The air in Gloster, Mississippi, is thick with controversy. Residents are suing Drax, a British energy giant, claiming the company's bioenergy mill is poisoning their town. The mill, which opened in 2014, emits large and sometimes illegal quantities of air pollutants, including methanol, acrolein, and formaldehyde, linked to cancers and other serious illnesses. Residents, including Helen Reed, report difficulty breathing and other health issues, attributing them to the mill's operations.
Drax, one of the world's largest pellet companies, has faced scrutiny and lawsuits in the UK for pollution and workplace safety violations. Now, its US operations are under legal challenge. The company has racked up nearly $6 million in violations for its operations in Mississippi and Louisiana over the past four years. In 2020, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality fined Drax $2.5 million for exceeding VOC emissions limits. Despite upgrades and promises to reduce emissions, Drax continued to incur fines.
The mill's operations have raised concerns about air pollution, with researchers finding higher levels of VOCs in Gloster. The noise from the mill and truck traffic has also been a source of complaint, with residents reporting foul odors and difficulty breathing at night. The mill's proximity to residential areas and a children's day care center has sparked debates about zoning and community impact.
Despite Drax's efforts to expand its operations, including opening a mill in Alabama and establishing a North American headquarters, residents in Gloster and Urania remain skeptical about the mill's economic benefits. Many feel the mill has brought noise, dust, and toxic air rather than jobs and economic opportunities. The lawsuit against Drax highlights the complex issues surrounding industrial development and its impact on small, low-income communities.
