Archives: Press Release

ATLANTA, GA – Drax Biomass, a leading manufacturer of sustainably sourced compressed wood pellets, announced today that it has been selected as the winning bidder for the acquisition out of bankruptcy of Louisiana Pellets⁽¹⁾.  The announcement follows a multi-week competitive bidding process which culminated in an auction on March 30.

Located in the central Louisiana town of Urania, Louisiana Pellets operates a wood pellet manufacturing facility capable of producing approximately 450,000 metric tons per year.  The facility filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana in February 2016, and has recently idled production.

Drax Biomass has previously signaled its intent to pursue the acquisition of financially distressed pellet manufacturing assets.  The purchase of such assets will support the company’s strategy of more than doubling our current production capacity to self-supply 20-30% of Drax Power Station’s demand while also competing for supply contracts in new biomass markets.  Drax Biomass currently operates two pellet manufacturing facilities in Bastrop, Louisiana and Gloster, Mississippi, as well as a port storage and transit facility in Port Allen, Louisiana.

“We’re thrilled with the outcome of last week’s auction,” said Pete Madden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Drax Biomass.  “Louisiana Pellets sits in the middle of a healthy and vibrant wood basket and is served by modern infrastructure, making it an ideal addition to our asset portfolio.  We’re excited by the prospect of joining Urania’s business community, and we look forward to increasing our presence in Louisiana, which has been a key partner in our growth as a business.”

Last week’s auction results are contingent upon a court-approved sale of the assets, with the sale hearing currently scheduled for April 4, 2017.  If approved, Drax Biomass intends to close on the sale by the end of April.

(1) Louisiana Pellets, Inc. and German Pellets Louisiana, LLC (collectively “Louisiana Pellets”) is the owner and developer of a wood pellet manufacturing facility located in Urania, Louisiana.

About Drax Biomass

Drax Biomass Inc. is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern U.S., we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

About Drax Group

Drax Group plc plays a vital role in helping change the way energy is generated, supplied and used as the UK moves to a low carbon future. Drax operates the largest power station in the UK and supplies up to 8 percent of the country’s electricity needs. The energy firm converted from burning coal to become a predominantly biomass-fueled electricity generator. Drax is the biggest single site renewable generator in the UK and the largest decarbonization project in Europe.  Its 2,300-strong staff operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production. 

Media Contact:

David Malkin

1-678-761-4339

[email protected]

BASTROP, LA – Drax Biomass (http://draxbiomass.com/) today announced that it will once again sponsor a weekend community clean-up event with local non-profit Keep Morehouse Beautiful (KMB).  The “Free Dumpsters Weekend,” a semi-annual event now entering its eighth year, will be held on March 25-26 in downtown Bastrop.

The event will provide local residents with free access to construction dumpsters and a site for disposal of large appliances, tree limbs and other yard debris. Over 200 residents took advantage of last fall’s event, resulting in more than 30 tons of household waste that was hauled to a landfill near Monroe.  Morehouse Parish does not have its own landfall, so the “Free Dumpsters Weekend” supports residents’ trash disposal needs and discourages illegal dumping.

Next weekend’s event will again be held at 615 Kammel Street in downtown Bastrop, in the parking lot of the former garment factory.  The event will be staffed by volunteers, and is made possible by the generous support of community sponsors, including Waste Management and Union Pacific Railroad.

“We’re proud to support KMB in its mission to promote the beautification of Morehouse Parish,” said Richard Lamb, plant manager at Drax Biomass’s Morehouse BioEnergy facility. “Vicki Carpenter and her team of volunteers have helped this community in countless ways, and we admire her passion for responsible stewardship of our environment.”

Drax Biomass encourages all Morehouse Parish residents to take advantage of the Spring “Free Dumpsters Weekend.”  All household waste and large items – excluding tires – will be accepted, and a collection point will be made available for limbs, brush and other debris.

