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Important Fuel Standards Update
There have been several developments related to fuel standards that we want to alert you to.
First, on Friday, May 15, PFI filed a Petition for Review with the District of Columbia Circuit Court challenging the U.S. EPA’s authority to regulate pellet fuel under the Clean Air Act. The reasons behind this action are two-fold:
- While PFI supports the update of the New Source Performance Standard for New Residential Wood Heaters (NSPS) and its goals for achieving cleaner air, we believe that EPA does not have the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate pellet fuel and is doing so by setting minimum requirements for pellet fuel within the NSPS Rule.
- PFI has concerns that language within the Rule is unclear and ambiguous, allowing varied interpretations of sections of the Rule and weakening the common goal of achieving cleaner air.
Contrary to media reports circulated last week, PFI did not take this action because of EPA’s inclusion of other standards programs within the Rule.
We will continue to provide updates on developments via the Pellet Wire as they occur. If you are a member of PFI, be sure to check your inboxes this week as we will be providing you with a more thorough analysis regarding these actions.
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On Tuesday, May 19, PFI hosted a webinar on the PFI Standards Program. Nearly 60 participants from the pellet fuels industry joined the webinar, which in addition to the PFI Standards Program focused on EPA’s new NSPS rule and how it affects pellet fuel and appliance retailers, as well as manufacturers.
If you were unable to join the webinar, we will soon post the recording online for your review. In the meantime, please visit PFI’s newly updated Standards Program web pages for more information on the program.
Final Call for Volunteers: Attend PFI's Washington, D.C. Fly-in and Connect with Your Elected Officials
This June, PFI will hold a fly-in in Washington, D.C. We invite you to join us for a day of meetings with Members of Congress and Administration officials. We need your help advocating for the pellet fuels industry to elected officials.
No prior experience in lobbying is required and PFI will provide the tools and training to prepare you for the meetings. PFI will schedule all meetings on your behalf.
PFI has a dedicated group of members who attend the fly-ins each year, and we are eager to add other members to our lobbying efforts. The fly-in provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet with congressional leaders from your districts to showcase your businesses and address concerns impacting your business operations. Our focus will be targeted asks on tax legislation, including the Biomass Thermal Utilization (BTU) Act. We will also address the New Source Performance Standard Rule and any outstanding concerns related to the rule’s implementation.
Please let us know by Close of Business Wednesday, May 27, if you plan to join us. Contact PFI staff with questions. Exact dates will be announced soon.
Not a member of PFI? Contact PFI staff about how to join the association and participate in the June fly-in.
Reserve Your Space for the 2015 PFI Annual Conference!
Early Bird rates end this Friday, May 29 - Register Now!
The Pellet Fuels Institute 2015 Annual Conference will be held Sunday, July 19 – Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The PFI Annual Conference highlights the various applications of densified biomass, as well as trends and best practices within the densified biomass industry. It attracts a broad range of individuals from the public and private sectors, academia, and local, state and national governments from North America and beyond. The conference features two days of educational sessions as well as industry exhibits, extensive networking opportunities and a golf tournament.
It's not too early to start making plans to join us in heart of the Revolutionary City of Williamsburg!
Registration Fees & FAQs | Sponsorship Opportunities | Hotel & Travel
SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES
We are also excited to announce new sponsorship and exhibitor packages for the PFI Annual Conference. Sponsorship and exhibition at PFI’s Annual Conference offer fantastic marketing and networking opportunities for all involved in the pellet fuels industry. Each year, colleagues from across North America and beyond attend this can't miss conference featuring two days of educational sessions, industry exhibits and social events. For information on sponsorships and exhibition, please contact Lucia Regan at [email protected] or 206-922-2468.
HOTEL & TRAVEL
The 2015 PFI Annual Conference will be held at the Williamsburg Lodge in the historic Revolutionary City of Williamsburg. Discounted room rates are available for attendees so be sure to book your room soon! During registration, you’ll also have the option to purchase Williamsburg Attractions Passes for you and your guest for only $20/each (more than $30 in savings!). This pass will give you access to Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area sites, art museums, and most day-time programming. Read more about the pass on the registration page.
In addition to its luxury accommodations and premier meeting space, Williamsburg is easily accessible from Richmond, VA, and offers tons of family-friendly activities. Visit “The Historic Triangle” of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown (which includes Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center). World renowned theme park, Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA are both less than 15 minutes away and Virginia Beach is only a quick hour drive!
Please contact PFI staff for more information about the conference at [email protected] or 206-209-5277.
2015 Conference Gold Sponsor:
Webinar: Learn About USDA's REAP Program
Prosperity Ag is hosting a webinar next week about how to take advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, which offers grants, guaranteed loans, or a combination of both, for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Please click the link below to register for the webinar, taking place May 27, 2015 9:00 AM EST:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4383545418827021314
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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
Northeast Wood Pellets adds third pellet plant
Lesprom
May 13, 2015. /Lesprom Network/. Northeast Wood Products, LLC (“NWP”) announced that the first phase of installation and retrofit of its third factory in the Jasper Industrial Park, located in Jasper, Tennessee, is underway.
Once operational in November, the plant will produce up to 125,000 tons of premium wood pellets. The first-phase machinery, purchased late last year is on-site, and the building’s size allows a duplicate production line that will be installed during phase II of the construction.
“I’m extremely pleased with NWP’s growth and the worldwide acceptance of our product,” said Guy Mozzicato, president of NWP. “With Jasper being on the Tennessee River and having a forty-rail car siding, we now have easy access to the Gulf, East Coast ports and points beyond. I’m looking forward to the near future when we have additional announcements of our global development.”
Read the Full Article
Words from the Wise
Biomass Magazine
At this year’s International Biomass Conference & Expo, Biomass Magazine invited four executives from the pellet sector to a roundtable conversation about their businesses, teams and outlooks for the near future. Joining the discussion were James Roecker, CEO at Georgia Biomass; Bruce Lisle, CEO at Energex Pellet Fuel Inc.; T.J. Morice, vice president of marketing and operations at Marth Companies, and Ben Rose, CEO of Michigan Wood Fuels. The following are excerpts from their conversation.
PORTZ: What are the biggest challenges facing this industry right now?
MORICE: I’ll jump in. I’m big on the domestic heating market. That’s our focus. I think the challenge there is establishing a value proposition. Right now, we’re still at that commodity stage, comparing it only on a dollars-and-cents basis and we haven’t, as an industry, nor have we with government agencies, whether it be the forest service, DOE or others, been able to establish metrics to add a value to the sustainability aspect. Those are big things in establishing some of that visibility and building off it going forward, because unfortunately, unlike the East Coast which has this built-in, 60 percent-plus reliance on heating oil, the Midwest has maybe 25 to 30 percent on liquid propane.
Read the Full Article
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