To listen to its advocates, there is little shale gas won鈥檛 do: bring down energy prices, cut carbon emissions, support renewables and bring us out of recession.
The 鈥渃limate-sceptic鈥 Global Warming Policy Foundation even claimed that 鈥渂ecause of shale gas, wealth and health will be distributed more equitably over the planet鈥.
Add to this newspaper stories with misunderstood numbers saying that there is enough shale gas to heat British homes for 1500 years and you can see why some people are getting excited.