Shale exploration go-ahead and solar subsidy cuts spark campaigners' anger

Scores of new licences have been handed out for shale gas exploration, in a move campaigners say could open swathes of the country to controversial fracking.

Efforts to drive forward shale gas extraction, which could see fracking take place under national parks and other protected landscapes, come on the same day the Government cut subsidies for solar panels on homes by almost two-thirds.

Environmentalists accused ministers of "bizarre and irresponsible" backing for fossil fuels and "misguided" cuts to renewables just days after a global deal was secured at talks in Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dangerous climate change.

Regulator the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), has granted 93 onshore licences covering 159 areas or "blocks" across England, with around three quarters of the units relating to unconventional shale oil or gas exploration.

OGA chief executive Andy Samuel said: "This round enables a significant amount of the UK's shale prospects to be taken forward to be explored and tested."

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom said the licences would drive forward the industry to provide secure, home-grown energy for decades to come.

Energy companies and business groups welcomed the announcement, with the British Chambers of Commerce calling for urgent action to "pare back the long-winded cycle of applications and appeals" in the planning system to get schemes up and running.

But environmental groups are angry at the opening up of the countryside to fracking for fossil fuels, especially underneath national parks and other protected areas after it was backed by MPs.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said the licence blocks included land for shale exploration in three national parks and six "areas of outstanding natural beauty".

The national parks with licensing blocks awarded to shale companies are the North York Moors, the Peak District and Exmoor.

The areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) affected by shale exploration are the Forest of Bowland, in Lancashire and North Yorkshire, the Lincolnshire Wolds, Dorset, Cranborne Chase in southern England and the Howardian Hills in Yorkshire.

Emma Marrington, rural policy campaigner at the CPRE, said the move "makes a mockery of the Government's manifesto pledge to ensure this remains the most beautiful country in the world".

Greenpeace energy campaigner Hannah Martin said the Government's approach to a new fossil fuel industry was "bizarre and irresponsible" just days after the historic international deal to tackle climate change was agreed.

"This announcement means that vast swathes of British countryside have been opened up to fracking," she added.

The Government has also been attacked for cuts to solar power, with new home solar schemes set to receive payments 64% lower than they would have received from January and 65% less than current levels.

Reductions in "feed-in tariff" payments for energy generated by new small-scale renewables are not as severe as originally proposed in the summer, when ministers floated an 87% cut for domestic solar electricity compared with current levels.

But the Government's own analysis suggests the cuts could cause up to 18,700 jobs to go in the solar sector, and the Solar Trade Association (STA) has warned ministers must do more to boost the clean and popular energy source.

STA chief executive Paul Barwell said: "Government has partially listened. It's not what we needed, but it's better than the original proposals, and we will continue to push for a better deal for what will inevitably be a more consolidated industry with fewer companies.

"However, in a world that has just committed to strengthened climate action in Paris and which sees solar as the future, the UK Government needs to get behind the British solar industry."

Friends of the Earth renewable energy campaigner Alasdair Cameron said: "These huge, misguided cuts to UK solar are a massive blow for jobs and the economy, and further undermine the Government's already tarnished credibility on tackling climate change."

Shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy said: "This morning the Energy Secretary slipped out that more than 18,000 people could lose their jobs in the solar industry because of government cuts.

"This afternoon she snuck out that fracking companies will be awarded licences to explore for shale gas underneath our precious national parks. It's a disgrace that the Government is ignoring all the risks to the environment and serious public concern."