Residents of Gloster, Mississippi Sue Drax Over Pollution from Wood Pellet Plant

Residents of Gloster, Mississippi, are suing Drax, the British energy company operating the Amite Bioenergy mill, alleging exposure to toxic air pollutants linked to serious health issues. The plant, which produces billions of wood pellets annually for export, has reportedly emitted illegal levels of methanol, acrolein, and formaldehyde since its 2014 opening.

Local residents claim that the mill has degraded air quality and contributed to health problems, with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality finding the facility emitted over three times the allowable limit of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Despite Drax's claims of ongoing improvements, the company has incurred nearly $6 million in fines in the past four years.

The lawsuit follows a 2025 decision by the MDEQ allowing the mill to become a major source of hazardous pollutants, further aggravating local concerns. The mill's presence has not revitalized the local economy as hoped, with only a small percentage of its workforce coming from the community.