas fired power stations when nuclear is a clean fuel and virtually limitless?

During my time as an apprentice draffy in the drawing office, I did some work on the JET (joint European Torus) fusion reactor which, when technology cracks it, will mean almost limitless power from nuclear fusion rather than fission.

Here, here

But here's a radical thought for you - why not start building nuclear powered steam trains?

Another here, here (I'm just not too sold on nuclear trains ).