Opposing Biomass Burning
Fighting against the classification of biomass burning as a renewable source of environmentally friendly energy
December 2022
Westminster Hall Debate on Biomass
Burning wood as an 'environmentally friendly' source of energy is a 'scandal' that will worsen global warming.
Biomass is currently classed by the Government as a green form of energy. As such, the Drax plant receives over £4 billion of subsidies from electricity bills.
I spoke during a debate on the 'supposed' sustainability of producing energy from burning wood.
Last year, I wrote to BEIS Secretary of State Kwasi Kwarteng MP, backed by over 50 cross-party colleagues, calling for an urgent meeting to discuss ending subsidies to the Drax power plant in Yorkshire.
Almost a year later, the requested meeting happened and the Secretary of State was sympathetic and assured that we would see progress. The Secretary of State very quickly became the Chancellor and, even with his elevated status, we saw no results.
It is basic logic that chopping down trees in the USA, transporting them across the Atlantic by fuel-oil ship and then burning them is going to increase carbon dioxide levels. The data confirms this; over 500 scientists confirm this.
It was reassuring to see the strength of feeling shared across the House for more sustainable energy production that makes a genuine difference to our ambitions for a net-zero energy sector.
The new Secretary of State would be wise to listen to the overwhelming view: burning wood for energy will make global warming worse for decades to come, Government subsidies must end.
Thank you to Selaine Saxby MP for organising the debate and to Conservative Environment Network for their hard work on this important area of concern.
16 December 2021
Letter to Secretary of State
Burning wood for energy is a 'scandal' that will worsen global warming.
I have written to the Secretary of State, backed by over 50 cross-party colleagues, calling for an urgent meeting to discuss ending subsidies to the Drax 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.
Biomass is currently classed by the Government as a green form of energy. As such, the Drax plant receives over £4 billion of subsidies from electricity bills.
To claim that it is renewable is ignorant at best, fraudulent at worst.
Over 500 scientists have warned that burning wood for energy will make global warming worse for decades to come.
It is basic logic that chopping down trees in the USA, transporting them across the Atlantic by fuel-oil ship and then burning them is going to increase carbon dioxide levels. The data confirms this.
Worse is the belief that a sapling offsets the absorption capability of a fully grown timber tree. Academics estimate that the carbon payback time for burning wood is 190 years.
The Government must act now.