Like all of you, the past two weeks have been among the strangest of my life. A week ago, industry participants comfortable traveling to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo in New Orleans. In the days leading up to the event, it became clear that this year’s HPBExpo would be like no other. Coronavirus had already made it impossible for any Chinese exhibitors to attend, and announcements of other companies unable to as well peppered the last few days of that first week in March. I, like other members of the PFI, made the decision to get on a plane and attend. Folks made the most of it, and I think more people were surprised at how many folks were there instead of how few. People tried to talk about business at the show, but all chatter eventually came back to the rapidly changing situation, as the world tries to get coronavirus under control. I author these notes recognizing that they find all of you, like me, in a place of distraction and concern.

Our NSPS Victory

There were things not called coronavirus that has happened in the last two weeks, big things actually. Most notable was our victory regarding minimum pellet fuel requirements being stricken from the NSPS. While the effort reaches back nearly six years, the organization made a concerted push in the last two months of 2019 and the first two months of 2020, meeting with both the Office of Air and Radiation and the Office of Management and Budget. Read our coverage of the publication of the amendments.

In short, the requirements have been removed. A list of prohibited materials remains, but the EPA clarified its posture on pellets made from wood pallet fiber. The only wood pallets prohibited from use by wood pellet manufacturers are those made from pressure-treated lumber.

Regulatory wins don’t happen often, and it is important to recognize this one for what it is—a win. This is the reason associations exist, and it is gratifying to see the process work, as painful and drawn out as it may have been.

A Note on the PFI Annual Conference

I expect many of you who regularly attend the PFI Annual Conference have questions about this year’s event. As of today, we have every intention of convening in Milwaukee on June 23 -26 as planned. I don’t have to tell anyone that we’re in a dynamic situation. Cities have prohibited gatherings of groups larger than 250, bars and restaurants are closing for two weeks and city convention centers are closing. After discussions with our management partner, other associations, our executive board, and other conference organizers, I trust the answer that continues to make the most sense is to move forward with the conference as planned.

Please continue to watch the Pellet Wire and the Pellet Fuels Institute Twitter feed for more information.

Stay safe and be well.