Startling Levels of Toxic Pollutant found in Louisiana

Louisiana is the most polluted state by far, soaring above every other state by nearly every measure. Louisiana was once found to have the most polluted waterways in the nation, and its cities were found to be incredibly polluted (luckily the Shreveport-Bossier City area has seen an increase in air quality over the last few years). Drax Global has recently disclosed to the state that the company's wood pellet production plants have been emitting hazardous air pollution, above the permitted limit.

Drax Group is a British power company that owns Drax Biomass, a company specializing in producing biomass pellets to be burned for energy production. Wood pellet energy is intended to be a more environmentally friendly and renewable resource than compared to fossil fuel resources, but in August of last year, company testing found that its facilities in the state are a major source of hazardous air pollution. The facilities, Morehouse BioEnergy LLC in Bastrop and LaSalle BioEnergy LLC in Urania, were tested after new protections were put in place after Drax had to pay out $3.2 million to the state when they were found to violate air pollution regulations in 2022.

Company documents found that Morehouse and LaSalle produced over 38 tons of toxic pollutants per year, including probable carcinogens acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. This soars above the legal limit of 10 tons of a single pollutant, and 25 tons for a combination of dangerous pollutants.

Drax has stated to the Associated Press, that the goal of the testing was "to ensure full transparency" as well as to "make necessary updates in 2024." Once more Louisiana has found a British energy company polluting the state's natural beauty.