Truckloads of Trees: An investigation into Drax’s wood pellet sourcing in Northern British Columbia
OVERVIEW
Burning forest biomass, primarily in the form of wood pellets, is often touted as a sustainable alternative to coal. But biomass emits as much or more CO2 than coal at the smokestack per unit of energy generated. Despite being a major source of pollution, biomass accounts for 55% of renewable energy globally and is expanding, putting forests like those in British Columbia at risk.
This groundbreaking investigative research reveals that international biomass giant Drax purchased logged trees from at-risk old growth forests in British Columbia in 2024, and very likely in 2025, to supply its wood pellet plants. Drax exports wood pellets from Canada to countries including the United Kingdom and Japan, where they are burned for utility-scale energy.
Using an innovative methodology, the research team leveraged analysis of publicly available data, Stand.earth’s in-house satellite monitoring tool Forest Eye and eyewitness documentation of one pellet yard and several cutblocks linked to Drax purchases through timber marks. Key findings include that Drax’s Houston, Burns Lake and Meadowbank pellet plants in British Columbia received at least 3,039 truckloads of whole logs that the company purchased from forests containing old growth. This included 90 truckloads of coastal old growth from three cutblocks in the Skeena region, which consisted predominantly of trees classified as over 250 years old and 219 truckloads of whole logs from a different set of cutblocks in Skeena region that overlap with sensitive moose habitat.
The research findings underscore the need for swift action to protect rare, primary forest ecosystems in British Columbia from further degradation, and for multiple governments to stop providing Drax with subsidies intended for real renewables.
