Mississippi Community Alarmed After State Raises Pollution Limit for Wood Pellet Plant

Knut Johnson, Partner at Singleton Schreiber, was featured in The Examination’s article, “The security camera outside Patricia McGhee’s home captures a scene that she says replays again and again in her Mississippi neighborhood, especially at night,” published on January 29, 2026.

In the article, Johnson discusses a federal lawsuit filed by residents of Gloster, Mississippi, who allege that air emissions from the Amite BioEnergy wood pellet facility, owned by Drax, have damaged their property and harmed their health. He represents community members who say the company released hazardous pollutants and created conditions that disrupt their ability to use and enjoy their homes.

The article looks at concerns about industrial air emissions, environmental rules, and public health oversight. It covers past state enforcement actions, permits that allowed more emissions, and the difficulty of connecting pollution exposure to health problems. The article also discusses bigger questions about hazardous air pollutants, gaps in monitoring, and holding industrial facilities in rural areas accountable.

“But are there people who are suffering from anxiety and concern because Drax dumped cancer-causing chemicals all over them? Yeah, and those are the harms that the law says can be compensated for that nuisance and trespass,” Johnson said.