;)
The Commons Welsh Affairs Committee took its first lot of evidence in its inquiry into shale gas last week, and I've now had a chance to look at the draft transcript, which can be seen here. The committee is chaired by David TC Davies, the Welsh Conservative who gained plaudits for his involvement in the Climate Change Act debate the other day, so there was at least the opportunity for some robust questioning, particularly because, alongside the expert witnesses we had Kevin Anderson to beat the green drum regardless of his lack of expertise in shale gas.
This is very interesting stuff, which desperately needs some follow up, for example over questions such as:
- how many wells might be drilled from a UK gas pad, and how much gas might come out that pad
- whether onshore wind really is at price parity with other forms of generation
- whether shale would really not produce price reductions
And this wonderful piece of sidestepping by Professor Thomas is worth printing and framing:
Q40 Mr Williams: What are the US experiences of the risk of contamination?
Professor Thomas: I am sure you have all seen the “Gasland” video. It seems likely that that is just a manifestation of the very worst practices—
Q41 Chair: Is it the case that that has been comprehensively disproved?
Professor Thomas: Yes, it has. It is just an example of the kinds of practices in which we would not engage in the UK.
Q42 Chair: And it never happened in the first place. There was already evidence of leaks of methane into the tap water in that area.
Professor Thomas: I think it has to be said that we have a solid regulatory system. If Richard’s predictions are correct—and that is a big, big if—you would have to scale up the capability to regulate, to manage and to inspect, but we are not there yet. That is part of the risk development and risk escalation phase—whatever the right phrase is.