Energy Independence Bill: Welcome proposals, but fails to deliver govt pledge to ‘ban fracking for good’

Reacting to the publication of the Energy Independence Bill, published today, Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Danny Gross, said:

"Ending new gas and oil licences is extremely welcome, but this bill falls a long way short of delivering on Labour's manifesto pledge to ban fracking for good. It won't affect areas that are already licensed and leaves a gaping loophole in the existing fracking moratorium - one that companies are already exploiting to push ahead with new projects.

"One fracking scheme has already been granted approval, and more applications are in the pipeline. Just yesterday, Europa Oil and Gas lodged an appeal against the refusal of its planning application for a low-volume fracking project in North Yorkshire. The threat is real and growing. And the Bill still leaves communities across the country exposed to the threat of fracking.

"Putting power in the hands of the people by giving local communities an ownership stake in new wind and solar projects is a positive move. Homegrown renewables are cheaper than gas and essential to delivering energy security and cutting our bills.

"The creation of the Warm Homes Agency and better enforcement of energy efficiency rules for landlords should help people heat their homes for less. But plans announced in the Budget to divert funds for essential upgrades like electric heat pumps to defence spending will hinder our transition away from expensive, polluting gas.

"The Bill is a step towards a clean energy future for the UK. But if the government is serious about transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels, it must reject the Rosebank oil field - a carbon bomb that would do nothing meaningful to strengthen energy security or bring down bills."

Fracking loophole

A moratorium on fracking was introduced in 2019 after a fracking project in Lancashire triggered an earthquake that damaged local homes.

But the moratorium does not cover all forms of fracking. Fracking involves pumping liquid underground at high pressure to crack rock and release trapped gas or oil. The current moratorium restricts fracking based on the volume of fluid used, meaning lower-volume operations (such as a technique called proppant squeeze) fall outside its scope - even when the same process is used.

Earlier this year, Professor Stuart Hazeldine, one of the UK's top geologists, warned [3] that seismicity risks from low and high-volume fracking can be "equally large and equally unpredictable". Indeed, the volumes of fluid used in the week leading up to the 2019 Lancashire earthquake (see above) would not be ruled out under the current moratorium.

Planning permission for low volume fracking has already been granted at a site in East Yorkshire, and more are in the pipeline [4]. Recent analysis by Friends of the Earth has found [5] that 79 constituencies in England could face the threat of lower-volume fracking, if developers choose to seek planning permission there, because they fall within existing licences.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Fracking: the facts | Friends of the Earth briefing
2. Fracking firm appeals over North Yorkshire Council's decision to reject planning application | Friends of the Earth press release
3. Professor Haszeldine's report is here - and a summary is here
4. One proppant squeeze application has already been granted in East Yorkshire and more applications are in the pipeline:
* West Newton in East Yorkshire: Rathlin Energy has already had permission granted for the production of oil and gas but applied to the Environment Agency (EA) to be allowed to use proppant squeeze. The EA approved this permit variation to allow proppant squeeze/well stimulation in February 2026. Since then, East Riding Council has voted unanimously against fracking  at the site, and a local resident is seeking to overturn permission granted by the Environment Agency.
* Wressle near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire: Egdon Resources had its planning application for two more production wells and lower-volume fracking (proppant squeeze) quashed in 2024. A further planning application is yet to be submitted, but the council has stated an EIA (to better assess environmental impacts) will not be required.

5. Fracking: Communities in 79 constituencies across England could still be at risk | Friends of the Earth press release