'I support the BFC campaign to change government legislation on biomass subsidies for the following 3 key reasons':
- Save our Jobs: UK furniture Industry jobs are under threat as rising wood prices are squeezing manufacturers and are making retailers look overseas for cheaper imports. In these tough economic times, the government should be supporting our manufacturing base not damaging it with ill-thought through subsidies to energy producers.
- Save us all Money: The subsidies are paid by charging energy suppliers the cost of meeting renewable obligations charges. They pass on the costs to consumers (all of us) through price increases. In other words, we are paying more for energy companies to burn wood, while at the same time this pushes up the price of wood which will lead to increased prices in the shops for British furniture.
- Save the Environment: Wood is a great way to capture CO2 (burning it is not efficient), normally around 75% of the energy goes up the chimney and only 25% generates power. This leads to increased CO2 emissions, when compared to wood panel manufacturing. Chopping down vast forests will reduce biodiversity and damage the environment as forests take a long time to 'renew', unlike wind, solar and wave power which is unlimited. We should burn waste wood not virgin trees.
To find out more go to:
http://www.fira.co.uk/document/biomass-government-report.pdf