Bright Blue responds to the Government’s announcement to reduce the amount paid in subsidies to the Drax biomass power plant.
Bartek Staniszewski, Head of Research at Bright Blue, commented:
“Despite being a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Kingdom has for long continued to subsidise biomass despite this being both harmful to the climate and causing ecological harm.
“We are pleased to see the Government acknowledge this and halve the amount of state subsidies provided to the Drax biomass power station; as well as require the power station to source biomass from 100% sustainable sources, up from 70% currently. This addresses the main concern behind our use of biomass while reducing taxpayers’ expenditure on state subsidies at a time of serious fiscal pressures.”
Bright Blue called for the Government to phase out subsidies for the production of biomass in our report, Global green giant? A policy story.
Notes to editors:
To arrange an interview with a Bright Blue spokesperson or for further media enquiries, please contact Ryan Shorthouse at ryan@brightblue.org.uk or on 077999 70148.
- Bright Blue is the independent think tank and pressure group for defending and improving liberal society.
- Bright Blue’s Board includes Diane Banks, Philip Clarke, Alexandra Jezeph, Richard Mabey and Ryan Shorthouse.
Our advisory council can be found here. We also have over 100 parliamentary supporters. Members of our advisory council and our parliamentary supporters do not necessarily endorse all our policy recommendations.
[Image: Looking from Hales Lane, Drax, Neil Theasby]
