While working on my latest story for Columbia Insight, I talked to folks who are or have been directly impacted by the wood biomass industry. I learned about the devastating impact biomass companies like Drax and Enviva have had on forests in the Southeast. I heard the concerns of people in the Washington communities of Longview and Hoquiam where biomass companies hope to build massive wood pellet manufacturing plants. And, I read about how whistleblowers and news agencies are exposing the doublespeak of companies who say they are obtaining their wood sustainably but have been documented logging mature trees and old-growth forests.

While there’s much to be alarmed about as the biomass industry seeks to establish itself on a massive scale in the Pacific Northwest, I’m also inspired by how communities are fighting back. We have a real chance at stopping these plants–and, as discussed in my story, so far the industry’s attempts to gain a foothold in the region are off to a rocky start. Learn more in the Columbia Insight piece.