Say No to New AI Data Centre Powered By Drax

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Say No to New AI Data Centre Powered By Drax

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire; Charlie Jeffery, University of York Vice-Chancellor; Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology

Picture of Drax Power Station with text reading 'Say no to new Drax powered AI data centre'.

Drax, the University of York and the North Yorkshire Combined Authority have just submitted a bid to host an AI data centre at Drax, powered by burning millions of trees.

The Government recently decided to extend subsidies for Drax’s tree burning from 2027-2031, with the promise that Drax would be burning half as many trees. If Drax’s bid is accepted, we will see Drax burning just as many if not more trees than before, at the expense of forests, communities and our planet.

The Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is currently considering this bid, with priority given to ‘clean energy’ projects. Drax Power Station does not provide low-carbon electricity generation; it is the UK’s biggest single carbon emitter and world’s biggest tree burner.

Help us make it clear that the future is not in burning forests for energy and that there is nothing clean or green about Drax.

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Stop Burning Trees Coalition

To: David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire; Charlie Jeffery, University of York Vice-Chancellor; Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology
From: [Your Name]

We, the undersigned, oppose any plans to build an AI Data Centre at Drax, powered by burning woody biomass. We are calling for:

1) Partners must pull out of the data centre bid with Drax. There is nothing clean or green about the energy Drax Power Station provides. Drax is the UK’s single biggest carbon emitter, responsible for devastating harm to forests, communities and our planet. Our future will not be built on the burning of millions of trees for energy.

2) DSIT must reject this proposal. If Drax was to become part of an Artificial Intelligence Growth Zone award, then the Energy Minister’s assurances to Parliament would effectively be overturned and Drax would continue to operate at far greater than a 27% load factor, i.e. burn significantly more wood than foreseen by DESNZ. The criteria for who can apply to be an AI Growth Zone state that Sites located near land suitable for the development of low-carbon power generation and energy storage infrastructure will be viewed favourably. Drax Power Station does not provide low-carbon electricity generation.

3) Come up with a real plan for workers, supply chains and communities to decarbonise Yorkshire. Continuing Drax’s operations is not the answer for decarbonisation nor building industries of the future. What supply chains, workers, and their communities need is a coherent and properly financed plan from the government to create good quality, green jobs in the places that need them most.