The small town of Gloster, Mississippi (population 858) suffered a major setback in October when state environmental regulators reversed an earlier decision and granted wood pellet giant Drax permission to increase toxic air pollution limits at its local manufacturing plant.

In April 2025, residents celebrated what seemed like a David-versus-Goliath victory when the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) initially denied the UK-based company’s request to raise pollution thresholds. The community had successfully argued that emissions from the Amite BioEnergy pellet mill were already harming their health and quality of life. Their case was strengthened by the company’s poor track record—Drax had been fined over $2.75 million since 2016 for repeatedly exceeding toxic emission limits.

However, on October 15, DEQ abruptly reversed course. The agency reclassified Drax from a “minor” to “major” emitter of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), effectively allowing the company to legally release higher levels of toxic substances while expanding production. DEQ justified this controversial decision by accepting Drax’s promise that newly installed pollution-control technology would reduce overall emissions in the long term, despite increased manufacturing output.

The reversal represents a significant blow to Gloster residents, who have spent years lobbying officials about serious health risks posed by one of the world’s largest wood pellet facilities. The case highlights the ongoing tension between industrial expansion and community health protection in small towns facing environmental justice challenges.