00:00Heating homes, boiling water, the gas running through our pipes could soon be coming from
00:05somewhere slightly closer to home.
00:07The government has given the green light to Project Jackdaw, which allows drilling for
00:11gas in a new area of the North Sea.
00:14But what could this mean for people in Kent?
00:16Jackdaw is one of the largest unexploited gas fields in the North Sea, and this approved
00:22drilling means that its gas could start supplying British homes and businesses by as early as
00:27the end of this month.
00:29Now, some say they're concerned about the plan's environmental impact, while those
00:33in favour emphasise the need for Britain to improve its energy security.
00:38But what do people here in Rochester make of the plans?
00:41Awful.
00:42They shouldn't be doing it.
00:43And why is that?
00:44I just understand that it massively impacts the climate and it shouldn't be happening.
00:48I understood it had been banned.
00:50That was the end of it.
00:51Just understanding that it's been completely flipped the opposite direction is terrible.
00:56We need the gas.
00:57We're going to need it for some time because there's not enough electrical capacity in
01:00the country at the moment.
01:01The solar and wind power isn't good enough yet, so we still need gas.
01:06And the fact that we're using it for the UK rather than selling it onto the open market,
01:12I think that's a good idea.
01:13Obviously, if we have energy, that will probably boost the economy, which would be good.
01:19Obviously, fuel prices are crazy.
01:20But, on the other hand, the more that we just kind of use the earth in that way, it's going
01:27to be worse for climate change and we need to think about the future and future generations.
01:31The government says they are also investing in renewable energy projects through a new
01:35energy wealth fund, but Councillor Mark Hood says he isn't convinced.
01:39It's absolutely climate vandalism.
01:41It's incomprehensible.
01:45And again, this nonsense with the wealth fund, this is too little too late.
01:51It's a shock to the environmentalists who have been campaigning against this.
01:55It will achieve almost nothing.
01:58Energy Secretary Miata Fambula has said the decision will support the country's energy security
02:03and will help minimise the UK's use of imported higher emission fuels.
02:07She added the decision is compatible with climate commitments and they remain resolute in ending
02:12new licences for oil and gas and achieving net zero by 2050.
02:17But one energy researcher says the impact of Project Jackdaw will be limited.
02:22I think in the short term, it's not going to really change things for people very much.
02:27They've said it's not really going to affect the needle in terms of how much our energy prices
02:31are at the moment, and it gives this tiny little bit of improvement perhaps to our energy security.
02:36As we begin to turn the heating on, the debate over where our gas should come from continues
02:41to heat up.
02:42Sophie Denny for KMTV in Medway.
