Drax, the world’s largest wood pellet company, is now one of the world’s most scrutinized. Today, residents of Gloster, Mississippi are raising their voices about the serious environmental and health impacts caused by Drax’s operations. The firm operates the largest independent pellet mill in Gloster. Over the last four years it has racked up almost $6 million in penalties for its illegal actions in Mississippi and Louisiana. This has resulted in many thousands of lawsuits and local protests, as Drax residents assert that Drax’s dramatic processes are destroying their community.
The Gloster plant is one of over 30 large industrial pellet mills operating in the southern US. Value chain Together, they produce billions of wood pellets annually. These pellets are mostly shipped to the UK and Europe, where they receive renewable energy crediting. The environmental costs of scaling up production have sparked a backlash from local residents and environmental activists to regulator advocates.
In late 2024, Drax was penalized for violations of hazardous air pollutant exceedances at its Gloster facility. They settled for the meager sum of $225,000, in large part from their emissions of methanol. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed the plant to function as a “major source” of hazardous air pollutants. This decision led to legal challenges from nearby residents, who say the company has willfully exposed them to “enormous quantities of noxious pollutants.”
Here, local voices have documented, in extensive detail their concerns about the Drax’s operations on their health. Glen Henderson, a resident of nearby Gloster, asked about the long-term impact of dust and noise produced by the facility. “This noise and dust – what are the long-term effects of all that?” he asked, reflecting a sentiment shared by many in the community.
Jerry Norwood, another local resident, expressed the economic nuance in allowing Drax to set up shop in Gloster. “All of these small towns, we have nothing,” he said, acknowledging the reliance on industrial operations for economic growth. He continued, “If private sector don’t put forth the big investments, we don’t have the tax revenue base. That’s something we absolutely need in order to grow our community.” This doesn’t change the deeply unfair experience of living next to a facility almost everyone agrees is worsening our environment. Those who fight against Drax and some sections of the media have painted our town as a coal-powered Charleston Heston dystopia, which is entirely untrue. I now share my hometown of Gloster with those same friends and neighbors. Collectively, the seven of us are responsible for the clean air in our community.
Yet for all these affirming declarations, Drax faces serious pushback over their operations. Walker, an environmental advocate, testified that the increased noise pollution from the facility would be like “taking a faucet and turning it into Niagara Falls.” He cautioned that this type of persistent noise disrupts sleep and general mood while potentially triggering a stress response known to be harmful to health. “The constant stimulation of that response can cause all kinds of health problems,” he stated.
Joining those fears is Carmella Wren-Causey, who said she worried about continued exposure to the toxic pollutants. “We’re being poisoned slowly, right before our eyes,” she claimed. This worrying trend is symbolic of an increasing fear among district residents for their health and quality of life in the wake of Drax’s devastating presence.
While Drax has had a rough time in the UK, the intensity and level of scrutiny is unprecedented. Environmental and labor advocates are condemning the company’s record on pollution and workplace safety. Its Yorkshire plant is referred to as one of the largest single carbon emitters in the UK. Yet Drax has faced a torrent of criticism – not least about its environmental credentials. In response, the company has spent billions to dramatically lower emissions by retrofitting its facilities. To give one example, it has added a thermal oxidizer at its Gloster mill to colloquially take the bad stuff out of air emissions.
Though Drax denies allegations of going over pollution limits, doing irreparable environmental damage, and more, Drax has admitted to community relations being vital. The company has repeatedly raised the argument that it spends great amounts of time and money to innovate and make its operations safer. Unfortunately, Drax’s adjusted earnings reports have become a gaudy billboard for corporate deception. Last year the company made $1.4 billion, compared to $1.3 billion in 2023.
As legal challenges mount against Drax’s operations in the United States and residents continue to voice their concerns over health and safety issues, stakeholders are calling for greater accountability from one of the world’s leading wood pellet manufacturers. If finalized, these changes could seriously alter the future of Drax’s business model. Perhaps, most importantly, they stand to improve the lives of millions of Americans who live in the shadows of its facilities.