Sunset Park residents express concern about dust pollution

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Enviva Biomass has operated a wood pellet manufacturing facility out of the port of Wilmington since 2016. 

Many residents living in Sunset Park said that over the years sawdust that is coming off the facility has gotten worse, to the point that they’re finding it blanketing their homes, cars, and pets daily. 

Residents filed multiple complaints with the NC Department of Environmental Quality, as well as with Enviva, but many said that little has been done to fix the problem. 

Resident Ivy Miller said the last time she spoke with Enviva, her and her partner were given a gift card along with a sample of wood pellets. She said the company has since gone silent. 

“Yeah, we got a $100 gift certificate to Winnies and haven’t really heard anything from them since,” Miller said.    

For long-time resident Ed Foraker, the dust problem has become unbearable as time has passed. 

“In the last three to four months, it’s become intolerable” Foraker said. “You can see the dust in the air.” 

This is not the first time Enviva has come under fire for Enviromental concerns. A lawsuit against Enviva and the NC Department of Environmental Quality was settled in 2019 after concerned citizens filed suit claiming DEQ failed to address Enviva’s emission of air pollutants in Hamlet, NC. 

Southern Environmental Law Center Attorney Heather Hillaker represented Hamlet residents and Clean Air Carolina in that case. She said this time, Enviva appears to be making similar mistakes. 

“North Carolina regulations are pretty clear that a facility shall not cause excess fugitive dust,” Hillaker remarked. “It’s also pretty clear that what the community in Sunset Park is facing right now is excess fugitive dust.” 

According to Enviva’s website, they describe themselves as a leader in sustainable energy—but Hillaker said that is a bold misrepresentation. 

“Enviva’s greenwashing goes far beyond their air pollution,” Hillaker said. “The entire business model is to create these pellets to create a carbon-neutral, low-carbon source of energy, and that’s just not the case. Burning wood pellets actually emits more Co2 per unit of energy generated from coal.” 

WWAY reached out to Enviva Biomass but was told by a representative that “we are looking into this and have no comment at this time.”  

The NC Department of Environmental Quality said they would provide a statement, but we have not heard back as of Monday evening.