Delegates backed a Fife TUC call to oppose
fracking and underground coal gasification
(UCG) until their potential impact on
local communities and the environment
is fully investigated and understood.
Instead, the STUC will lobby for the development
of sustainable energy including investment
in renewables and lower carbon emissions.
This mirrors UNISON’s precautionary
approach with regard to fracking and UCG.
UNISON’s Martin Murray called instead
for a viable pathway to decarbonise our
energy supply without further investment
in unabated fossil fuels and shale gas
fracking which have led to consequences
“such as ignitable tap water, earth
tremors and unexplained illnesses, resulting
in millions in compensation paid to some
in the US.”
In Scotland the plan is to drill in the
Falkirk area within 400 metres of a school.
“If their plan goes ahead there
will be over 400 wells in Central Scotland,”
said Martin.
Declaring an interest as part of the
concerned community of Falkirk, Martin
also warned that current plans for underground
coal gasification and setting fire to
coal seams is happening in a triangle
of about two miles wide with Longannet,
Ineos and Airth, where they plan to drill,
at each of the three corners.
“Mary Church of Friends of the
Earth described coal gasification as the
most experimental and frightening method
of unconventional gas extraction threatening
the Scottish Communities,” he said.
