The Government is expected to announce key decisions on solar power and fracking, amid warnings ministers are “unravelling” policies on clean energy.
The latest round of licences for shale gas exploration are set to be unveiled, in the wake of a vote by MPs to allow controversial fracking for the fossil fuel under national parks and other protected areas.
And a final decision will be made on cuts to small-scale renewables subsidies after ministers proposed dramatic reductions of 87% for domestic solar schemes.
Labour has called for a moratorium on fracking in the UK after MPs approved proposals to allow the controversial process under national parks and other protected areas.
Proposals to allow fracking under national parks have been approved by MPs amid accusations that ministers “sneaked” the move through a “parliamentary backdoor”.
The recent agreement at the Paris conference on climate change, COP21, is according to Barack Obama “the best chance we have to save the one planet we have”.
A number of companies have applied for licences to exploit shale gas in Scotland, according to new data.
The investigative journalism website, The Ferret, said a total of nine companies had applied to look at potential shale reserves.
Ministers have been accused of hypocrisy after it was revealed the Government would make the decision on whether to allow two Cuadrilla shale schemes in Lancashire.
In a performance that most magicians could only dream of aspiring towards, Chancellor George Osborne delivered an alleged austerity autumn statement that both mesmerised and left red-faced the Chairman Mao little red book-waving Labour opposition.
Police in Canada visited Pennsylvania to learn more about how to deal with public resistance to shale gas development.
According to reports, the Halifax Media Co-op obtained a partial travel itinerary as well as approved budgetary expense which showed $12,082 was spent on the four day-trip.
The travel event was titled “Shale Gas – Police Opportunities” and took place between June 2 and June 5 last year.
The UK Government has announced a new consultation on banning fracking in protected wildlife sites.
The move comes from DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) and would include sites of specific scientific interest.
Proposals for an outright ban were first introduced earlier this year by MPs concerned about the government’s drive for shale gas exploration.
The new chairwoman of UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG) has claimed women are opposed to fracking because they “don’t understand” it.
Averil Macdonald made the remarks after research showed men are nearly twice as likely to support fracking.
According to reports in the Times, the leading scientist said women were more likely to form their opinions on a “gut reaction”.
Fracking could have a detrimental impact on the North-east oil and gas industry, an Aberdeen academic has warned.
The onshore fracking process has led to huge public protests over the potential environmental impact of blasting gas from shale rock using water and sand, including a major demonstration at Barton Moss in Greater Manchester.
Professor of petroleum accounting at Robert Gordon University, Alex Russell, has said fracking could have a hugely detrimental impact on Aberdeen’s position as Europe’s oil and gas capital.
SNP members have narrowly rejected a bid to toughen up the party’s stance on fracking amid calls for an outright ban.
The strength of opposition among members to the controversial shale gas extraction technique was revealed during a debate at the party’s conference in Aberdeen.
Several speakers called for a motion from the party’s Leith branch, backing the Scottish Government’s moratorium on fracking, to be reconsidered and strengthened.
A senior executive of fracking company Ineos has said he is “not too concerned” about a motion at the SNP conference that could result in a further clampdown on the controversial practice.
Party members meeting in Aberdeen will today be asked to back a move that would place tighter restrictions on the party’s moratorium on shale gas extraction.
The Scottish Government has already halted any fracking until 2017.
The Scottish Government has announced it has put in place a moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG) in Scotland, following on from its existing fracking moratorium.
A U.S. judge in Wyoming has blocked new rules that tighten controls over fracking on federal lands, granting a measure of relief to producers who would have faced higher costs at a time when profits already are strangled by low crude prices.
The past week has seen the UK Government issue a policy statement designed to speed up the planning system for shale gas development, as well as announcing the extent of the 14th Round of Onshore Oil and Gas licences for England.
The village of Balcombe which was at the centre of protests against fracking has moved a step towards of becoming self-sufficient through renewable energy with the installation of solar panels at two schools.
More than 50 local investors have helped pay for the panels which are being put up at Balcombe Primary School and Turners Hill School following a pilot scheme which saw 69 panels installed on a cowshed at Grange Farm.
The village is also aiming to install a 5MW solar farm at nearby Chiddinglye Farm, West Hoathly, which would mean enough electricity produced to supply both Balcombe and West Hoathly.
The Government has been warned it has fired the starting gun on a fight for the countryside after 1,000 more square miles of England were opened up for fracking.
Licences for 27 areas in northern England and the Midlands, including near Nottingham, Sheffield, Lincoln and Preston, have been awarded to companies to explore for oil and gas as the Government pushes forward with a shale industry in the UK.
A further 132 areas, including parts of the West Country and the south coast as well the North East and North West, are set to be awarded subject to further environmental assessment and conditions to protect wildlife and habitats.
IGas said it has been offered six new licences in the first group of licences awarded in the UK’s 14th onshore oil and gas licensing round.
The company said the licences are located in the Gainsborough Trough in the East Midnlands and include exploration prospects for both shale gas and conventional oil and gas.
IGas already operate 80 sites in the area with many having been in production for more than 20 years.
North America’s leading independent oil and gas producers reported large losses in the second quarter despite cutting costs and increasing output.
Ten of the largest independent oil and gas producers in the United States reported total losses of almost $15 billion between April and June, compared with profits of almost $3.5 billion a year earlier.
Three more independents remained profitable, but reported net income of only $66 million, down from more than $1 billion in the second quarter of 2014.