About Keep Morehouse Beautiful

Keep Morehouse Beautiful (KMB), a certified affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to create and promote pride in Morehouse Parish in the interest of economic development and environmental respect. KMB is composed entirely of volunteers with no committed source of income, and its projects are made possible by generous donations, grants and partnerships.  The organization is active in supporting the enforcement of local, parish and state environmental ordinances, laws and statues.  In 2015, KMB was presented with the Most Innovative Program award by Keep Louisiana Beautiful for the organization’s fight against blight on the main corridors of Morehouse Parish.

About Drax Biomass

Drax Biomass Inc. is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern U.S., we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

Media Contact:

David Malkin

1-678-761-4339

[email protected]

Bastrop, LA  – Drax Biomass Inc. and the American Forest Foundation (AFF) today announced a multi-year project to invest in the future of small family landowners around Drax’s Morehouse BioEnergy facility in Northeast Louisiana. The five-year, $1.1 million project – the “Morehouse Family Forests Initiative” (MFFI) – will provide landowners with the tools and resources to implement forest management practices that can increase the commercial, recreational and ecological value of their lands, and maintain crucial habitat for the region’s diverse wildlife.  Drax Biomass is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests.  AFF is a leading forest conservation organization that works with individual and family landowners to keep their forests healthy and productive.

MFFI aims to increase the number of family landowners in Northeast Louisiana and Southeast Arkansas that actively manage their lands in accordance with the principles of sustainable forestry. Specifically, the project will encourage habitat improvements, forest biodiversity and certification in the American Tree Farm System, an internationally recognized certification program specifically designed for family and small forest owners, which is administered by AFF.  MFFI support the Southern Woods for At-Risk Wildlife Partnership, a program recently launched by AFF and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help Southern family forest owners protect at-risk wildlife, while at the same time encouraging sustainable wood production.

“Drax Biomass is excited to join with AFF to increase our engagement with local landowners and support their forest management efforts,” said Pete Madden, President and CEO of Drax Biomass. “Our business is built on a commitment to sustainability, and this commitment compels us to work closely with our suppliers – both current and prospective – to promote greater adoption of sustainable forest management practices.  Healthy forests benefit everyone, so we look forward to working with AFF and our neighbors on this important effort.”

Last year, AFF released a report, Southern Wildlife At Risk: Family Forest Owners Offer a Solution, that found family forest owners, who own nearly 60 percent of the forests across the South, are key to ensuring the sustainability of the region’s forests. According to the report, 87 percent of surveyed landowners said the protection and improvement of wildlife habitat is a top reason for owning land. Seventy-two percent have already implemented one or more forest management practice to support  wildlife conservation, with 73 percent indicating a desire to do more in the future.

The same study also found that the cost of wildlife habitat improvement is a key barrier to action.  In many cases, the potential revenue generated from harvesting operations, including thinning for improved stand producticity, can help offset these costs and incentivize greater implementation of forest management practices.  As evidence of this market response, 85 percent of surveyed landowners who harvest or thin their forests have also implemented other wildlife-improvement activities, as opposed to only 62 percent of those landowners who haven’t harvested or thinned.

Landowners who participate in MFFI will receive technical assistance and other resources to help them create individualized land management plans.   These plans are a critical step toward certification under the American Tree Farm System, which can open up new commercial opportunities for landowners seeking to supply wood to the forest products manufacturing sector.   This approach is based on AFF’s successful work in the Cumberland Plateau of Alabama, where the conservation group is working with hundreds of landowners to implement forest management practices that will improve wildlife habitat, water quality and overall forest health.

The MFFI project with Drax Biomass expands this into the Northeast Louisiana parishes of Morehouse, Ouachita, Union and Winn, and the Southeast Arkansas counties of Ashley, Bradley, Drew and Lincoln.  For Drax, this project is the latest in a series of initiatives to engage with local stakeholders on sustainable sourcing and forest management practices.  Previous efforts include:  Drax’s stakeholder consultation as part of its certification under the Sustainable Biomass Program; and more recently, Drax’s collaboration with the local environmental organization, Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, focused on protecting Louisiana’s most ecologically important lands.

