Groundbreaking report reveals harmful impacts of biomass wood pellet plants

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A new, first-of-its-kind study surveyed families living near biomass wood pellet plants, shining a light on the significant and long-lasting harm these facilities have on nearby communities.

Pellet plants turn trees and other forest material into wood pellets that are then shipped overseas and burned at utility scale for power, a process called biomass energy. While biomass energy companies claim this produces clean energy, in reality it releases more climate-warming carbon at the smokestack than burning coal.

Biomass wood pellet plants have recently seen explosive growth in the South, and there are currently 28 pellet plants across the region. More often than not, these facilities are located in communities of color and low-wealth communities and continue a history of environmental injustice. Communities around five of these pellet mills were surveyed for the study, which was published on Wednesday.

Wood pellet facilities release huge amounts of harmful air pollution, including dust and hazardous chemicals like acrolein and methanol. More than 67 percent of people living within a half-mile of pellet mills experience dust every day and a majority of respondents, no matter how far they live from the facility, said air pollution and dust concerns prevent them from regularly doing things outdoors.

“The results of this survey confirm what we have known for years: biomass wood pellet plants do incredible amounts of harm to nearby communities, which are more often than not communities of color or lower wealth communities,” Southern Environmental Law Center staff attorney Jasmine Washington said. “Families shouldn’t have to live in fear of what pellet plants are pumping into the air next door.”

“I’m glad and saddened at the same time. I’m glad people can go door to door to check on the health and welfare of our community. Those efforts have led to this much needed data. I’m saddened because the people we elect and employ to provide this service ignore our struggles, issues, and concerns,” said Richie Harding, founder of Gaston Youth.

Dust and air pollution cause significant health problems for people living nearby, including asthma, respiratory diseases, and even cancers. In four of the five surveyed communities, 86 percent of households reported at least one family member diagnosed with a disease associated with pellet mill pollution.

“It’s time for our leaders to hold wood pellet companies like Enviva, which operates a facility in my community, accountable for polluting our environment. Regulators must ensure pellet plants invest in the best available control technologies to manage the dust and other pollution that result in harmful health impacts for the members of our communities,” said Dr. Ruby Bell, a community organizer in Faison, NC.

“Unfortunately, the Gloster Community has become a modern day plantation where prioritizing profit is more important than safeguarding the public health of the people. State and federal leaders must hold Drax and other wood pellet plant operators accountable to the highest extent of the law,” Dr. Krystal Martin, founder of Greater Greener Gloster, said.

The study also found that people living near pellet mills are also forced to deal with constant traffic and noise. Nearly 70 percent of families living a half-mile from wood pellet facilities reported daily traffic, and nearly 80 percent reported daily noise that some described as “loud booms” and “banging.”

“It’s unfortunate that a company’s wealth is placed over people’s wellbeing. We are choosing profit over people, and impoverished communities continue to be harmed when we should be finding solutions to heal them. The wood pellet industry is choosing money over mankind,” said ErNiko Brown, founder of Organized Uplifting Resources & Strategies.

“Biomass Energy is harmful to our planet and its people. The results of these surveys prove this,” Rev. Michael Malcom, Executive Director of The People’s Justice Council, said. “Further, they prove that this is a moral issue and those of us with a moral conscience should move to end this dangerous practice. The People’s Justice Council is grateful to add our voice and presence in this fight for a better future for our climate and community.”

The new study was led by the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Environmental Justice Action Research Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dogwood Alliance, the People’s Justice Council, Greater Greener Gloster, Gaston Youth, and Organized Uplifting Resources & Strategies. Additional support was provided by the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network and Environmental Justice Community Action Network.

One of the communities surveyed for this report was Greenwood, SC, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene. People interested in helping relief efforts in that community can donate to the local organization Organized Uplifting Resources & Strategies at @OURstrategies on PayPal. Staff with Dogwood Alliance, which is headquartered in Asheville, NC, were also severely impacted and displaced by Hurricane Helene.