Days after anti-fracking advocates gathered in national parks throughout the U.K. to show their opposition to the impending industry, Prime Minister David Cameron took to the papers to voice his support of an industry he claims will bring jobs and economic prosperity.
In his Daily Telegraph opinion piece, Cameron not only voices support for U.K. fracking, but also says those whose neighborhoods are being eyed for shale drilling should jump at the chance to be partners in a lucrative business that would allow local community governments to fill their coffers with oil money presented by drilling companies.
Speaking to environmental concerns, Cameron said there simply aren’t any.
“I want all parts of our nation to share in the benefits: north and south, Conservative or Labour. We are all in this together,” Cameron wrote.
His words have drawn criticism from residents throughout the U.K., particularly those who question whether Cameron, whose backyard sits atop shale oil deposits, will also be the target of fracking wells. According to The Daily Mail, Cameron’s representative deflected 10 questions yesterday over whether the prime minister would support fracking in his own backyard.
A ban on fracking in the U.K. was lifted in May, paving the way for oil companies to begin exploratory operations to assess future fracking operations. The U.K. is estimated to hold 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas.
Already, permits by oil companies to begin drilling have been submitted, causing residents in targeted areas to protest against an industry it sees as irresponsible and improperly regulated.
While Cameron claimed current regulations serve as a safety net for residents who live near fracking wells, residents aren’t quite convinced. In his piece, Cameron pointed to the U.S. as the shining beacon of fracking victory. Not so, according to residents of shale-rich Pennsylvania, who have seen spills and contamination.
Groundwater contamination has been detected in fracking operations throughout the U.S. A recent study out of Duke University found that homeowners living near fracking operations were at risk for water contamination. The study found that homes within 1 kilometer of wells had water that had methane concentrations six times the average — ethane concentrations were 23 times higher. The study analyzed 141 water supply samples from private wells in Pennsylvania.
Companies throughout the U.S. have also been cited for fracking spills and fracking wastewater spills. This month, Exxon Mobil was fined for contaminating Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River with toxic fracking wastewater.
It’s a phenomenon that’s being recognized by U.K. organizations, too. Representing water suppliers throughout the U.K., Water UK said in a July statement that there is need to be cautious of the upcoming fracking boom.
“Shale gas fracking could lead to contamination of the water supply with methane gas and harmful chemicals if not carefully planned and carried out,” the Water U.K. statement read.
Part of Cameron’s pitch included the need for oil companies to work with local residents when planning to include an oil rig in neighborhood land, to ensure that proper dialogue and warning is present before operations move forward.
Yet that hasn’t been the case, at least up until this point. A woman identified as Doreen told the Extreme Energy Action Network of the U.K. that she and her husband were alerted to a proposed shale drilling site, yet that Cuadrilla Resources announcement was only presented as a letter taped to the local electricity pole.
“Then suddenly there was a drill rig in a cabbage field near my house. We couldn’t believe it,” she said. “This is food growing area!”