“Today’s announcement shows that Drax Biomass is ‘stepping up to the plate’ to ensure that more and more of America’s family-owned forest lands are managed sustainably,” said Tom Martin, President and CEO of AFF. “At AFF, we are committed to working with family landowners so that our forests continue to be healthy and productive. When we are successful, the world can get the energy it needs from sustainably produced biomass, while wildlife will get the habitat it needs to support healthy populations.  By partnering with Drax Biomass, we will be able to expand our work into a new region of the country.”

About the American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works on the ground with families, teachers and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage. A commitment to the next generation unites our nationwide network of forest owners and teachers working to keep our forests healthy and our children well-prepared for the future they will inherit.

About Drax Biomass

Drax Biomass Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Drax Group plc, is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern US, we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

About Drax Group

Drax Group plc plays a vital role in helping change the way energy is generated, supplied and used as the UK moves to a low carbon future. Drax operates the largest power station in the UK and supplies up to 8 percent of the country’s electricity needs. The energy firm converted from burning coal to become a predominantly biomass-fuelled electricity generator. Drax is the biggest single site renewable generator in the UK and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe.  Its 2,300-strong staff operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Bastrop, LA —Drax Biomass, one of the largest employers in Morehouse Parish, has joined forces with other local businesses in Northeast Louisiana to support the West Monroe High School Marching Band’s participation in today’s Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC.  The West Monroe Rebel Band is the only organization from Louisiana to march in the Parade, and one of only seven high school bands from across the country to share in this honor.

“We in the West Monroe High School Band are so excited to represent Louisiana in the 58th Inaugural Parade,” said Band Director Robert Freeman.  “We simply could not have done this without the support of Drax Biomass and others in the business community.  Our students will be a part of history, will learn in a tangible way about our country and the process of inaugurating a new president, and will come back to Northeast Louisiana as better young men and women – and even better AMERICANS!”

The Rebel Band received its invitation on December 21, giving Freeman and his band only 22 days to prepare and raise the more than $200,000 needed to cover travel costs for all 203 members.  Drax Biomass and other businesses across Northeast Louisiana rallied behind the Band, participating in auctions and other fundraising events to make the trip to Washington, DC possible.  The West Monroe High School Band Boosters spearheaded the fundraising, with strong leadership from the Congressional and state legislative delegations.   The band departed for Washington on Sunday.

“We’re tremendously proud of the Rebel Band and we’re honored to stand behind them as they represent Louisiana in today’s historic event,” said Pete Madden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Drax Biomass, which operates Morehouse BioEnergy in Bastrop.  “This achievement also serves as a reminder of our community’s cultural richness and commitment to the arts, which make Northeast Louisiana a wonderful place to live and work.”

The West Monroe High School Rebel Band has played at a wide range of prestigious events around the country and overseas during its nearly 40-year history.  In late 2013, for example, the band traveled to London to march in that city’s New Year’s Day parade, a trip that also featured a concert in Cadogan Hall – the same venue where the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs.  Several years earlier, the band marched in its first Inaugural Parade, representing Louisiana in the 55^th Presidential Inaugural Parade for George W. Bush’s second term.

About Drax Biomass Inc.

Drax Biomass Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Drax Group plc, is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern US, we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Drax Biomass, Inc. (DBI), a pellet manufacturer operating in the Southeast, marked National Bioenergy Day by declaring the cypress and tupelo stands found in forested wetlands, including the Atchafalaya Basin, to be off-limits for its timber purchases.

Louisiana’s famed Atchafalaya Basin is a popular destination for boaters, fishermen, and migratory birds. The “river of trees,” noted for its magnificent cypress-tupelo swamps, has also been eyed by logging operations, some illegal, for mulch and lately for wood pellets.  A collaborative effort between the bioenergy company and Atchafalaya Basinkeeper (ABK) aims to provide greater protections for these and other valuable forested wetlands.

DBI and ABK initiated this effort after company officials were alerted to the Basin’s unique ecological value by Basinkeeper Dean Wilson.  In the months that followed, the two organizations worked together to agree on a set of sourcing practices that will strengthen environmental protection and promote sustainable use of forest resources. By committing to these sourcing practices on National Bioenergy Day, DBI and ABK hope to encourage other bioenergy companies to follow suit.

