Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. Mississippi has beautiful forests. For generations, Mississippians have camped, hiked, fished, and hunted. This kind of outdoor recreation is also great for the economy. But now, these forests under threat. A major cu lprit is the wood pellet biomass industry, like UK-based Drax. Drax has a factory in Gloster, MS. The industry wants you to believe that burning wood pellets for energy is clean. That it’s a better alternative to coal. They also say it’s a source of good jobs and a boost to the economy. But the reality is different. The wood pellet biomass industry causes: pollution health problems economic losses environmental damage How Wood Pellets Are Made First, companies cut down trees. They transport the logs to facilities where they’re chipped and dried. The chips are then ground into dust and pressed into pellets. This creates a lot of pollution. From there, they ship the pellets to Asia and Europe. Then they burn the pellets in power plants for electricity and heat. The industry claims that this is a climate solution. But the reality is far more damaging. Energy from Wood Pellets Isn’t Clean or Green Corporations like Drax may call making and burning wood pellets “carbon neutral.” The science proves otherwise. Burning wood pellets in power stations releases more greenhouse gases than burning coal. Regrowing cut trees to absorb carbon can take decades. Sometimes it can even take centuries.  All the evidence shows that the wood pellet industry is bad for Mississippi’s environment. Why are we setting our state on fire to keep other countries warm? How the Wood Pellet Industry Harms Mississippi’s Health Companies build wood pellet plants in small Mississippi towns. Brown University and Tougaloo College did a study. They found that the pollution from these plants is making people sick. Wood pellet plants release large amounts of dangerous air pollutants like: Particulate Matter: This is tiny dust that can get deep into the lungs. It can lead to asthma, COPD, heart attacks, and even premature death. Volatile Organic Compounds Hazardous Air Pollutants: Chemicals like formaldehyde, methanol, and acrolein. These can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. They can increase cancer risk and harm the nervous system. Ozone Nitrogen Oxides: Chemicals that contribute to smog and make breathing harder. This is especially true for children and people with lung problems. What Drax’s Amite Facility Has Done to Gloster’s Health People living close to these facilities are the most at risk. For its study, Brown University conducted a health survey. They focused on Gloster, Mississippi, which is near the Drax wood pellet plant. The study found that 95% of families reported health problems. They had issues like frequent coughing, sinus infections, and throat or eye irritation. Residents also experienced headaches, skin rashes, and more severe allergic reactions. Gloster residents say they can’t open their windows. They must sleep with breathing machines or use oxygen tanks. They see family members suffering and sometimes dying from heart and lung diseases.  Gloster resident Betty Ravencraft said: “I am being forced to stand up for my town because of the amount of citizens popping up with heart disease and cancer. I am scared to live here. I cannot understand how the UK is allowing Drax to be here. To destroy our way of life, the air that we breathe, and our health; while the citizens in their country are fine.” Mississippi already has major health challenges. Nationwide, it ranks near the worst in overall health. It has the highest rate of childhood respiratory diseases in the country. It also has extremely high asthma rates. We shouldn’t increase pollution in places where children are struggling to breathe.  Why are we sacrificing community health to sell dirty energy overseas? Why the Wood Pellet Industry is Bad for Mississippi’s Economy  We know the wood pellet industry wrecks our state’s environment and the health of our people. But it’s also bad for the economy.   Corporations like Drax claim wood pellet plants bring jobs and tax money to under-resourced areas. But this “economic development” falls apart when you look at the real numbers.  Mississippi Today reported in 2024 that the wood pellet industry brings: Few Long-Term Jobs. Pellet plants are highly automated. The Drax factory in Gloster employs only about 60 people. The Enviva plant in Lucedale brought just over 100 permanent jobs. This despite millions of dollars in taxpayer incentives. Wasted Taxpayer Money. Mississippi has given companies like Drax more than $24 million of your money. These companies receive grants, tax breaks, infrastructure, and fee waivers. They also get years of property tax exemptions.  Economic Losses from Poor Health. The health damage can cost communities far more than any economic benefit. Residents face higher medical expenses, lost workdays, and decreased productivity.  Companies like Drax get big tax breaks and free infrastructure upgrades. They pay little or no property taxes for up to 10 years. And when market conditions change or government contracts end, the jobs disappear. Now the Mississippi government is allowing Drax to increase the pollution they emit. Despite the fact that Drax has committed 18,000+ pollution violations. Michél Legendre is the Campaigns Director for Dogwood Alliance. He said: “You would think that the US Southeast would be having an economic boom. But the communities where biomass operates are still experiencing economic hardships. Heavy industry is causing property values to decline. And the communities are getting sicker. There are huge associated healthcare costs. If biomass stopped today, it’d still take decades of recovery.” What’s left after these facilities are gone? Poorer air quality, sicker people, and lower property values. Forests can also take decades to grow back. If they ever do. The wood pellet industry isn’t just hurting Mississippi today. It’s hurting all of Mississippi’s tomorrows. Why are we sacrificing our state’s economic future to benefit this dirty industry?  Why Our Forests Are Important Our state’s forests filter water, protect us from floods, and clean the air. They’re also popular spots for hunting and recreation. But our forests are logged so fast that they can’t regrow quick enough to replace the losses. Thousands of acres of forest have already been cut in Mississippi to feed pellet mills. Most wood pellets are made from whole trees. Logging whole trees for pellets:  damages the soil ruins wildlife habitats makes us more vulnerable to drought and floods Mississippi’s forests are home to endangered birds, turtles, fish, and plants. Losing mature forests for quick profits means losing this special biodiversity forever. Industry often replaces these forests with pine plantations. The new plantations only support a fraction of the species found in natural forests. What’s the best way to keep Mississippi’s air clean? Don’t cut natural forests down and replant them. Instead, preserve our mature forests. Say NO to Wood Pellet Biomass It’s time for Mississippi to say NO to wood pellet biomass production. We all deserve to breathe easy. Together, we must demand better for our communities, our health, our forests, and our future. Don’t let Mississippi become a sacrifice zone for dirty energy profits. ...read more read less