The author of that article - Matt Ridley is a
zooologist who writes on 'science matters' for a tory newspaper, and was a chairman of Northern Rock. (I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand car from him

)
I have read his blog here
Matt Ridley | DeSmogBlog
In this blog entry
Cheap energy and the North-east of England - Matt Ridley
he states
"Maybe I am biased, as somebody who still makes money from coal as my ancestors did."
He clearly has a vested interest in the extraction of gas from coal seams.