Labour Climate and Environment Forum (LCEF) has said they want the government to explore an “off ramp” for Drax. (Alamy)
3 min read
A Labour environment group has urged the government to be “brave” and reconsider support for a major biomass plant in a seat represented by Keir Starmer’s party.
The Labour Climate and Environment Forum (LCEF) said that while biomass has a part to play in the UK’s path to achieving net zero, Labour ministers should think about the role of the Drax plant given it is the country’s “single biggest emitter of carbon dioxide”.
Ed Miliband, secretary of state for energy security, is expected to decide whether to renew subsidy arrangements for Drax in the coming weeks, PoliticsHome understands.
Drax operates a power station in North Yorkshire that runs on biomass by burning wood pellets largely imported from North America. It previously used coal before transitioning to biomass — which it can burn and comply with net zero commitments despite emitting significant amounts of carbon dioxide, while receiving billions in government grants.
The site is based in Selby, the constituency represented by Labour MP Keir Mather.
Writing for The House on Wednesday, the LCEF urged Miliband and other Labour ministers to be “brave” and take a tough decision that successive Tory administrations avoided.
“Drax’s subsidy arrangement was signed off under David Cameron and has rolled over under eight consecutive Conservative energy secretaries,” the group wrote.
“This is now Labour’s problem to solve. The government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, published before Christmas, acknowledged that there are multiple pathways for biomass to help deliver the mission – including by scaling down generation through to 2030.”
“On this issue, stasis is itself a political choice,” they added.
“Labour must be brave and question Drax’s role in our energy future. Failing to act now will only make the problem harder to solve down the line.”
Drax has received over £7bn in green subsidies from the government since 2012.
However, the LCEF said the company’s conduct abroad, such as reportedly being ordered to pay $5.7m for air pollution violations and violating environmental law 11,000 times in the United States, alongside it being such a large UK emitter of carbon dioxide, means the Labour administration should consider reforming the subsidy arrangement.
The group added that the around 900 workers at Drax power station could be upskilled or retrained in more sustainable energy to ensure they do not become unemployed.
“Drax’s subsidies end in 2027, but Labour must decide soon on whether to extend them.
“For this, the government must not only consider repeated business failings but also the people who depend on Drax for their jobs. Drax employed about 2,427 workers across the UK in 2021, with 904 located at Drax Power Station,” said LCEF.
“The government will face criticism no matter how it proceeds.
“Though Drax’s failings have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, it is only after the Conservatives left office that Claire Coutinho, former and now shadow energy secretary, admitted the case for BECCS at Drax has ‘unraveled’.”
The LCEF intervention comes after polling by Zero Hour shared with PoliticsHome shows 71 per cent of the public believe the government should take into account the emissions produced from goods imported into the UK, with 56 per cent believing there is a need for stronger laws to make sure climate change pledges are locked into UK law.
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told PoliticsHome: “We expect full compliance with all regulatory obligations on biomass – consumers rightly expect the highest standard of accountability from generators.
“The subsidies for large-scale biomass generators will end in 2027 and we are reviewing evidence on potential support beyond this.”
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