‘Everything is worse since Drax came here’: US residents say wood-pellet plant harming their town
Residents of Gloster, Mississippi, are suing plant that exports wood pellets to UK and Europe. Company says it is reducing emissions
TL;DR
- Gloster, Mississippi residents are suing Drax, a UK-based energy company, for allegedly exposing the community to toxic air pollutants from its wood pellet plant.
- The Amite Bioenergy mill, opened in 2014, produces wood pellets for export to the UK and Europe, classified as a renewable energy source.
- Residents report health issues such as difficulty breathing and attribute them to emissions including methanol, acrolein, and formaldehyde.
- Research indicates significantly higher air pollution, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in Gloster, concentrated around the mill and residential areas.
- Drax has faced multiple fines for exceeding pollution limits in Mississippi and Louisiana, totaling nearly $6 million over four years.
- Despite upgrades and promises to reduce emissions, the company continued to incur fines.
- The lawsuit was triggered after a state environmental agency reversed a decision and allowed Drax's Gloster mill to become a 'major source' of hazardous air pollutants.
- While Drax claims to prioritize safety and environmental responsibility and is making strides to reduce pollution, residents and researchers express skepticism about the plant's impact on community health and economic revitalization.
- The economic benefits to the small town are questioned, with low local employment and concerns that the plant's output has not significantly revitalized the community.