After being on his feet for almost 40 minutes the Chancellor of the Exchequer mentioned something interesting about shale gas.
The detail wasn't interesting (he didn't give any). It was interesting that it was mentioned at all, particularly given that this was his final Autumn Statement before the May 2015 general election.
Whether justified or not, it is undeniable that there are very real suspicions and concerns associated with fracking for shale gas. And those concerns are now being reflected in the planning process.
Some years ago the first planning application associated with fracking met with practically no resistance. It seemed to slip through without triggering any alarm bells.
But fast forward to today and even the most preliminary applications are facing very vocal opposition. Even applications associated with exploratory operations are proving to be problematic. It is difficult to see how a sustainable industry can be established if there are problems getting planning approval for explorations (remember, we are not even talking here about the actual production of shale gas).
Many believe that the key to overcoming these planning hurdles is to win the battle for hearts and minds. Something similar has happened in terms of nuclear energy, with research showing that twice as many people in the UK now support nuclear power than oppose it.
And this battle for hearts and minds is what occurred to me when I heard the Chancellor say, "And we're announcing a new Sovereign Wealth Fund for the North of England so that the shale gas resources of the North are used to invest in the future of the North."
The notion of a shale gas Sovereign Wealth Fund isn't new. It was mentioned in early 2013, and considered by the House of Lords just last month.
By including it in his Autumn Statement it seems that the Chancellor is keen to raise the profile of the initiative and ensure that momentum is not lost. Reducing local opposition is key to overcoming some of the significant challenges presented by the planning process.
Friends of the Earth have said that "communities will not be bought off with cheap bribes". But the Chancellor is clearly hoping that the initiative will be a positive step towards developing a shale gas industry which will provide much needed help towards replacing dwindling taxes from North Sea gas production.
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