Fury at plan to extend Drax subsidy to burn trees for electricity

Climate groups and MPs criticise proposals for consumers to foot bill to support biomass plant after existing scheme ends in 2027

The government has proposed plans to offer the Drax power plant extra subsidies to burn trees for electricity, provoking a backlash from climate groups and green Tory MPs.

Ministers have begun consulting on plans for bill payers to foot the cost of supporting Drax until the end of the decade once its existing subsidy scheme, which pays on average more than 500m a year, ends in 2027.