It would appear that the eco-fascists have stepped up their bleating about shale gas " fracking " since trials between Preston and Blackpool proved to be most encouraging. The deep shale extends up the Ribble valley as far as the big end of Pendle Hill, but most of the farms have mains water so no chance of setting lite to the cold tap. I suppose that they could undertake a promise to connect any rural properties affected to the mains system at whatever cost. That aside it will be sustainable jobs in rural areas which may be why the eco-fascists don't want it, but more obviously ( as with the case of waste incinerators for generating electricity ) it penetrates the current energy providers cartel.Just how stupid are these people who subscribe to environmental groups, most of them allegedly join them as some sort of virtual protest about the corporates. Yet it would appear that groups like WWF ( as seen on the BBC ten O clock news ) are doing exactly what the virtual corporate multinational cartel want, stopping any attempt to allow any form of true free market in energy ( as with carbon taxes and floor prices ). The fact is that shale gas has cut the overall price of gas ( talk of a gas glut ) in the US but I can't see the UK benefiting from it unless something similar happens here. Once again our true sustainable economy and potential lowest cost of living for the average person is hampered by the actions of alleged environmentalists.