Burning wood to create power is a ‘scandal’, 50 MPs warn the energy minister in a letter today.
The letter – which has cross-party support – marks a major shift in political opinion over the burning of biomass, which is currently classed by the Government as a green form of energy.
The letter says the extra emissions produced by biomass ‘are the equivalent of three million Ford Fiestas on our roads’.
Burning wood to create power is a ‘scandal’, 50 MPs warn the energy minister in a letter today (File image)
Peter Bottomley, Father of The House of Commons organized this letter to invite Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng for a discussion about ending the subsidies to Drax’s power plant in Yorkshire.
The plant supplies about 12 per cent of the UK’s renewable electricity, and is Europe’s biggest wood-burning power station.
The letter states: ‘The sacrifices constituents are being asked to make to reach net zero are huge.
Signatories include the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas and the SNP’s Ian Blackford. According to them, scientists have warned that the burning of wood for energy could cause global warming. (File photo)
‘Neither they nor we can understand why it was decided to give Drax £4 billion of subsidies from electricity bills to create even more carbon dioxide. This scandal demands an immediate response.’
Signatories include the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas and the SNP’s Ian Blackford. Scientists warn that using wood to generate energy can cause global warming.
A Drax spokesman said the plant played a ‘critical role generating 12 per cent of the UK’s renewable electricity’ to keep the lights on and work toward net zero.