A NORTH Yorkshire power station is in Brussels today to plead for urgent measures to regulate the biomass power sector.

The owners of Drax Power Station, which is based near Selby, highlighted the pressing need for clear and effective rules on sustainability if the sector is to fulfil its promise in the fight to reduce carbon emissions.

Timothy Kirkhope, MEP for Yorkshire and The Humber and Giles Chichester MEP, Conservative energy spokesman in the European Parliament, said they believed a clear set of standards was vital if businesses such as Drax, which is extremely careful in sourcing its biomass fuel from sustainable crops, were to avoid unfair competition from foreign competitors burning fuel which is less sustainable.

Mr Kirkhope said: "The biomass energy sector has to be based on sound principles and clear definitions of sustainability. It is an issue where the EU could help by taking a lead.

"We need to be sure that increased biomass use will not cause deforestation, will not reduce biodiversity, and will not emit more carbon than if we continue to use coal."