ATLANTA, GA – Today, Drax Biomass, a leading manufacturer of sustainably sourced compressed wood pellets, received The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting – New to Export Category for its dedication and commitment to Mississippi communities. The award was handed out personally by Governor Phil Bryant.
The Award recognizes businesses in Mississippi that have made a substantial exporting contribution to the state and are leaders in economic growth, both in our local communities and abroad.
“We’re honored to be presented with the award from the Governor today and proud that our exporting ability and experience is being highlighted,” said Pete Madden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Drax Biomass. “Drax Power Station in Yorkshire, England uses millions of tons of wood pellets every year to generate electricity and a significant proportion of those pellets are produced right here in Mississippi at the Amite BioEnergy facility in Gloster, Mississippi. However, before they can be used to generate electricity, they must be transported safely and efficiently across the Atlantic. The journey from plant to port is no small task and is growing more and more efficient – ensuring the supply chain is as low-carbon as possible.”
Madden added: “This has been our mission and we’re proud of the role that we play in the areas in which we operate. As we grow as a business we feel strongly that the communities around our operations should grow as well. By bringing back good jobs our industry is playing an important role in economic development and revitalizing communities in Mississippi. Together with our employees, we are committed to investing time, energy and resources to help these areas thrive.”
Drax Biomass wood pellet facility Amite BioEnergy is located in southwestern Mississippi in the town of Gloster and maintains a workforce of more than 60 employees, and can produce up to 525,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually.
Drax Biomass broke ground on its $160 MM Amite BioEnergy facility in early 2013. The facility was commissioned in August 2015 and is on track to achieve its highest-ever monthly output for shipment. In March 2017, Amite BioEnergy began work on a series of facility upgrades to improve reliability, operational efficiency, and to increase production capacity. These projects represent a further $10 MM investment in Amite BioEnergy’s future as a competitive manufacturer of wood pellets and a partner to the surrounding communities of Mississippi.
Drax Biomass is also contributing to the revitalization of the local wood products sector, which has suffered in recent years from the closure of several large-scale paper mills. Drax Biomass is committed to expanding its positive presence and supporting the communities in which it operates by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development.
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 7 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 Marks
1-678-761-4339
