Anti-biofuel protest
Biofuelwatch to lead demonstration on 22 October
The campaign group Biofuelwatch is launching a demonstration on 22 October to call on the UK government to stop subsidising biomass and bioliquids. The demonstration will be held outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change in London.
Campaigners say that land that could be used to grow food for people is instead being used to grow biofuels. Some also argue that biofuels contribute at least as much to climate change as more conventional energy sources. ‘Biomass’ refers to solid organic matter that is burned in power stations to generate electricity – generally from wood pellets and woodchips. ‘Bioliquids’ refers to liquid fuel that is blended with petrol or diesel where it is burned in power stations to generate electricity. ‘Biofuels’ refers to liquid fuel that is blended with petrol or diesel in vehicles.
Emilia Hanna, a Biofuelwatch spokesperson, said the demonstration is being held amid a growing use of biomass and bioliquids in the UK. Although there are currently eight operating biomass power stations in the UK, there are another forty-two in the pipeline.
