No shale gas decision for 18 months, pending more research

DutchNews.nl, Thursday 19 September 2013

NOS/EPA

A decision on whether or not to allow drilling for shale gas in the Netherlands will not be taken for at least another 18 months, pending further research, economic affairs minister Henk Kamp has told parliament.

All three areas earmarked for test drilling will be thoroughly researched, and that will take 1.5 years, Kamp said in a briefing. Only then will the cabinet decide what action to take.

The extra time will also be used to involve locals and local councils in the plans. The cabinet together with the water boards and others will also look at techniques which are less likely to cause ground and surface water pollution.

Protests

Shale gas is ordinary natural gas that has been trapped in dense shale beds deep underground. It is extracted using a controversial process known as fracking, which involves drilling a hole deep into the shale and pumping in water mixed with sand and chemicals.

A number of local councils, water boards and even brewing groups like Heineken have come out against the production of shale gas in the Netherlands because of the risk of pollution.

Haaren and Boxtel in Brabant and the Noordoostpolder north east of Amsterdam had been earmarked as test drilling sites. All three areas are strongly opposed to the arrival of shale gas companies.

Alternative energy

Haaren mayor Frans Ronnes said he hoped the cabinet would abandon the plans altogether. More should be done to find alternative sources of energy from the sun and wind, he said.

Andries Poppe from Noordoostpolder council said he will only sleep well when the shale gas plans have been abandoned. 'Kamp is not someone who gives up easily,' he said. 'He will now look carefully to see if he can opt for test drilling with better preparation.'

British firm Cuadrilla, which owns the test drilling licences, said it was disappointed in the delay but that further research would remove locals' fears.

Labour MP Jan Vos told Radio 1 news his party would probably vote against shale gas when the issue finally comes to parliament. Without Labour backing there is not a majority in favour of the plans.

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"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Loose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Paddle wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.) - (Text version)

“…  4 - Energy (again)

The natural resources of the planet are finite and will not support the continuation of what you've been doing. We've been saying this for a decade. Watch for increased science and increased funding for alternate ways of creating electricity (finally). Watch for the very companies who have the most to lose being the ones who fund it. It is the beginning of a full realization that a change of thinking is at hand. You can take things from Gaia that are energy, instead of physical resources. We speak yet again about geothermal, about tidal, about wind. Again, we plead with you not to over-engineer this. For one of the things that Human Beings do in a technological age is to over-engineer simple things. Look at nuclear - the most over-engineered and expensive steam engine in existence!

Your current ideas of capturing energy from tidal and wave motion don't have to be technical marvels. Think paddle wheel on a pier with waves, which will create energy in both directions [waves coming and going] tied to a generator that can power dozens of neighborhoods, not full cities. Think simple and decentralize the idea of utilities. The same goes for wind and geothermal. Think of utilities for groups of homes in a cluster. You won't have a grid failure if there is no grid. This is the way of the future, and you'll be more inclined to have it sooner than later if you do this, and it won't cost as much….”