Fracking Stupid?

News that the UK Government is intent on trying to encourage shale gas production here, by offering 'massive' tax breaks, seems ill-advised. I can see the attractions of reduced energy costs and lowered dependency on imports of gas and oil but, I feel, we  a) are crowded on to a small island, b) have many sensitive environments near the gas bearing rocks, c) don't really need to go for non-replaceable energy sources and d) need to get 'greenhouse gases' (methane as well as carbon dioxide) down.