Drax Supports Mississippi’s Economy, Forestry and Communities
Drax is investing in Mississippi’s economy, forestry and communities
Drax is investing in Mississippi’s economy, forestry and communities
Who we are
Drax is a leading global renewable energy company and producer of wood pellets: a sustainable, low-carbon fuel source for renewable electricity generation. We transformed Western Europe’s largest coal-fired power station to the UK’s largest single source of renewable power.
Mississippi has played a key part in our growth, providing biomass which we turn into renewable energy that helps to keep the lights on and businesses working.
Drax Group employs over 3,200 people in the UK, US, Canada and Japan.
Our impact in Mississippi
Supporting 100s of jobs
Providing $207M a year in economic impact
Donating over $250,000 via the Gloster Community Fund
Providing quality jobs
In addition to the nearly 70 people we employ at Gloster, we support hundreds of jobs in forestry, logging and trucking. This means we have an annual economic impact of $158 million in Amite County, and of $207 million across the state.
How we source fiber from Mississippi forests
Drax operates seven pellet plants in the US South, where over 85% of the forest is privately owned. The majority is in family ownership, with large forestry organizations owning a smaller percentage.
Our business model supports the broader forest products sector and provides a valuable market for forest residues.
This includes low-grade roundwood and thinnings, which aren’t suitable for sawtimber. Thinning is an established sustainable forest management practice that’s widely used in the US South. It helps maintain forest health, increase sawtimber production and improve the productivity of the forest ecosystem.
In 2024, 56.3% of the biomass Drax sourced in the US South was from thinnings and low-grade roundwood. We sourced 39.3% from sawmill residues.
Without a market for this low-grade woody fiber, it could be left as ‘stash’ (piles of woody debris or timber that’s damaged or otherwise unsuitable for the lumber mills). Alternatively, the sawmills could burn the fiber on site – although this doesn’t deliver a good climate or economic outcome. We believe it’s far better to use this fiber – according to strict criteria and best practice – to generate renewable electricity as well as social value.
We’re also working with MS landowners to implement best-in-class practices and to maximize the benefits that sustainable forest management can deliver for generations to come. We’ve partnered with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to drive equal access to forest management opportunities for minority and underserved small landowners.
Enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future
At Drax, our purpose is to help meet the world’s increasing demand for secure energy, sustainably.
Our Sustainability Framework sets out how we’re taking action to help decarbonize society, to protect and enhance nature, and to support the people who work with and alongside us.
We are committed to environmental compliance
We take our environmental responsibilities seriously, closely monitoring our operations and the communities around our sites. As part of our commitment to complying with all local and federal regulations, we track our emissions and report them to the Mississippi Department for Environmental Quality (MDEQ). In the event of an environmental concern, we’ll report to the MDEQ or other relevant agency and take the appropriate steps to resolve the issue.
We continue to work hard to improve how we operate our plants. This has meant investigating and changing our operational processes where needed and continuing to invest in new equipment and technology. We continue to work with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to ensure that we have the right permits in place for our Amite plant.
Supporting our communities
Drax has a dedicated US Community Affairs Manager in the United States who works closely with our Community Liaison Officer in Gloster. Together, they’re working with the Gloster community to ensure that we’re listening to and involving our neighbors in the decisions that impact them. We also operate a local Community Fund to support local non-profit organizations and community events in Gloster and the wider Amite County.
To find out about how we support our communities and distribute funding, please visit Our Communities.
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Community Fund
Community Fund
In 2024 we donated more than $250,000 through our Community Fund. This included funding for a new walking track and air conditioning at the National Guard Armory building. We also supported a wide range of local non-profit organizations, including:
- Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network
- Amite School Centre
- Amite Rover Food Bank
- Gloster Youth Sport
- Southwest Mississippi Community College
- Amite County Career and Technical Centre
- Amite School Center parent teacher league
- Mississippi Forestry Foundation
- Kidz Kingdom Childcare Center
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Community Advisory Panel
Community Advisory Panel
To help Drax strengthen community engagement and more effectively respond to community needs, we’ve created a Community Advisory Panel in Gloster that represents the diversity of the Community. This Panel meets four times per year to provide input into priority areas for funding through our Community Fund.
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Focus groups
Focus groups
In 2024 we held our first focus group meetings with members of the Gloster community. Community leaders, local business owners, faith leaders, non-profit and public sector workers, and the closest neighbours from the perimeter of our Amite facility all attended. We’ll continue listening to community representatives so we can better understand and respond to local concerns.
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Career and job opportunity assistance
Career and job opportunity assistance
We’re committed to publicizing our job opportunities and will use this webpage and the Gloster Town Hall community information board to share the positions we have available. We’re also working with Amite County High School and Southwest Mississippi College and Workforce Center to create easier pathways into gaining employment with us.
Safety is always a priority
The safety of our people and the communities in which we operate is our priority. We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and we’re committed to complying with all local and federal regulations. We monitor our emissions and transparently report them to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
What’s biomass and how does it work?
Sustainable biomass is made of the low grade and low quality by-products from the forestry industry. These by-products don’t negatively impact the growth of the forest, the amount of carbon being stored, biodiversity and the socioeconomic wellbeing of the communities that surround them. When used for heat and power, sustainable biomass releases significantly less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. Using forestry residues from harvesting also helps reduce the risk of forest fires, pests and disease outbreaks – and ensures that the cultivation of biomass doesn’t negatively affect forests. Instead, the removal of waste and low-grade wood promotes healthy biodiversity and growth.
Ensuring the health of Mississippi forests
Drax creates biomass pellets using low-grade wood waste, tree trimmings, and residue from local wood processing plants – materials that are all part of the sustainable forest industry. We also support programs that promote reforestation and afforestation.
