Join Sefton Climate Action in writing to Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton Central, urging Labour to cut ties with Drax and prevent them from getting further subsidies.

The biomass industry is responsible for destroying our forests and harming communities around the world. Drax is the UKs single biggest carbon emitter. The company is heavily reliant on subsidies to keep burning trees. In 2021 the company received more in subsidies than they made in profit. Last year Drax got £982.6 million in renewable subsidies; that's £2.68 million per day.

Drax imports wood pellets from the forests of British Columbia and the southern states of America via the Port of Liverpool to burn at its power plant in Selby, Yorkshire.

Drax sponsored an event at the recent Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. We are calling on Labour to cut its ties with Drax and prevent them from getting any more of the billpayer subsidies that are propping up this destructive industry.

Want to help?

If you live or work in Sefton please sign the open letter.

You can do this either as an individual or on behalf of an organisation or group.

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Text of Open Letter

Subject: Cut Labour ties with Drax and prevent them getting further subsidies

Dear Bill Esterson MP,

We are writing to you following your participation in a Drax-sponsored event at the recent Labour Party Conference.

Firstly, we would like to recognise the important work you have done locally to protect Rimrose Valley and advocate for solutions to the appalling levels of air pollution affecting communities in South Sefton. We would also like to thank you for continuing to speak out against fracking, and your wider commitment to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

However, as local residents concerned about the escalating climate crisis, we feel compelled to tell you we are deeply troubled by Labour’s connection to Drax - a company that is responsible for so much environmental harm at every point in its supply chain.

The biomass industry is responsible for destroying our forests and harming communities around the world. Drax is the UKs single biggest carbon emitter, emitting over 13 million tonnes of CO2 from burning wood in 2021 alone.

However, Drax is heavily reliant on subsidies - which come from a surcharge on our energy bills that’s supposed to support genuine renewables - to keep burning trees. In 2021 the company received more in subsidies than they made in profit. Last year Drax received £982.6 million in renewable subsidies; that's £2.68 million per day. By 2027 they are expected to have received over £10 billion in renewable subsidies. There is potential to extend these subsidies beyond 2027 through carbon credits up to a total of £44bn by 2050.

By classifying biomass as renewable and pouring millions of pounds into convincing people that their energy is good for the planet and people, Drax is able to continue receiving billions in renewable energy subsidies. The company sponsors nature fairs and school trips in a cynical attempt to greenwash cutting down forests and polluting communities. Allowing Drax to sponsor and attend events at the Labour party conference supports the greenwashing that has allowed Drax to present burning wood as ‘carbon neutral’. We must call this out for what it is – a false solution – and push for changes that really will get us out of the mess we are in.

Drax is responsible for the cutting down of healthy forests and pollution of communities around the world, causing long term health issues, destruction of flood defences and loss of biodiversity.

A new Panorama documentary has drawn attention to Drax's activities in British Columbia. A recent Unearthed article also exposed the harm done by Drax to people of colour in poverty-stricken communities in the southern states of America, through the pollution released by its wood pellet mills. And here in the UK, workers at Drax’s plant in Yorkshire are experiencing health problems from breathing in dangerous chemicals and the company is being taken to court over this by the HSE. They deserve better.

Less than a year ago, on 6 November, as the COP 26 climate talks got underway, thousands of people marched through the streets of Liverpool calling for climate justice. It is deeply concerning to us that the trade in biomass, which is doing such damage and entrenching climate injustice on both sides of the Atlantic should be taking place right on our doorstep, via the Port of Liverpool.

Moreover, by monopolising precious rail capacity, the huge trains that carry wood pellets from the port to Drax’s plant in Selby are limiting options for the sustainable movement of goods out of the port. We know you are committed to ending the air pollution that is damaging the health of communities surrounding the port and the A5036, and that you oppose Highways England’s plans for a by-pass through Rimrose Valley. The answer to these issues lies in dramatically reducing HGV traffic and moving freight to rail. Ending the trade in wood pellets and taking Drax-related freight out of the equation would be an important step forward.

We urge you to use your influence to ensure the Labour party states publicly it is against giving further billpayer subsidies to Drax and also to influence the forthcoming government Biomass Strategy to this effect. We further ask that you persuade your party to cut all ties with Drax.

As Shadow Minister for Business and Industrial Strategy, we ask that you take action in Parliament to prevent further billpayer subsidies being given to Drax and advocate instead for initiatives that allow Drax workers to transition to truly sustainable jobs.

We would be grateful if you would meet with representatives of Sefton Climate Action – together with Biofuelwatch – to discuss these issues in further detail.

We look forward to hearing when you are available to meet and what action you will be taking on this matter.

Yours sincerely,