Residents of Gloster, Mississippi, have filed a lawsuit against Drax Biomass, a subsidiary of the UK-based FTSE 250 energy company, after it was granted a permit to increase hazardous air pollution at its wood pellet production plant. The plant, which processes trees into biomass pellets for burning at Drax's power station in Selby, North Yorkshire, has been accused of exposing the predominantly Black, low-income community to excessive levels of chemicals and pollutants.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality permit board reversed an earlier decision to deny the permit, despite local residents reporting serious health issues such as dizziness, headaches, and respiratory problems since the facility opened a decade ago. The lawsuit alleges that the plant has coated homes with pollutants, increasing the risk of cancer and respiratory illnesses.
Drax is expected to receive over £10bn in UK renewable energy subsidies between 2012 and 2027, according to thinktank Ember, despite criticism from green groups and climate scientists over the sustainability of its biomass sourcing. The company previously paid a £25m fine for supplying inaccurate data and is under investigation by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority.
Letitia Johnson, an attorney representing the residents, stated: "This case is about holding a multibillion-dollar foreign corporation accountable for poisoning a small Mississippi community." The plant has a history of violations, including a $250,000 fine last year for exceeding pollutant limits and a $2.5m penalty in 2020 for underestimating volatile organic compound outputs.
A Drax spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the permit board's decision, citing support from local leaders and businesses. However, 85 advocacy organizations urged the governor and permit board to ensure clean air for Gloster residents, noting that "those who can afford to leave are doing so, while those who remain are left to suffer worsening health."
