WSJ: Energy Seriousness for Europe

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has at last focused European minds on the need to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. The solution, fortunately, lies right underfoot.

David Cameron offered what should be an obvious fix: tapping some of the trillions of cubic feet of shale oil and gas that are estimated to be locked under the European surface. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in the Hague, Mr. Cameron called the invasion of Crimea "something of a wake-up call" for Europe. "Energy independence, using all these different sources of energy, should be a tier one political issue from now on, rather than tier five."

The Prime Minister should know. U.K.-based Cuadrilla Resources first applied for an exploration permit in Lancashire in 2008, under the previous Labour government. Cuadrilla says it has found 200 trillion cubic feet of gas-in-place in Lancashire's Bowland Basin alone. With the U.K. consuming roughly 3.4 trillion cubic feet per year, even a fraction of that gas could make a dramatic difference to energy prices and prospects in Europe.  MORE