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Thousands Say “No” to Drax’s AI Data Centre Bid: “Burning Forests to Power AI is Not Green
This morning, a petition signed by thousands was sent to David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire; Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor of the University of York; and Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The petition urges all parties to reject and sever ties with Drax’s proposed AI data centre project.
In London and Yorkshire campaigners gathered with placards reading: “Putting the green into AI data centres by burning forests to power them”, accusing Drax of greenwashing and demanding an immediate halt to any collaboration or support from the University of York, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and DSIT. Signatories included scientists, University of York Alumni and local Yorkshire residents collectively opposing Drax’s AI Data Centre Bid.
In London, despite confirming with DSIT it was possible to deliver the petition in person, campaigners were turned away by security and the petition hand-in was denied.
If approved, the Drax data centre would be powered by burning wood - a move campaigners argue would contradict the UK Government’s recent commitment to reduce reliance on unabated woody biomass. Research suggests the proposal would require the burning of 2.5 million tonnes of wood pellets annually until 2030, increasing to 5 million tonnes per year thereafter [1].
Activists have also raised concerns that, unlike conventionally subsidised biomass schemes, this project lacks even the weakest safeguards around sustainable sourcing. They warn this further opens the door to continued destruction of old-growth and primary forests, with minimal accountability [2].
The petition hand-in comes on the heels of the International Day of Action Against Big Biomass and a newly released report revealing that five major economies - including the UK - have spent $250 billion subsidising biomass energy over the last 22 years [3].
It also follows a lawsuit filed last week by residents of Gloster, Mississippi, who cite years of health issues linked to emissions from the Drax Amite BioEnergy facility [4].
Campaigners are urging local authorities, government officials, and institutions to reject what they see as a false climate solution - one that sacrifices forests, health, and climate integrity for the sake of powering AI infrastructure by burning trees.
Molly Griffith-Jones, a Yorkshire resident from Stop Burning Trees Coalition who handed in the petition said:
“Burning forests to power AI is not progress, it’s pollution dressed up as innovation. If this proposal is successful it would see Yorkshire hosting a highly polluting facility reliant on burning huge amounts of trees, often sourced from vulnerable forests abroad with the health and environmental costs borne by local communities here and abroad. We urge local leaders to show true leadership by rejecting this plan and standing up for a future that prioritises both people and the planet.”
Julie Forgan, York City Unison Branch Environmental Officer, said:
“Trade unions are building towards a year of climate action in the new year. This means we will be speaking out and organising against policies that will wreck the planet - burning trees has to be high up on that list. We need investment in well-paid, unionised jobs and action to tackle climate breakdown.
Reform and the far right claim it’s too expensive to have green policies but this narrative is not only wrong it also lets the billionaires and polluters off the hook and means action isn’t taken to create the kinds of jobs we desperately need. I work in a school where there are lots of green jobs in education and other parts of the public sector that desperately need more funding. Rather than burn trees to fuel AI, let's give the next generation a decent education system and give them a chance to save our planet.”
Sally Clark, UK Bioenergy Campaigner for Biofuelwatch, said:
‘’Drax’s tree burning is the opposite of ‘clean’ energy and a Drax-powered AI data centre would lead to even more forest destruction, harm to nature, pollution of communities and climate-wrecking emissions. Instead of sending our futures up in smoke and wasting our money on big polluters like Drax, the Government should fund real climate solutions that can benefit communities in Yorkshire and around the world like warm homes and renewable wind and solar power.”
Stop Burning Trees Coalition
Stop Burning Trees is a grassroots coalition of 26 member groups working to end all subsidies for large-scale woody biomass power stations and for a just transition. Founded in 2022, the coalition is a mix of environmental, social and worker justice groups. We are a broad based coalition, primarily located in Yorkshire, campaigning for an end to Drax and Lynemouth’s pollution, demanding a just transition for all workers and in active solidarity with frontline impacted communities abroad.
Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/say-no-to-new-ai-data-centre-powered-by-drax
[2] https://greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/10/15/burning-trees-to-power-ai-really/
[3] https://environmentalpaper.org/2025/10/burning-billions-for-biomass/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/17/mississippi-suit-drax-biomass-air-pollution
