Fracking in Lincolnshire: mayor meets US energy chiefs

Published: 24 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

In a development set to reshape energy politics in Britain, Greater Lincolnshire’s mayor has courted influential oil figures in a controversial bid to revive fracking in the region. The focus on Gainsborough, a site with major gas potential beneath the Lincolnshire earth, has prompted fierce national debate on energy strategy. Mayor Andrea Jenkyns personally contacted executives linked to a major US energy dynasty, asking how she might support development of the under‑ground gas discovery beneath her county.

The mayor’s outreach came after Egdon Resources, a British subsidiary of American fracking giant Heyco Energy, announced a significant natural gas find in the Gainsborough Trough, a geological structure straddling Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Jenkyns, who became Greater Lincolnshire’s first directly elected mayor in May 2025, expressed strong backing for extracting the gas, a position that stands in contrast to existing national policy.

Fracking has been effectively banned in England since 2019 amid fears that the high‑pressure process could trigger earth tremors and pose environmental hazards. Despite the moratorium, the mayor reached out in mid‑2025 to ask how she could help Egdon progress its project after its gas find. The company’s chief executive responded within minutes, offering a meeting to discuss potential development in Lincolnshire and surrounding counties.

In confidential material obtained by journalists, energy executives argued that fracking could bring local economic and energy security benefits, while downplaying concerns over chemical contamination and environmental risk. These internal documents also included a tailored list of responses to common criticisms of fracking and pointed to what proponents say are advantages over renewable sources.

The mayor’s active pursuit of contacts with energy firms has seen her meet representatives from the US‑linked parent company on several occasions. One of those meetings, in October 2025, involved presentations on shale gas benefits for Lincolnshire’s economy and energy landscape. Later in the year she met again with senior executives during discussions about broader energy issues affecting the region.

Hints of support from senior Reform UK figures may have further emboldened this pro‑fracking position. In speeches, the mayor has reiterated support for drilling gas resources and criticised net zero climate policies as misguided, aligning with broader party messaging on ditching what she terms costly green agendas.

Yet this approach has provoked immediate opposition from environmental campaigners, local officials and national policymakers. Polling data suggests a slim majority of Britons oppose fracking, and resistance has been seen even in other councils led by the same political faction that now governs Lincolnshire. Councillors in Lancashire and North Yorkshire, both under Reform leadership, have opposed unconventional gas extraction projects within their borders.

At Lincolnshire County Council, Conservative group leader Richard Davies described fracking as “extremely controversial,” framing public sentiment as uncertain about the true benefits and risks of such energy projects. Environmental advocates argue that fracking could contaminate groundwater, harm ecosystems and contribute to climate change by prolonging fossil fuel dependency. Critics also point out that the UK’s current energy price issues stem from global supply pressures, not from domestic climate policy.

In response to the unfolding controversy, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero reiterated government intent to maintain a fracking ban and to pursue Britain’s transition to clean energy leadership.

The debate over fracking in Lincolnshire has also intertwined with local energy policy decisions beyond shale gas. Prior to the mayor’s tenure, the Greater Lincolnshire authority sought funding to install solar panels and battery systems at public buildings. However, shortly after her engagement with fracking executives, the mayor and council colleagues expressed safety concerns about the solar project, citing unverified reports of battery fire risks, and effectively opposed a proposal that would have delivered significant renewable energy capacity under central government support.

The funding offer, totalling over £600,000 from a regional renewables programme, was later revised down by a third in a resubmitted application that excluded the battery storage components. Officials noted that the removal of storage capacity would diminish the project’s ability to supply excess clean power back to the grid.

Despite this setback for clean energy, Jenkyns publicly framed the outcome as delivering on her campaign pledge to challenge net zero mandates and cut wasteful spending. Following the funding controversy, she and colleagues launched a campaign group opposing local renewable infrastructure, reinforcing the narrative that the county should prioritise traditional energy sources, including gas.

This narrative was echoed during a visit by the mayor and other councillors to facilities operated by Star Energy, a firm holding multiple licences in the Gainsborough Trough area. In a video shared on social media, the mayor announced her visit and declared it was “time to ditch net zero,” a rallying cry that has helped crystallise the local energy debate around a stark choice between fossil fuels and a low‑carbon future.

While proponents argue that tapping into domestic gas resources could boost local jobs, reduce reliance on imports and stimulate economic activity, opponents caution that any short‑term gains must not come at the cost of long‑term environmental damage or retreat from climate commitments.

With national policy still against fracking and public opinion mixed, the question of whether Lincolnshire will ever see shale gas extraction remains unresolved. The unfolding drama may well have implications beyond the county, touching on broader national discussions about Britain’s energy strategy in the decades to come.

Check our latest news