From the Director’s Desk: Pellet Fuels Institute Presents for EPA Region 9 Residential Wood Smoke Group, Your Average May, Project Greek Isles, PFI Annual Conference Hotel Room Block Closes in 2 Weeks
Pellet Fuels Institute Presents for EPA Region 9 Residential Wood Smoke Group
On April 22, members of PFI’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee made a presentation to the EPA’s Residential Wood Smoke Group. Our goal was to establish the reach of the PFI Standards Program, highlight the data points established by the program, and outline current testing protocols and emissions requirements for pellet-burning appliances. We hoped that by establishing contact with this working group and presenting to them, we could dispel some commonly held misconceptions about our product and how it is made, and instead share the reality of the robust quality assurance that exists across the industry. The slides presented to the working group are available on the Industry Data page.
Your Average May
May is a quiet month in the wood pellet sector. With a five-year average of 125,111 tons of pellets sold, May is the highest-selling month in the bottom third, serving as a bridge between the very quiet March and April selling months and the beginning of the summer early-buy season in June. Production is also light, with May’s five-year average coming in at 139,150 tons—ahead of only April (131,039). That said, production has outstripped May sales figures since 2016, and on average, producers add 35,808 tons to U.S. inventory totals during the month.
May Records (in tons):
Total U.S. Sales: 147,122 (2023)
Total U.S. Production: 164,964 (2019)
Highest Ever Inventory Position (last 5 years): 393,404 (2024)
Lowest Ever Inventory Position: 199,474 (2020)
5-Year Averages (2024 data):
East
Sales – 81,341 (59,120)
Production – 87,011 (75,173)
Inventory – 160,015 (231,704)
West
Sales – 27,777 (22,945)
Production – 36,943 (29,550)
Inventory – 70,480 (108,471)
South
Sales – 16,885 (13,830)
Production – 15,196 (11,313)
Inventory – 44,481 (53,229)
All U.S.
Sales – 125,111 (95,895)
Production – 139,150 (116,036)
Inventory – 274,978 (393,404)
Project Greek Isles
As you make your plans for this year’s PFI Annual Conference, please give some consideration to our Conference VIP Night on Tuesday following our board meeting. This unique event, limited to our diamond and platinum sponsors, board members, and fuel-producing members, is not to be missed.
Last year, I urged people to read Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest, as it offered excellent historical context for last year’s wonderful conference location, Charleston.
This year, I encourage anyone interested in Cold War history, nuclear paranoia, and government continuity to read the Wikipedia page on “Operation Greek Isles.”
The construction and lengths the government went to in order to keep the facility both ready and secret are fascinating.
PFI Annual Conference Hotel Room Block Closes in 2 Weeks
Please note that the room block at the Greenbrier Resort closes on May 16, 2025. While the organization has some flexibility on registration and can accommodate last-minute sign-ups, hotel rooms are another matter. If you plan to attend this year’s event, please book your room as soon as practicable.
Registration, sponsorship information, a schedule of events, and confirmed speakers can be viewed online now. We look forward to welcoming you to The Greenbrier.
