Warming to shale gas

A report by experts at The University of Nottingham has shown that the British public is beginning to warm to the idea of shale gas. This doesn't mean shale gas is a wildly popular alternative to other forms of energy but opinion appears to be shifting. The research team, led by Professor Sarah O'Hara, School of Geography and Professor Mathew Humphrey, School of Politics and International Relations, carried out regular surveys over a 16 month period to look at people's perceptions of shale gas. Their results show that despite warnings about earthquakes, water contamination, and increasing carbon emissions, the UK public increasingly approve of the exploitation of shale gas as an energy source. Professor O'Hara said: "The trends toward increasing approval of shale have been remarkably consistent, amongst a public that is also increasingly able to identify shale gas from an initial question about 'fracking'. The percentage of people able to identify shale gas from an opening question about hydraulic fracturing has risen from 37.6% in the initial poll carried out in March 2012 to 62.2% in the latest, July 2013 poll." The number of people who associate shale gas with being a 'cheap fuel' has risen from 40.5% in the first survey to 55% now, and the positive rating for shale (the 'do associate' minus the 'don't associate') is +33.4, up from +11.4 in the first survey, and steadily rose throughout the period. Professor Humphrey said: "Shale gas may be seen as 'cheap', and therefore of appeal to people who see themselves as potential consumers, but do people believe it to be clean?