PFI Briefs Visiting Canadian Delegation on American Pellet and Biomass Markets

Last week, a delegation of Canadian public and private sector biomass advocates met with PFI to learn about the American pellet fuels and biomass industries. The group, part of a tour of the United States organized by the U.S. State Department and International Institute of Education, met with Stan Elliot of Pacific Coast Pellets and Michele Reeder at the Seattle World Affairs Council.

The Canadian delegation, composed of representatives from Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia was particularly interested to hear about federal and state regulations and legislation designed to promote heat and power from biomass. Like the United States, Canada is keen to rely on domestic energy sources whenever possible, for both economic and national security reasons.

Michele Reeder and Stan Elliot gave a presentation on PFI and the overall U.S. pellet fuels industry, as well as federal and state incentives and regulations affecting pellet fuels production and deployment. They also shared a white paper authored by Bill Strauss of FutureMetrics on co-firing pellets with coal for power.

PFI intends to stay in touch with the Canadian representatives and determine ways we can work together or complement each other's work to enhance the North American pellet fuels and biomass industries.  

PFI shares clementines with the visiting Canadian delegation. 

Save the Date for PFI's Annual Conference - July 23-25 at the Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, VT

It's not too early to start planning to attend the PFI Annual Conference, July 23-25 in Stowe, Vermont! Learn about key industry trends this summer while networking with fellow pellet fuels manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, industry experts and others.

We are currently developing the program, details of which will be available soon. Registration will be open soon for our annual event.

We'll be updating PFI's website and including items in the Pellet Wire as more information becomes available.

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Government Affairs Update: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Federal Energy Incentives

Next week, the Energy Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce will convene a panel to discuss federal energy tax policy.

The hearing will explore the ways that the tax code and U.S. Department of Energy programs influence energy policy by supporting energy development, production, use of fuels and energy technology. Witnesses will discuss the role of the federal government in incentivizing all types of energy and fuels production - nuclear energy, renewable energy, fossil fuels and energy efficiency technologies.

"Our nation's energy landscape has changed for the better, with technological innovation driving changes in how we produce, deliver, and consume energy. Tax code provisions have played a role in this transformation. With tax reform on the horizon, it is important for us to understand how these policies can leave lasting impacts on energy and electricity markets, prices, and consumers," said Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) in the press release announcing the hearing.

PFI will provide an update on the hearing, officially titled, "Federal Energy Related Tax Policy and Its Effects on Markets, Prices and Consumers," in next week's Pellet Wire.

How Important is the Moisture Content in Pelletized Biomass?

MoistTech Instant NIR Online Moisture Sensors

Two of the most important properties of pellet fuels are the moisture content, and inorganic ash content. The Pellet Fuel Institute (PFI) standards require that for even the lowest commercial grade of pellets, the moisture content cannot exceed 10% and the inorganic ash content cannot exceed 6%. This means that great care must be taken when choosing and drying feedstocks for pelletization. MoistTech Corp.^TM provides a state of the art process to measure moisture content accurately within 0.1 and 0.25% moisture level accuracy.

Unlike other instrumentation of this type, some of the unique features of the IR3000 are that it can monitor the product even with small gaps in product flow and is unaffected by ambient light without impacting the accuracy. The IR3000 is also ideal for installations on chain conveyors and screw conveyors and allows for instant, non-contact, continuous moisture measurement.

Thank you to MoistTech for sponsorship of PFI!

2017 PFI Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities 

PFI invites you to become a 2017 sponsor! This year, we have developed a new, streamlined sponsorship program that will create multiple opportunities for your company in 2017. Your company will have great visibility at PFI events, on the PFI website, and in the PFI newsletter, amongst other benefits.

The 2017 Sponsorship packages include benefits such as:

• PFI Annual Conference registrations
• Breakfast & Biomass registrations
• Company logo listed on the PFI website
• 10x10 booth at the PFI Annual Conference
• Weekly newsletter advertising
• Website advertising
• And more!

PFI's membership includes over 100 member companies, and our electronic newsletter is sent to over 3,500 people every week. Now is the time to become a sponsor of this organization. Visit our website to explore how you can become involved.

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.