Mississippi residents sue UK-owned biomass firm granted permit for more emissions

Mississippi Residents Sue UK-Owned Biomass Firm Over Permit for Increased Emissions

A small Mississippi town is taking Drax Biomass, a subsidiary of the FTSE 250 energy company, to court after the firm won a permit to increase emissions at its local wood pellet production plant. The decision comes despite previous warnings from residents who claim that they have already suffered serious health consequences due to the operation.

The Amite county facility, which converts trees sourced from southern US states into wooden pellets for use as biomass fuel in Drax's power station in Selby, North Yorkshire, England, has been a source of controversy. Local residents report feeling dizzy, experiencing headaches, and suffering respiratory illnesses after living close to the plant, which they claim is exposing them to excessive levels of chemicals and pollutants.

The company was granted permission to increase emissions despite previous standards violations, including a $250,000 fine for releasing over 50% more harmful pollutants than allowed and a $2.5m penalty in 2020 for underestimating volatile organic compound outputs.

A lawsuit filed by an attorney at Singleton Schreiber alleges that Drax has unlawfully exposed locals to excessive levels of chemicals and pollutants, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as cancer and respiratory illness. The plaintiffs argue that the permit decision is a reversal of a previous April decision that had denied permission for the increase in emissions.

The lawsuit comes amid growing criticism from green groups and climate scientists over Drax's biomass generation, which uses wood sourced from unsustainable sources to manufacture biomass pellets. The company has been found to have supplied inaccurate data relating to its sourcing of biomass, leading to a £25m fine paid to the UK energy regulator.

The approval of the permit has also drawn criticism from advocacy groups, who claim that Drax's manufacturing is having a devastating impact on Gloster residents, particularly low-income and predominantly Black communities. In a recent letter to Mississippi's governor and the MDEQ permit board, 85 advocacy organizations expressed concern over the effect Drax's operation has had on Gloster's residents and urged steps to ensure they can breathe clean air.

The UK government has previously been accused of funding "environmental racism" through subsidies to Drax. The company is now expected to receive more than £10bn in UK renewable energy subsidies between 2012 and 2027, despite criticism from experts over the sustainability of its biomass generation.

Drax Biomass said it was pleased with the permit decision, stating that it had listened to the voices of Gloster community leaders, local businesses, and neighbors. However, the company's spokesperson could not comment on ongoing legal matters.

Ugh, this is just getting out of hand . Can't believe Drax Biomass is being allowed to increase emissions at their plant despite all the red flags they've ignored in the past. The UK energy regulator is basically just letting them get away with it, and now these Mississippi residents are fighting back . It's crazy that they're putting out all this toxic stuff into the air without even considering the impact on local communities .

I mean, I get it, Drax needs to make a profit, but come on, can't we find cleaner ways to do business? This biomass generation is just a Band-Aid solution to our climate problems . The fact that they're getting subsidies from the UK government while doing this is just mind-boggling .

Gloster residents deserve so much better than to be breathing in toxic chemicals every day . We need to start holding these companies accountable for their actions, not just turning a blind eye when it's convenient . It's time for some real change .

"Actions speak louder than words... and in this case, Drax's actions are making a lot of people feel dizzy!"

I'm really surprised that they're getting away with increasing emissions like this. It just goes to show that profit over people can lead to some pretty devastating consequences for communities. And let's not forget, it's not just the locals who are suffering - we're also talking about the environment here.

The lack of transparency and accountability from Drax is just unbelievable. And what really gets my goat is when companies like this get funded with subsidies without considering the real-world impacts on people and the planet. It's time for us to demand more from our leaders and hold them accountable for their actions... or should I say, inactions?

I mean, what's next? Are they gonna let Drax just start dumping toxic waste in the Mississippi River too? It seems like they're breaking all sorts of rules, from exceeding emissions to falsifying data. Like, hello, £25m fine for that alone! But seriously, it's not like they didn't see this coming – all those low-income and predominantly Black communities already suffering because of the operation? That's some serious environmental racism right there . I guess the real question is: who gets to decide what's "acceptable" emissions in Mississippi?

omg this is so crazy ! they're just gonna let a UK-owned biomass firm increase emissions in a small mississippi town without considering the health consequences for the residents? it's like, come on! i mean, we all know how important it is to protect our environment and public health. the fact that drax is using wood sourced from unsustainable sources and has supplied inaccurate data about its sourcing is just red flag after red flag . and now they're being sued by residents who are already suffering from respiratory illnesses and other serious health issues? it's not right at all .

omg this is so crazy! like whats up with drax biomass? first they got fined 2.5m for underestimating emissions but then they still get a permit to increase them?!?! that doesnt even make sense and what about the people living in gloster? cant they breathe clean air without having to fight for it?! its like the UK gov is more worried about giving subsidies to drax than making sure ppl have a healthy environment

"When they see an enemy, they become blind to the friend closest to them."

The situation with Drax Biomass is quite sad. The town of Gloster has been suffering from health problems due to the plant's emissions, and yet they still get the green light for more pollution. It's like the UK government is willing to sacrifice their own citizens for the sake of "renewable energy". And what about the sustainability of biomass generation?

The company's claim that it listened to the community leaders and neighbors is just a facade. The truth is, they're prioritizing profits over people's health and well-being. It's heartbreaking to see a community being exploited like this.

We need more voices speaking out against these types of injustices. We can't let corporations like Drax Biomass get away with putting their interests above the needs of our planet and its inhabitants

"Actions speak louder than words," and it seems like Drax Biomass is more interested in lining their pockets with UK renewable energy subsidies rather than listening to the concerns of the community they're affecting. Meanwhile, residents are still suffering from serious health consequences due to the operation. It's time for someone to hold them accountable

I'm so worried about those families in Mississippi ... can't believe Drax Biomass is allowed to increase emissions like that! I mean, we all know how serious air pollution can be, especially for people with respiratory issues . It's just not right that they're putting profits over people's health. And £10bn in UK renewable energy subsidies? That's just insane ... if it's not sustainable, why are we throwing so much money at it? I hope those advocacy groups and local residents keep fighting for what's right

omg this is wild how can a UK-owned company just get away with putting ppl's health at risk like this? i mean, $250k fine for violating emissions standards and now they're getting £10bn in subsidies meanwhile gloster residents are literally struggling to breathe. it's like the system is rigged against them. i'm low-key disappointed that more ppl aren't speaking out about this. we need more voices demanding justice for these affected communities

This is just getting crazy . The UK government giving out millions in subsidies to a biomass firm that's basically harming people's health and environments? It's like they're playing with fire and expecting nobody to get burned . Drax needs to take responsibility for their actions and stop using wood from unsustainable sources. And what's up with the lack of transparency and accurate data? $25m fine should've been enough to make them shape up . The lawsuit is a good start, but we need more pressure on the government to hold these companies accountable .