Balcombe, United Kingdom (CNN) -- The fear of fracking has come to Britain, replete with worries about potential earthquakes and tap water tainted with natural gas that bursts into flames at the strike of a match.. Since a ban on the method of extracting natural gas was lifted in May, a company has begun exploratory drilling in the southern town of Balcombe to see what reserves may lie locked up in rock strata far beneath its rolling hills and green meadows. Read more: 'Fracking' protesters say drilling jobs not worth environmental risks The energy company Cuadrilla Resources has not applied for permission to frack, but that has not stopped hundreds of furious protesters from trying to block its work.
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Residents worry about potential earthquakes and tap water tainted with natural gas
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Energy company has not applied for permission to frack, but protesters try to block its work
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U.S. protesters have flown to the UK to join local demonstrators
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UK energy minister: 'If there is any risk it will be stopped immediately'
And as in the @placeholder, proponents of fracking argue that the boost in energy supply is enormous and the methods are safe.
To put that figure into context, the @placeholder uses about 3 trillion cubic feet of gas a year, chief executive officer Francis Egan said.