FT: Ignorance is the biggest enemy in the shale war

One by one, the barriers to shale gas exploration in the UK are crumbling. Last year an 18-month moratorium was lifted and two weeks ago a study of thousands of wells around the world revealed no evidence that the industry had any significant role in causing earthquakes. But the most formidable obstacle remains. Without serious efforts to overcome rising public hostility, Britain may never know for sure whether its future holds a US-style shale gas revolution.

The government’s proposal that locals could be offered cut-price energy bills in return for accepting exploration is a sensible first attempt to breach that wall of opposition. The US shale boom has brought natural gas prices down by two-thirds in four years. Giving UK households some of that benefit at this early stage is a good way to drive home the advantages of shale in a climate where ignorance is generating fear and loathing. Funding the subsidy will not be straightforward, however. A levy on explorers risks deterring new entrants, while using public funds might also raise protest from those who do not benefit.  MORE