Mississippi DEQ Permitting Board Denies Drax Expansion in Gloster

Jackson, Mississippi. Mississippi DEQ denied Drax its request to increase pollution in Gloster, MS. Drax is a UK wood pellet manufacturing giant. Gloster is a rural community that’s been fighting this Drax facility for years. The wood pellet plant has faced fines repeatedly for pollution violations. Drax expected this hearing to be a formality. The company expected MDEQ to rubber stamp the permit. But the final decision was a surprise. MDEQ overwhelmingly rejected the permit request.

Community members and allies packed the hearing.

Residents shared the dangerous ways Drax has harmed their sleep, health, and community. They called on the board to deny the permit. After a marathon hearing and extensive deliberation, MDQ denied the permit. Five of six members voted against the permit, and one abstained. This is a hard-won victory for the local community.

Dr. Krystal Martin of Greater Greener Gloster said:

“We did it! Drax, your permit has been denied. When we fight, we win. This wasn’t just a win for Gloster. It was a win for every community fighting the wood pellet industry from Mississippi to Alabama to Georgia and North Carolina.”

Drax broke environmental rules over 11,000 times.

Drax is the world’s largest importer of wood pellets. They burn over 8M tons per year at their UK power station. They are also the second largest wood pellet manufacturer. They face logging and pollution controversies wherever they work. Land & Climate Review did an investigation on Drax. They found that the company broke environmental rules 11,378 times in the US since 2014.

This is a major win for communities in Mississippi and the South. The permit board denied Drax. They based their decision on the company’s past compliance issues. MDEQ expected that Drax would exceed pollution limits again, even with the new permit.

Naya Black, Gulf South Organizer at Dogwood Alliance, said:

“It was such an emotional experience to see the state of Mississippi stand with the people. They put the health and future of a small rural town over corporate profit. Seeing the community come together and win this much-needed victory was TRULY heartwarming.”

Drax has 15 days to appeal the decision.