Urgent Lawsuit Filed Against Drax as Air Quality Crisis Deepens
UPDATE: A lawsuit has been filed against Drax Group in Gloster, Mississippi, as residents grapple with severe air quality issues linked to the company’s wood-pellet biomass plant. This urgent legal action comes after years of health problems, including asthma and bronchitis, affecting the small town of just 897 residents.
Children play outside but struggle to breathe due to rampant pollution from Drax’s operations, which have amassed over 11,000 environmental permit violations in the U.S. alone. The $3 million in fines paid by Drax in Gloster highlights the devastating effect of their activities on local health and the environment.
Just last month, Drax secured a controversial permit to increase emissions at its Gloster plant, a decision met with public outcry. Following this, local residents took action by filing a lawsuit, demanding accountability from a company they claim has long disregarded their right to clean air. Dr. Krystal Nicole Martin, executive director of Greater Greener Gloster, stated, “We have lived under Drax’s cloud for too long. It’s past time for accountability.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making it easier for biomass companies to log public lands, with a recent “emergency” declaration aimed at fast-tracking logging across nearly 60% of national forests. This policy shift threatens to endanger crucial mature and old-growth forests, which play a significant role in wildfire prevention and watershed protection.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) warns that this USDA declaration could put many remaining forests at risk while exacerbating air quality issues for communities like Gloster. With federal policies tilting in favor of foreign biomass companies, the health of local populations hangs in the balance.
Across the Atlantic, the situation for Drax is deteriorating. The U.K. government is reconsidering its support for the biomass industry, recognizing the environmental damage caused by burning forests for energy. Currently, the Financial Conduct Authority is investigating Drax, and the energy regulator Ofgem has imposed fines for the company’s inadequate data practices regarding biomass sourcing.
In a significant shift, the U.K. is phasing down Drax’s subsidies, which will be cut by half after 2027. However, Gloster residents feel abandoned, as U.K. biomass subsidies will continue until at least 2031, leaving them to face the consequences of pollution without relief.
The Gloster lawsuit aims to challenge the status quo, sending a powerful message that communities have the right to fight against companies that compromise their health and environment. The pressing question remains: will the U.S. government continue to subsidize an industry that contributes to forest destruction and public health crises?
As the situation evolves, the need for accountability becomes clearer. Communities like Gloster serve as reminders that forests are more valuable standing than burned. The health of American citizens should not be sacrificed for foreign interests. The push for stricter regulations is urgent, and local voices must be heard in the debate over biomass policies.
The time to act is now. As local residents seek justice, the world watches closely to see if U.S. regulators will prioritize the health of communities over the profits of powerful corporations.
