Biomass Strategy 2023: Cross Sectoral Sustainability Framework Debate
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Baroness Young of Old Scone
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Biomass Strategy 2023: Cross Sectoral Sustainability Framework
Baroness Young of Old Scone Excerpts(5 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Lord Callanan (Con)
The noble Baroness knows that I do not agree with her on this. The biomass that is used for generation in the two main plants is sustainable. There are very strict sustainability criteria attached to it, and the generators are measured against those criteria by Ofgem.
Baroness Young of Old Scone (Lab)
My Lords, I welcome the commitment to the cross-sectoral frame- work, provided that it is statutory rather than voluntary. Does the Minister regard this as a significant change from the Government’s previous position, when they decided to appoint a senior member of Drax management to the Climate Change Committee that advises government on biomass policy at a time when Drax had received £11 billion in public subsidy for biomass?
Lord Callanan (Con)
There has been no significant change in government policy. The sustainability criteria for biomass have existed for a while now, in concert with other biofuel strategies across government. Of course, if we can take the opportunity to make those criteria even better and even more sustainable, we will do so.