It has been almost seven months since Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine. Throughout the last few months, countries, including the United States, condemned the invasion and deemed Putin to be nothing more than a dictator. The mainstream media continues to report on the conflict with the Biden administration asking for more funding to help the Ukrainian forces defend themselves. As a result of countries backing Ukraine, Putin severely limited gas exports from Russia to Europe and other NATO countries after heavy sanctions were placed on his country. Now, the new U.K. Prime Minister, Liz Truss, announced the end of England’s fracking ban in hopes of easing the energy crisis. 

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Only gaining office a few short weeks ago, the announcement from Liz Truss marks one of her first major decisions as Prime Minister. She also revealed that she was placing a national freeze on energy prices per household. In 2022, household energy costs climbed to over $4,100. Under the guidance of Truss, the cost will be capped at $2,900 a year. 

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Banned back in 2019, the move to start fracking again could come as early as March of 2023. Releasing a statement on Thursday, Truss said, “Putin’s war in Ukraine and weaponization of gas supply in Europe is causing global prices to rise – and this has only made clearer that we must boost our long-term energy security and supply. We will take action immediately to help people and businesses with bills but also take decisive action to tackle the root cause of these problems so that we are not in this position again.” 

While presenting the solution to the energy problem in the U.K., Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer explained how the cost of such a plan will not be handled by the energy firms but by the British taxpayer. And it could reach as high as $116 billion. “The prime minister knows she has no choice but to back an energy price freeze, but it won’t be cheap, and the real choice, the political choice, is who is going to pay. Is she really telling us that she is going to leave (energy companies’) vast excess profits on the table and make working people foot the bill for decades to come?”

Some users agreed with the new stance, writing, “Fixing energy shortage must start with dumping the entire Green Energy agenda and promoting fossil fuels and nuclear power. No subsidies for Green energy! An end to carbon reduction policies and an end to any carbon pollution taxes. Let the free marketplace decide. The insane Green energy agendas must be abandoned! It is neither practical, needed, nor affordable.”

Another person added, “Finally, someone has come to their senses on the need for energy other than the pretty color of green…Green is fine, but it has to be developed/explored alongside fossil fuel energy until it is fully ready to take over.”