Drax-owned mills have violated environmental regulations “over 11,000 times”

Drax's feedstock from US wood pellet facilities have broken environmental regulations over 11,000 times, according to an investigation for The Times.
It found that violations took place at six Drax Group-owned mills, from whence wood pellets are shipped to its North Yorkshire power station.
They were located across Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Washington.
Offences included surpassing permitted limits of toxic air pollutants, contaminating waterways and failing to utilise pollution-limiting equipment.
According to the investigation, of the 11,378 violations since 2014, more than 8,700 took place since the start of 2020.
Environmental lawyer at Shoomiths Angus Evers was quoted as saying: “I’m not aware of any oil refinery or chemical plant here in the UK that has got that sort of compliance record.
“I don’t even think the worst-performing water companies have got daily breaches of this number.”
The latest research was conducted by the online publication Land and Climate Review, using documents held by US state governments.
Most of the violations are breaches of air quality laws.
Almost 1,000 relate to dangerous air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds.
Chris Van Hollen,  US senator for Maryland, said Drax “must be held accountable and closely monitored to ensure they meet their obligation to follow the law going forward”.