Uk’s “green” energy revolution burns american forests while communities pay the price

Britain celebrated ending its coal era in 2024, but the country’s largest power station tells a more complex story. The massive Drax facility in Yorkshire now burns 8 million tons of wood pellets annually—enough to generate 6% of the UK’s electricity—sourced primarily from forests in Louisiana and Mississippi. While residents like Kathleen Watts in nearby Barlow no longer deal with coal dust coating their windows, the environmental trade-offs may be worse than what came before.

The wood pellet industry relies on what critics call an “accounting loophole” established in 1990s climate agreements. Because forest regrowth theoretically absorbs carbon over time, burning wood is classified as “carbon neutral”—despite releasing more CO2 per kilowatt than coal. In 2024, Drax became the UK’s single largest source of carbon dioxide emissions at over 14 million tons, exceeding the country’s six largest gas plants combined. The UK government pays Drax $2.7 million daily in subsidies to maintain this “green” energy source.

Meanwhile, communities near Drax’s pellet mills face serious health impacts. The facilities have repeatedly violated air quality standards, releasing formaldehyde, methanol, and other toxic chemicals into predominantly Black, low-income neighborhoods. Residents report illness from dust and pollution, leading to recent lawsuits. The industry provides far fewer jobs than the coal mines and paper mills it replaced—employing just 7,400 people UK-wide compared to coal mining’s historic peak of 1.2 million workers. As one former miner observed: “So you’re taking away what’s cleaning the atmosphere, and you’re burning it? That’s the big picture, isn’t it?”