COLLECTION /

BIOMASS EXPOSED

Biomass exposed...

Read the news headlines from Land and Climate Review‘s investigations into the UK biomass supply chain.

Bioenergy, Politics & law

Drax biomass led to disabling health conditions, say unions and workers

The UK's largest power plant is facing worker lawsuits after the national health and safety regulator dropped criminal charges over biomass dust in 2023, a Land and Climate Investigation can reveal.

Clip from the BBC newsnight documentary:

Drax is the UK's largest recipient of green subsidies for biomass. They've been under particular focus as this year the BBC reported it had burned wood from rare forests in Canada. Now, #Newsnight's @katelamble has seen evidence of almost 200 environmental breaches at the mills… pic.twitter.com/nmq1UAQDEf
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 15, 2024

press coverage:

Bioenergy, Politics & law

Drax’s US environmental violations now total over 18,000 incidents

A new investigation by Land and Climate Review and The Sunday Times has uncovered an additional 6,000 breaches by the UK power company in Louisiana.

Bioenergy, Politics & law

Drax-owned facilities broke environmental rules more than 11,000 times in the US

Drax “must be held accountable,” says US Senator for Maryland Chris Van Hollen, after The Times and Land and Climate Review reveal the bioenergy company violates US regulation an average of five times per day.

Bioenergy, Forests

Drax’s pellet mills violated environmental law 189 times in Canada

The UK’s largest power station began importing wood from Canadian pellet plants 12 years ago. The mills, bought by Drax Group in 2021 & 2022, have breached environmental regulations 189 times.

Bioenergy

How we uncovered pollution in the biomass industry

Bertie, Alasdair and Camille discuss Land and Climate Review's investigative reporting of environmental violations by North American wood pellet mills.

Bioenergy, Forests

What are Drax’s plans on the West Coast?

A new investigation by Land and Climate Review and The Intercept has found that Drax broke regulations while constructing a new pellet mill in Washington State.

Bioenergy, Politics & law

Drax fined again over pollution: “I’m afraid to go outside,” say residents

This month, the British power company has been issued another fine in Mississippi, with additional penalties expected in Louisiana. In collaboration with The Intercept, Land and Climate Review talk to experts and locals about Drax's operations in the US Southeast.

Land and Climate Review has a dedicated investigations team.

Collaborating with mainstream media across Europe and the US, our current investigations focus on raw materials extraction, international investment, and unicorn technologies.

Big Tech

Is Big Tech telling the truth about AI’s climate impact?

Carbon capture

UK accused of ‘undermining human rights commitments’ over Xinjiang carbon capture aid

Agriculture

What is climate-flation?

Economics

Why is wellbeing ignored in climate modelling?

Politics & law, Wetlands

Gone with the flow

Adaptation, Politics & law

Are the Iran protests a climate story?

Fossil fuels, Politics & law

Are Russian climate politics changing?

Oceans, Politics & law