Fracking could generate UK jobs, says Texas’s Perry
15 October 2014
The UK fracking industry and the promise of jobs it could generate have had a testimonial boost from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, courtesy of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who brought his pro-business message of job creation to London this week.
Wed, 15 Oct 2014 | By DeeDee Doke
The UK fracking industry and the promise of jobs it could generate have had a testimonial boost from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, courtesy of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who brought his pro-business message of job creation to London this week.
Texas has been a key location for fracking in recent years. Perry told an audience at a British American Business Council (BABC) event that fracking offered “opportunities for this country to take advantage of this resource… to develop an industry in this country that can create a number of good jobs”.
Fracking is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure to fracture shale rocks, resulting in the release of natural gas.
In September, the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that it would remove barriers to drilling under privately-owned land at depths of 300m or more. Under the DECC’s plans, fracking companies will be able to conduct such drilling without having to negotiate a right of access.
Highly controversial, fracking has come under fire from environmentalists who contend that the consequences include ground water contamination, depletion of fresh water, degradation of air quality and the triggering of earthquakes.
A recent investigation by Houston Public Radio and the Houston Chronicle newspaper alleged that fracking has led to higher road deaths in Texas because of increased traffic on the state’s roads from heavy lorries and fracking-related vehicles.
Perry countered some of the environmentalists’ criticism during his talk to the BABC by claiming that Texas’s environment has actually improved between 2000 and 2013, 13 of the 14 years he has held office, with ozone levels decreasing by 24% and nitrogen oxide emissions decreasing by 62.5%.
However, not all Texans are convinced. A referendum on banning fracking in the Texas city of Denton will be presented to voters there on a 4 November ballot.
Perry, who leaves office at the end of the year, was in the UK this week with a Texas economic development delegation to encourage UK businesses to open operations there. The governor, a Republican, is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2016.
Texas has been a key location for fracking in recent years. Perry told an audience at a British American Business Council (BABC) event that fracking offered “opportunities for this country to take advantage of this resource… to develop an industry in this country that can create a number of good jobs”.
Fracking is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure to fracture shale rocks, resulting in the release of natural gas.
In September, the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that it would remove barriers to drilling under privately-owned land at depths of 300m or more. Under the DECC’s plans, fracking companies will be able to conduct such drilling without having to negotiate a right of access.
Highly controversial, fracking has come under fire from environmentalists who contend that the consequences include ground water contamination, depletion of fresh water, degradation of air quality and the triggering of earthquakes.
A recent investigation by Houston Public Radio and the Houston Chronicle newspaper alleged that fracking has led to higher road deaths in Texas because of increased traffic on the state’s roads from heavy lorries and fracking-related vehicles.
Perry countered some of the environmentalists’ criticism during his talk to the BABC by claiming that Texas’s environment has actually improved between 2000 and 2013, 13 of the 14 years he has held office, with ozone levels decreasing by 24% and nitrogen oxide emissions decreasing by 62.5%.
However, not all Texans are convinced. A referendum on banning fracking in the Texas city of Denton will be presented to voters there on a 4 November ballot.
Perry, who leaves office at the end of the year, was in the UK this week with a Texas economic development delegation to encourage UK businesses to open operations there. The governor, a Republican, is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2016.
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