In other UK news, the Times reports that “ministers are preparing to extend subsidies to wood-burning power stations despite Tory MPs warning that this risks ‘ripping off’ taxpayers unless tougher conditions are imposed”. The newspaper adds: “No more taxpayer money should be handed to biomass electricity until it can prove it does not worsen climate change and offer value for money, dozens of Conservative MPs will say. The MPs say there are ‘serious questions’ about whether generating electricity by burning wood is sustainable and a review is needed to see if options such as wind and solar are becoming better options. Up to 7% of Britain’s electricity comes from biomass, mainly from a Drax power plant in North Yorkshire that was converted from coal to burn wood pellets. The company has received more than £6bn in public subsidy and ministers are considering whether to continue taxpayer support worth £600m last year after the deal expires in 2027. Claire Coutinho, the energy secretary, is due to make a decision before the election on official recommendations that subsidies continue, subject to a cap on total payments. She is said to be demanding more reassurance about value for money and is expected to insist that all wood used in generation is shown to be sustainable, up from 70% at present. But a decision to continue subsidies would spark a Tory row as a report by the Conservative Environment Network urges ministers not to renew them unless industry can show the technology is sustainable and good value for taxpayers.”
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