“The irreplaceable cypress and tupelo stands are far more precious as habitat than as timber,” said DBI President and Chief Executive Officer Pete Madden. “Drax Biomass is committed to sustainable procurement practices, and we believe this commitment should extend to the protection of ecosystems such as the Atchafalaya Basin.”

Working with Catahoula-based ABK, DBI adopted the sourcing principles that it hopes will become standard industry best practices. ABK has been concerned about logging in wetland forests and the activity’s impact on sensitive wetlands.

“The commitment by Drax Biomass to do business in a way that protects Louisiana’s natural forests and wetlands sets an unprecedented sustainable standard for the natural forestry resources industry in our state,” said Wilson. “This is a great example of how softwood-based forestry can be compatible with the imperative to protect cypress-tupelo swamps, the Atchafalaya Basin and other ecosystems.”

ABK also worries that, as the forestry industry sees more demand from a recovering economy, some natural forests could be harvested and replanted as managed pine plantations, reducing biodiversity in the state.

DBI committed to use southern yellow pine as the primary source material at its pellet manufacturing facilities in Bastrop, Louisiana and Gloster, Mississippi.  Drax also committed to not source material from land that is being converted from natural hardwood forest to plantation, or from land that has undergone such conversion since 2008.

DBI does not operate its own timberlands. Instead, it sources thinnings and other low-grade wood from landowners within a 70-mile radius of the two plants. The sourced material also includes wood chips and other residuals from local sawmills.  The vast majority of DBI’s feedstock will be comprised of southern yellow pine, although some hardwood fiber may occasionally enter the supply chain.

“Our landowners and suppliers have a long history of practicing sustainable forest management, and they take great pride in the stewardship of the environment,” Madden said. “Nonetheless, our industry has room for improvement, and so I hope our commitments to ABK will encourage others in the bioenergy industry and broader forestry sector to seek out similar opportunities for collaboration.”

***

Atchafalaya Basinkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the ecosystems within the Atchafalaya Basin for future generations. We are a Waterkeeper program under the Waterkeeper Alliance, which is a grass roots advocacy organization consisting of over 200 local Waterkeeper programs and dedicated to preserving and protecting YOUR water from polluters. We are a permanent force to protect the Atchafalaya Basin’s long-term health and sustainability.

http://www.basinkeeper.org

Media contact:

Katherine Barney

225-685-9439, [email protected]

Drax Biomass Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Drax Group plc, is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern US, we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

Energy business Drax contributed more than £1 billion towards UK GDP in 2015 and supported thousands of jobs across the country. The findings were revealed in a new report looking at the Group’s UK operations, which includes Drax Power Station – Europe’s largest decarbonisation project.

Researchers at Oxford Economics studied the impact of Drax Group on the UK’s economy as the company nears completion of a major high tech engineering and infrastructure project to upgrade half the generating units at Drax Power Station near Selby in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass in place of coal. With the right support from Government, Drax aims to upgrade the remainder of the Power Station.

Their report estimates that the Group’s UK activities and that of companies in its supply chain last year contributed £1.2 billion to the economy and supported 14,150 jobs.

Employment covered a wide range of sectors including high-skilled manufacturing of industrial components, engineering and technical machinery, construction, IT, professional business services and transport.

This combination of activity and employment also generated tax revenues for the UK estimated at £430 million, equivalent to the salaries of almost 16,500 nurses or 12,900 teachers.

Oxford Economics used three measures to calculate Drax Group’s GDP contribution: the direct activities of the Group and its contractors, activity and employment in the supply chain of the Group and its contractors, and spending by all employees involved.

A breakdown of the GDP generated by Drax Group shows all regions of the UK benefited.

Highlights include:

• £493 million created in Drax’s heartland of Yorkshire and the Humber.
• 1,100 jobs for the North East and £82m contributed to the local economy.
• £191 million generated in the East of England, where the group’s retail arm Haven Power is based.
• 1,700 jobs supported in Scotland and £120 million generated in its economy.
• 550 jobs sustained and £42 million contributed to GDP in the South West.

