Drax Group has been the subject of yearslong efforts by local residents, environmentalists and state regulators to rein in emissions from its Gloster wood pellet plant. In a nutshell:Residents of Gloster, a majority-Black community in southwest Mississippi, are engaged in an ongoing battle against Drax Group, a U.K.-based energy company operating a wood pellet production plant in the town. The residents' concerns revolve around deteriorating air quality and health issues, prompting demands for action. Drax's facility is part of the wood pellet manufacturing hub in the South, which supplies biomass fuels to European countries, even as the biomass industry faces increasing scrutiny for its potential contribution to carbon emissions. The big picture:Wood pellet production can result in adverse health impacts by emitting hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds during the manufacturing process.

Source: Washington Post August 06, 2023 15:42 UTC