Dogwood Alliance, community leaders, and partners published a report. The report shows the wood pellet industry’s health impacts. The study surveyed families near five biomass plants. It highlighted the harm to their health and quality of life.
The South is the largest wood pellet manufacturer in the world. There are currently 28 pellet plants across the region. A majority of the mills are in environmental justice communities. The study surveyed residents and families around five pellet mills.
Wood pellet facilities pollute the air with dust and toxic chemicals.
Over 67% of residents within a half-mile of pellet mills experience daily dust. Most respondents said air pollution and dust prevent them from doing things outdoors. This was true no matter how far from the plant respondents live.
Dr. Treva Gear, Georgia Campaign Manager for Dogwood Alliance said:
“Every day communities in the South face environmental injustices from the wood pellet industry. Our states need to put people over corporate greed and protect people’s health and quality of life.”
Dust and air pollution harm the health of residents.
They cause asthma, respiratory diseases, and even cancer. In four of surveyed communities, 86% of households reported a family member diagnosed with a disease. The diseases were all linked to pellet mill pollution.
Dr. Ruby Bell, a community organizer in Faison, NC said:
“Our leaders must hold wood pellet companies like Enviva accountable for polluting our environment. They operate a facility in my community. Regulators must ensure pellet plants use the best pollution controls. Dust and other pollutants harm our communities’ health.”
Yet this polluting industry continues to grow.
Gloster, Mississippi recently held a public hearing. Drax wants to expand their wood pellet mill there. Drax has paid fines many times for illegally polluting. The state slaps the company on the wrist and allows it to keep operating.
Dr. Krystal Martin, founder of Greater Greener Gloster, said:
“Unfortunately, the Gloster Community is now a profit-driven plantation. Public health is not a priority. State and federal leaders must hold Drax and other wood pellet plants accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The new study was conducted by:
- Southern Environmental Law Center
- Environmental Justice Action Research Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Dogwood Alliance
- People’s Justice Council
- Greater Greener Gloster
- Gaston Youth
- Organized Uplifting Resources & Strategies
With additional support from:
- North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
- Environmental Justice Community Action Network