Why Columbia Riverkeeper Is Fighting Back Against Drax
By Juan Monje, Community Organizer and Resident of Southwest Washington
I live in Southwest Washington, where the Columbia River is more than just a body of water; it’s part of who we are. I’m raising my family here, and like so many others in frontline communities, I want to make sure our air is safe to breathe, our forests are protected, and our voices are heard. That’s why I am very pleased to say that Columbia Riverkeeper is joining the campaign to stop Drax from building a wood pellet plant and export facility in Longview, Washington. Drax is a UK-based energy company that operates the world’s largest wood-burning power plant and has expanded into the U.S. Southeast to produce and export wood pellets. Now, they want to bring a biomass facility to Longview, claiming it’s “clean energy.” But we know the truth: Drax has a history of violating environmental laws and misleading regulators. They’ve been fined millions in other countries for polluting and hiding the real impact of their operations. If they can’t follow the rules elsewhere, why should we trust them here?
Industrial burning of wood pellets for energy is not clean or sustainable. It leads to deforestation, releases dangerous air pollution, and worsens climate change. Bringing Drax to our community would mean more truck traffic, more industrial emissions, and more harm to a place that’s already dealing with pollution from other industries. Longview, like many working-class communities, has been treated as a dumping ground for too long.
This fight isn’t just about Drax. It’s about justice. Environmental justice means protecting people who have historically been pushed aside in decisions about land use and pollution. It means saying no to companies that profit off harm, and yes to solutions that support clean air, climate resilience, and community health.
At Columbia Riverkeeper, we believe everyone deserves to live in a safe, healthy environment. That’s why I’m proud to be part of this fight. It’s personal. I want my children to grow up in a community that values healthy forests and clean rivers more than profits, where energy solutions don’t sacrifice our future.