Megawatt Valley was due to the presence of Ferrybridge C (1966–2016), Eggborough (1967–) and Drax (1974–) coal-fired power stations. This is one of the few remaining concentrations of British coal-fired generation, the power stations are located close to historic coal-mining sites on the South Yorkshire Coalfield and to the River Aire. Drax is a large power station capable of generating 7% of UK electricity demand and, despite being the UK's cleanest and most-efficient coal-fired power station is Europe’s biggest single source of carbon dioxide emissions. The term Megawatt Valley, in relation to the Yorkshire power stations, has been mentioned ("What ever happened
Read School, Drax asks students to remember Charles Reade 'and all other our benefactors'. Since the demolition of Adamson House at the west end of the village, which has previously served as the junior school and since becoming co-educational the girls boarding facilities, all facilities are located on the one remaining campus at the east end of the village. None of the original 17th-century school buildings survive into the present day. Instead the core school buildings date from the grammar school era, built in 1853 and 1908. The memorial library was built in 1954 by the Drax Grammar School Old Boys’ Association in