The report also analysed the economic impact of upgrading Drax to use compressed wood pellets instead of coal. It reveals this project has thus far generated £710 million in GDP throughout the UK economy, and supported 11,400 jobs, half of these in construction, manufacturing and transport.

Drax Group CEO, Dorothy Thompson, said:

“This report shows Drax is supporting more than 14,000 jobs across the UK, with the vast majority resulting from our upgrades to biomass technology.

“The economic benefit has reached all parts of the country. We have been the catalyst for rejuvenation and growth across the Northern Powerhouse with port expansion on the coasts of East Yorkshire, the North West and North East.

“Drax is now the UK’s biggest single generator of renewable power. With the right support from Government we aim to upgrade more of our electricity production to using compressed wood pellets. This would provide a further boost to the UK economy, and deliver increased carbon savings.”

Sam Moore, managing director of consultancy at Oxford Economics, said:

“Drax Group makes an important economic contribution to Yorkshire and the Humber, and the UK more widely. Its activities generated over £1 billion in GDP last year, and sustained thousands of jobs across the nation.

“In addition, ambitious investments by the group and its partners in regional biomass infrastructure have driven huge demand, and supported many more thousands of jobs.

“The Drax upgrades to use biomass in place of coal are also environmentally and strategically very significant, in the context of the wider challenges for the UK’s energy system.”

ENDS

Full details of the study can be found at draximpact.co.uk

Media contacts:

Jennifer Davies
Press Officer
Drax
01757 612084
[email protected]

Richard Harrison/Sarah Harrison
Imagen PR
01943 468778
[email protected]

Notes to editors:

• Case studies identifying specific suppliers in each region of the UK are available on request.

About Drax Group

Drax Group plc is an innovative energy company that owns and operates the UK’s largest power station in Selby, North Yorkshire, typically providing some 8% of the UK’s electricity. A vital strategic asset, the Group has transformed itself into a predominantly biomass-fuelled electricity generator through its use of innovative technology and sustainably sourced wood pellets. The largest decarbonisation project in Europe is underway to provide the UK with cost-effective, low-carbon and reliable renewable power.

About Oxford Economics

Oxford Economics was founded in 1981 as a commercial venture with Oxford University’s business college to provide economic forecasting and modelling to UK companies and financial institutions expanding abroad. It is now one of the world’s foremost independent global advisory firms, providing reports, forecasts and analytical tools on 200 countries, 100 industrial sectors and over 3,000 cities. Its best-of-class global economic and industry models and analytical tools give an unparalleled ability to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social and business impact.

About the study

Oxford Economics assessed the economic benefits of Drax Group using a standard means of analysis, called an economic impact assessment. This approach is applied in each of the three stages of the study.

GLOSTER, Miss.—Drax Biomass, one of the largest employers in Amite County, has donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross Mississippi Region to assist with flood-related disaster relief efforts in Southwest Mississippi and Louisiana. The Red Cross is working closely with federal, state and local agencies, as well as other non-profit organizations, to coordinate relief efforts and meet the needs of those affected by the flooding.

The flooding was triggered by torrential downpours that dropped up to 24 inches of rain across parts of the region last Thursday and Friday.  According to official reports, 40,000 homes were damaged, 20,000 water rescues were conducted and 11,000 people were forced into temporary shelters.  The Red Cross has described this event as the worst natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and it continues to work alongside other aid organizations to mobilize volunteers and resources from around the country to provide food, shelter and comfort to those in need.

“We are deeply saddened by the flood’s devastating effects on our employees, our contractors and members of the local community,”

said Alex Swift, plant manager for Drax Biomass’s Amite BioEnergy facility in Gloster.

“We salute the Red Cross, first responders and other aid organizations for their efforts during this tragedy, and we intend to support them in any way we can.”

The donation is part of Drax Biomass’s community outreach campaign, an initiative to promote economic development and social well-being in communities surrounding the company’s facilities.  Drax Biomass is also coordinating with local officials to deliver bottled water to affected residents in Gloster.

