We have generations worth of fossil fuels under our feet.

Where? Not gas or oil - that's already far past peak and we've not been able to produce enough even for our own use for a decade or more now. Shale gas doesn't look like it'll produce enough to make a significant difference given our geology and seems to have much more of its share of problems from extraction if the US experience was anything to go by (everything from earthquakes to contaminated ground water), Coal - all the 'easy' coal has gone - there may be plenty more there in theory but extracting it wasn't economic even a generation ago. There's an ex-miner in my family  - went through the 1980s strikes and all that  - but now he's found work 'in the sun' wouldn't go back underground for even twice the money. It's a dirty dangerous business.

   - Andy.

I think mining technology has moved on a lot since then, with automated plant and less need for actual men to go underground these days.

I would agree with your reservations on fracking though. As a commodity because more scarce, it's price rises and suddenly it becomes economical to actually go for the 'harder stuff'.

If we were serious about it, then more R&D into clean coal tech might head off any 'green' reservations in future.

I think mining technology has moved on a lot since then, with automated plant and less need for actual men to go underground these days.

I would agree with your reservations on fracking though. As a commodity because more scarce, it's price rises and suddenly it becomes economical to actually go for the 'harder stuff'.

If we were serious about it, then more R&D into clean coal tech might head off any 'green' reservations in future.