December 9, 2016

In this Week's Pellet Wire:


Oregon Congressman Greg Walden to Chair House Energy & Commerce Committee; Trump Nominates Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to Lead EPA

There were several developments this week that could affect federal biomass policy next year.

- The House of Representatives chose Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for the next Congress. Rep. Walden has many biomass thermal and power projects in his district, and has traditionally been a staunch supporter of biomass. In a 2011 op-ed in Politico, Rep. Walden outlined his support for biomass, pointing to a school and hospital in his district that heat with biomass fuels. His op-ed concludes: "Finally, woody biomass is a worthy piece of the puzzle that gets us that much closer to a smarter and more independent energy future that's better insulated from the volatility of energy prices that has become all too familiar in recent years. It's good for the forests. It's good for jobs. And it's good for energy independence. It's the kind of win-win-win scenario that public policymakers should crave."

- President-elect Donald Trump nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. While Mr. Pruitt has in the past supported the development of alternative fuels including biomass, he is expected to implement policies that will reverse many of the initiatives of the Obama Administration, including the Clean Power Plan. Read more about Mr. Pruitt at Biomass Magazine.

- House and Senate negotiators concluded discussions this week on the energy bill, officially dashing prospects for the bill's passage during the lame duck session. The Senate version of the bill had included biomass carbon neutrality language.



PFI Standards Program: Reminder of Marketing Materials

As consumers and retailers focus on pellet purchases for the 2016-2017 winter season, we want to remind PFI members of the resources available to you to help you communicate about the PFI Standards Program and what it means for buyers.

One pager on the Standards Program: Our informational handout on the PFI Standards Program explains the program and its implications for pellet producers, retailers and stove manufacturers. It also lists the companies that have been qualified for the program, along with their websites.

One pager on the symbols found on pellet bags: We have created a one pager specifically explaining the various PFI logos and marks found on bags of pellets. It helps retailers distinguish the PFI Standards Program Quality Mark from other commonly used symbols. This handout is also ideal for printing off and distributing to customers or posting in a store.

Materials for members of the program: For qualified companies, we have created a marketing kit with suggested language for ensuring that customers and retailers are aware of your company's acceptance into the program and what it means. It also includes suggested language for websites.

If you are interested in receiving any of these materials, please contact Carrie Annand at [email protected]. If you are interested in joining the program, first step is to visit PFI's Standards Program web pages to identify an accredited auditing agency. The agency will help you come up with a Quality Control manual and get you on the path to joining the program.


Pellet Contributions Sought for Standing Rock Reservation

PFI received a request this week from a member of the Standing Rock Reservation Community in North Dakota for bags of pellets. The group received a donation of wood stoves and is now seeking fuel contributions for the winter months.

PFI is unable to fulfill the request, and we take no position on the protest. However, we wanted to inform members in case any companies are interested in learning more or donating pellet fuel. Please contact the PFI office at [email protected] for more information.


Follow and Connect With Us on Social Media!

We urge all PFI members to engage with us on social media. By joining PFI in being visible and active on social media, we can make our voices heard more loudly and by many more audiences.

Follow us on Twitter: @PelletFuel
Friend us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pfipellets
Link with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pellet-fuels-institute


Have News to Share on Pellet Wire?

We'd love to feature your company's news in a future Pellet Wire! We want to be the first to know your company's recent developments to share them with the wider pellet fuels industry.

Please be in touch with Carrie Annand at [email protected] with information on your company's growth, job openings, promotions or other news. 


Join a PFI Committee

We welcome and encourage all interested PFI members to get involved in our committees. There are many opportunities to help steer the association. No matter where your expertise and interests lie, we have a committee that will suit you. Help us plan our next conference, shape our policy agenda, lead communications outreach or grow the PFI Standards Program. Visit PFI's website for more information.


 


Upcoming Industry Events 

March 3, 2017: PFI Breakfast & Biomass

July 23-25, 2017: PFI Annual Conference

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Fuel Availability

Are you a PFI member pellet manufacturer or distributor that has fuel available? Email [email protected] to have your listing updated or added to the PFI website.


Industry News

Peterborough Recognized by State Wood Energy Council
New Hampshire Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Peterborough was recognized on Tuesday by the N.H. Wood Energy Council for their use of wood fueled heat in four town-owned buildings.

Charlie Levesque of Antrim, a member of the Wood Energy Council presented the Select Board with four plaques to hang in each of the town's buildings heated by wood pellet boilers - the Town House, police station, community center and waste water treatment facility.

Read the Full Article


Pellet Boiler Tour Offers Energy Lessons
Greenfield, MA Recorder
A statewide Wood Energy Team got a close-up look at pellet boilers in operation from Montague to Charlemont Friday, as part of a federally funded effort to teach town officials and others about better use of wood for energy.

The tour by more than a dozen representatives of regional and state agencies included visits to the pellet boiler system used at the John W. Olver Transportation Center in Greenfield, a private six-apartment building in Montague that include a wood pellet boiler, three new state-funded pellet boilers at Hawlemont Regional School and a wood-fired kiln system at Hall Tavern Farm's sawmill.

Read the Full Article


Enviva Domes to Start Operations this Month
Wilmington Star News Online
Enviva's huge, white domes at the Port of Wilmington are expected to begin moving wood pellets into and out of the port by the end of the year.

"Construction of Enviva's deep-water marine terminal at the Port of Wilmington, and of our wood-pellet production facility in Sampson County, is substantially complete," Enviva spokesman Kent Jenkins said in an email. "Our operations team assumed control of the Sampson plant in August and we expect to the first ship to call at our Wilmington terminal in December."

Read the Full Article

 

Pellet Fuels Institute |  [email protected]   | 206.209.5277