Archives: Press Release

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

Drax, the UK’s largest power station – providing 7% to 8% of the UK’s power needs – will in July save its 20 millionth tonne of carbon since it started burning sustainable biomass in place of coal some 10 years ago. It expects to take only a further two and a half years to reach the 50 million tonne mark.

This latest recorded carbon saving reinforces its position as Europe’s largest decarbonisation project and the UK’s largest generator of renewable electricity from a single site¹.

Drax has already converted two generating units and with a third in the pipeline Drax will reduce its annual carbon emissions by around 12 million tonnes a year. This is equivalent to taking 3.3 million cars off the UK’s roads or making the UK’s entire industrial and manufacturing sector zero carbon² – with sustainable biomass providing a carbon saving of approximately 86 per cent compared to coal-fired generation.

Dorothy Thompson, Chief Executive of Drax Group plc said:

“This latest milestone data underscores the low carbon credentials of sustainable biomass. In a relatively short period of time Drax has delivered major carbon savings, while continuing to provide reliable, secure and good value renewable power.

“This data also gives an indication of the scale of the contribution sustainable biomass will make to meeting the UK’s carbon reduction targets. Drax is already Europe’s largest decarbonisation project, and we believe that there is potential for significant additional carbon savings through the conversion of further units.”

ENDS

References

1. In 2014 the UK generated a total of 64.4TWh of renewable electricity (Department of Energy and Climate Change, Energy Trends: Quarterly and Monthly Data – Renewables: Source). Drax generated 7.9TWh of electricity from its two units converted to burn sustainable biomass, accounting for 12.3 per cent of the UK’s total renewable electricity generation.
2. In 2014, the UK’s industrial processes and manufacturing sector is estimated to have emitted 12 million tonnes of CO2 (Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2014 UK greenhouse emissions, Provisional figures: Source)

Notes

Drax is the UK’s largest power station typically meeting 7-8% of the UK’s power needs. It is Europe’s largest decarbonisation project and the UK’s largest renewable electricity generator.

Biomass is organic material obtained from living or recently living plant matter that can be burnt to produce energy. The materials that Drax uses include low grade wood, such as forest thinnings, tree tops and branches as well as sawmill residues, and to a lesser extent residual agricultural products, such as straw, sunflower seed husks and peanut husks, and purpose grown energy crops.

Drax sources the majority of its biomass from the South Eastern US, but also from Canada and to a lesser extent other EU member states, where forest areas are growing, not declining, owing to experienced and professional sustainable forest management. The main drivers of commercial forestry practices are industries such as the furniture and construction sectors which use the main part of the tree for lumber. Drax then uses the material leftover, such as the thinnings, tree tops, limbs and other low grade wood.

Further information on the types of biomass fibre Drax uses and which countries it comes from can be found in Drax’s Biomass Supply Report 2014, available here.

Contacts:

 Andrew Brown

Director of Communications

+44 (0) 1757 612 165

[email protected]

Luther Pendragon

+44 (0) 20 7618 9137

[email protected]

Bastrop, LA – Drax Biomass today hosted a group of almost 20 forestry experts from around the world for a first-hand look at pellet manufacturing operations at the company’s Morehouse BioEnergy facility. Commissioned in 2015, this state-of-the-art facility produces compressed wood pellets from sustainably sourced wood for use as a low-carbon alternative to coal.

The group included scientists who are experts in forest management from Europe, Asia, the U.S. Forest Service and several U.S. universities with leading forestry programs. They spent the past week in Little Rock, Arkansas at an International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) workshop dedicated to sharing research and knowledge on alternative forest management strategies. The visit to Morehouse BioEnergy is one of several stops along a post-workshop tour of the region’s forestry sector.

“The tour has provided a great opportunity to explore a diverse array of silvicultural practices in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.

It is especially valuable for our European colleagues to see the origin of pellets being used in the United Kingdom and the importance of global markets for forest products.”

— James Guldin, Supervisory Research Ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service and program chair for the IUFRO workshop

Since breaking ground on the Morehouse BioEnergy facility in 2013, Drax Biomass has become a major contributor to the region’s economy. The plant maintains almost 60 full-time employees and supports approximately 150 additional jobs across the logging, hauling and transportation sectors. Drax Biomass is also contributing to the revitalization of the local forestry sector, which has suffered from the closure of several large-scale paper mills in recent years.

