Amplifying concerns: An exploration of community noise levels in rural communities impacted by wood pellet production

Abstract

Wood pellets are increasingly promoted as a renewable and sustainable energy source, driving the global wood pellet market to a projected value of $16 billion by 2026. However, the rapid expansion of this industry disproportionately affects predominantly Black and low-income communities in the rural South, where approximately 100 pellet manufacturing plants are currently located in the United States. From August 2023 to March 2024, we conducted a noise exposure assessment in Gloster, Mississippi, a community affected by pellet production, and compared it to Mendenhall, a nearby community without industrial activity. In collaboration with a local organization, we measured noise metrics and found significantly higher A-weighted, C-weighted, and Z-weighted sound levels in Gloster, along with elevated decibels at multiple center frequencies. These findings suggest that wood pellet manufacturing can severely alter the soundscape of rural communities, raising environmental justice concerns. Our findings underscore the importance of investigating the cumulative health impacts of noise and other environmental burdens on these vulnerable communities to better inform policy.