***

About Drax Biomass Inc.

Drax Biomass Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Drax Group plc, is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern US, we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

Emeryville CA and Atlanta GA, August 2, 2016 – The first Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP) certificates issued by SCS Global Services (SCS), a leading global third-party certifier, were presented this week to industry leader, Drax Biomass Inc., for its Morehouse BioEnergy and Amite BioEnergy wood pellet manufacturing facilities.

This certification follows on the heels of last month’s announcement that SBP had approved SCS as its newest certification body.  The SBP certification program is the world’s foremost standard for sustainable woody biomass production for use in industrial, large-scale energy production.

“SBP certification marks a major milestone in our quest to become a leading supplier of sustainably-sourced, high quality wood pellets,”

said Pete Madden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Drax Biomass Inc.

“With this achievement, we’re able to further demonstrate our commitment to both sustainable forestry and meaningful stakeholder engagement in the communities in which we operate.”

The Drax Biomass Amite and Morehouse facilities are each equipped to produce up to 450,000 metric tons of wood pellets each year. The wood is Southern Yellow Pine sourced primarily from nearby privately-owned working forests that have supported the regions’ forest-based economies for many decades.  Thinnings, low-value roundwood, and harvesting residues are gathered and stored, then debarked and chipped.  Woodchips are screened for size consistency, then dried and further processed into compressed pellets of uniform moisture, ash content and calorific value. The assessment by SCS included a comprehensive evaluation of each stage of the sourcing and manufacturing process, as well as an audit of Drax Biomass’s Baton Rouge Transit storage and shipping facility.

SCS, a global leader in third-party certification of forestry operations, food and agriculture production, carbon offsets, green building products and more, successfully completed the SBP approval process in June.  This process involved a rigorous review of SCS’ assessment procedures and personnel qualifications, and included independent observation by SBP of the Drax Biomass facility audit conducted by SCS.

Carsten Huljus, SBP Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“SCS Global Services cleared a rigorous and robust approval process to become an SBP-approved Certification Body, offering worldwide certifications of Biomass Producer and biomass supply chain actors. SBP welcomes news of SCS’ first two certifications of Drax Biomass Inc.’s facilities.”

“We’re delighted to have earned SBP’s approval as a third-party certifier, and congratulate Drax Biomass for its important accomplishment,” said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, SCS Executive Vice President.

“SBP certification is playing an increasingly vital role to ensure that biomass production is conducted in a responsible manner. As this certification demonstrates, Drax Biomass takes its commitment to sustainable production principles seriously.”

Additional information on Drax Biomass’s certification, including links to the SBP certificates, Supply Base Evaluations, and other supporting documentation, can be found on the company website at draxbiomassstg.wpengine.com/sustainability.

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for over 30 years. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, retail, and more. SCS is accredited to provide services under a wide range of nationally and internationally recognized certification programs. SCS is a chartered benefit corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.

About Drax Biomass

Drax Biomass Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Drax Group plc, is a manufacturer of compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with operations across the Southeastern US, we employ innovative manufacturing techniques to produce high quality pellets that can be shipped safely and efficiently around the world for use as a renewable, low-carbon fuel. Our pellets allow electric utilities to reduce their dependence on coal, lower carbon emissions and provide new sources of safe, reliable and affordable power. Led by an experienced team of operations professionals, Drax Biomass is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.

About SBP

SBP is a unique certification program designed for woody biomass, mostly in the form of wood pellets and wood chips, used in industrial, large-scale energy production. The SBP certification program encompasses standards and processes enabling users of woody biomass for energy production to demonstrate that the biomass is both legally and sustainably sourced and that it meets the relevant regulatory, including sustainability, requirements. The program also enables the calculation of energy and carbon savings achieved by burning biomass in place of fossil fuel sources.

From a global standpoint, the SBP program complements requirements on sustainable feedstock and chain of custody from existing forest certification schemes and covers the additional regulatory requirements faced by users of woody biomass for energy production.  For more information on SBP visit: www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org