The UK’s single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied with the University of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for public support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre as part of an ‘AI Growth Zone’ in Yorkshire.
Drax claims that an AI data centre powered by its tree burning would be part of a “clean energy campus”, but there is nothing clean or renewable about Drax’s planet-wrecking tree burning.
Last year alone, Drax emitted over 13 million tonnes of CO2 from burning trees and much of this wood came from the clear-felling of biodiverse forests in the Southern USA, Canada, Estonia and Latvia, with catastrophic impacts on forests, wildlife, communities and the climate.
Drax already receives around £2m per day in renewable subsidies from our energy bills to burn trees and the Government has now signed a contract to use our money to extend Drax’s subsidies to 2031.
If the Government approves Drax’s AI data centre bid, it will support Drax to burn as many, or even more trees as it does now, contrary to Michael Shank’s promise in February that Drax ‘will operate less than half as often as it does currently.’ under the new subsidy contract.
This will mean even more forest destruction, pollution of communities, harm to nature and climate-wrecking emissions – all at our expense!
Please contact your MP today and ask them to speak up for forests, communities, wildlife, and the climate by calling on the Government to reject Drax’s AI data centre bid.