“We’re proud of our facility’s role in the region’s forest-based economy.

Our suppliers depend on Drax Biomass to ensure that strong markets are in place to incentivize tree planting and retention of forests.  At the same time, we depend on – and work closely with – these suppliers to implement the land management and reporting practices required by our sustainability policies.”

— Gavin Black, plant manager at Morehouse BioEnergy

The Morehouse BioEnergy facility is capable of producing 450,000 metric tons of pellets each year from locally-sourced southern yellow pine.  All procurement and manufacturing operations are subject to rigorous internal and 3rd-party audits to ensure wood is sourced only from sustainably managed working forests, and never from areas that are officially protected or where sourcing activities would harm endangered species.

The finished pellets are transported by rail to Drax Biomass’s storage facility along the Mississippi River at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. From the Port, the pellets are then loaded onto highly-efficient cargo vessels for shipment to the United Kingdom, part of a world-class supply chain designed to safely and reliably deliver pellets to the Drax Power Station with minimal environmental impact.

The forestry experts discussed sustainable sourcing practices with Drax Biomass representatives, then observed the pellet manufacturing process from start to finish: beginning with the arrival of truckloads of pine thinnings and sawmill residual fiber at the weigh station, and moving through the chipping, screening, drying, shredding and pelletizing processes.

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 Biomass in part of the Drax Group plc. Drax 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-fueled 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.

The Group employs around 1,400 people and also includes:

Haven Power, the Group’s retail arm, providing business electricity contracts that are simple, flexible and designed to customers’ specific requirements.

Billington Bioenergy, is one of the leading distributors of wood pellets for sustainable heating in the UK.

Gloster, MS – Nestled among thousands of acres of working forests, Drax Biomass today opened its Amite BioEnergy facility to members of the community and news media for a first-hand look at this state-of-the-art pellet manufacturing plant.

Commissioned in 2015, the facility produces compressed wood pellets from sustainably sourced wood for use as a low-carbon alternative to coal.
Drax Group CEO Dorothy Thompson and Drax Biomass CEO Pete Madden welcomed state and local elected officials, members of the Mississippi Forestry Commission and community members from across the region for a facility tour and business update.

“Gloster sits at the heart of an ambitious effort to demonstrate how biomass in the form of compressed wood pellets can help meet the world’s growing demand for renewable, low-carbon electricity,” said Dorothy Thompson.

“The working forests around Amite BioEnergy provide a steady supply of low-value wood that we convert into pellets and then transport to the United Kingdom for use at Drax Power Station, a pioneer in the transition from coal to renewable energy.”

Since announcing plans to build the Amite BioEnergy facility in Gloster in 2012, Drax Biomass has had a positive impact on the local economy. The plant maintains 56 full-time employees and supports approximately 175 additional employees across the logging, hauling and transportation sectors. The company has also given a boost to local landowners by providing a new market for low-value wood, such as the thinnings that are periodically removed from working forests to promote growth among the remaining trees.

“We’re proud of the role played by Drax Biomass in the region’s forestry sector,” said Pete Madden.

“By creating a strong market for low-value and underutilized wood, we’re promoting investment in sustainable land management practices that will ensure these working forests remain healthy and productive for generations to come.”

The Amite BioEnergy facility is capable of producing 450,000 metric tons of pellets each year from locally-sourced southern yellow pine. The finished pellets are transported to Drax Biomass’s storage and processing facility along the Mississippi River at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. From the Port, the pellets are then loaded onto highly-efficient cargo vessels for shipment to the United Kingdom, part of a world-class supply chain designed to safely and reliably deliver pellets to the Drax Power Station with minimal environmental impact.

Visitors to today’s open house were treated to a tour of the plant, where they viewed the manufacturing process from start to finish: beginning with the arrival of truckloads of southern yellow pine thinnings at the weigh station, and moving through the chipping, screening, drying, shredding and pelletizing processes.

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 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.

Drax Group

Drax Biomass in part of the Drax Group plc. Drax 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-fueled 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. The Group employs around 1,400 people and also includes:

Haven Power, the Group’s retail arm, providing business electricity contracts that are simple, flexible and designed to customers’ specific requirements.

Billington Bioenergy, is one of the leading distributors of wood pellets for sustainable heating in the UK.