The Telegraph: Large swathes of UK to be opened up for shale drilling
Large swathes of Britain will be opened up for shale gas drilling under plans due to be announced next week, with local communities promised £100,000 in benefits for every well subjected to fracking - even if no gas is produced.
Ministers are preparing to identify thousands of square miles of land across the country that they believe are rich in shale and should be explored by gas companies.
Michael Fallon, the energy minister, will say the government is “widening the search for shale” and has warned that households “right across the south” should prepare for fracking near their homes.