Wood Pellet Plants in Southern U.S. Towns Linked to Health Issues and Pollution

In Gloster, Mississippi, residents like Shelia Mae Dobbins have experienced significant health declines and environmental degradation since the establishment of a large wood pellet plant by Drax in 2016. The facility, capable of compressing 450,000 tons of wood chips annually, has been linked to increased air pollution and respiratory issues among residents. Dobbins, who now relies on an oxygen tank due to worsening asthma and heart conditions, is among many who believe the plant’s operations are directly impacting their health.

The rise of wood pellet production across the U.S. South is driven by European demand for renewable energy. However, this industry expansion has disproportionately affected poor, rural, predominantly Black communities. In towns like Gloster, residents report increased truck traffic, noise, and air pollution. In 2020, Drax was fined $2.5 million by Mississippi’s environmental agency for exceeding air emissions limits. Despite the company’s efforts to implement pollution controls and community funds, locals remain unconvinced about the plant’s safety.

Environmentalists are urging the Biden administration to reconsider tax incentives for biomass energy, arguing that wood pellet production and burning are not truly carbon-neutral and pose significant health risks to disadvantaged communities. As the industry plans further expansion into states like California, concerns about environmental justice and long-term climate impacts grow. Critics call for an end to subsidies that support biomass energy, advocating for cleaner and more sustainable alternatives.