July 22, 2016

In this Week's Pellet Wire:



PFI Annual Conference Begins on Sunday in Asheville, NC

We hope to see you in Asheville, NC for the PFI Annual Conference taking place July 24-26! 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.

Reservations

There's still time to make your reservation at the Omni Grove Park Inn. Please contact the hotel directly to reserve your room at 1-800-THE-OMNI (800-843-6664).

Agenda

The PFI Annual Conference 2016 has a robust agenda lined up, with first class speakers to discuss some of the pellet fuels industry's most pressing issues, including panels on market growth, policy, operations and technology.  

Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities

There are sponsorship and exhibitor packages available that feature free access to the conference, complimentary golf tournament registration, promotion to hundreds of potential pellet fuels customers, and more.

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 PFI at [email protected]

Golf Tournament

Don't forget to sign up for the 2016 PFI Golf Tournament! Taking place the morning of Sunday, July 24, the tournament will be played on the legendary Omni Grove Park Inn golf course. The Donald Ross-designed course has been played by PGA stars Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus, and features views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.


Conference Speaker Preview: Canadian Pellet Expert John Arsenault

At the PFI Annual Conference, attendees will hear the latest from industry experts on policy, technology, market opportunities, and much more.

John W. Arsenault, P. Eng. MBA currently serves two roles as Pellet Group Director for Quebec Wood Export Bureau and Director, Market Access for the Wood Pellet Association of Canada. QWEB is a nonprofit organization that promotes exports of all Quebec wood products and helps develop internal markets for wood pellets. WPAC is the trade organization of pellet producers in Canada. John has experience in general management for several manufacturing businesses - including the original largest pellet plant in North America - and for large consumers of energy, including electricity, light and heavy oil, coal, petroleum coke, natural gas and biomass.

Visit PFI's website to view the full conference agenda.  



PFI Board of Directors

Voting on the Board Slate Closed on Tuesday per definition/direction of the Bylaws.

We will announce and introduce the new board at the membership meeting in Asheville and then we will publish in the Pellet Wire. Thank you to all who participated in this process.


Host an Event for Bioenergy Day 2016, Taking Place on October 19

October 19, 2016, marks the Fourth Annual Bioenergy Day! Many pellet fuels manufacturers are planning facility tours and other events to emphasize the many economic and environmental benefits of bioenergy to elected officials, customers, the media and other stakeholders.

We urge anyone interested in building ties to their communities to consider hosting a Bioenergy Day event, either on your own or jointly with other bioenergy businesses or supporters in your region.  There are many resources available to help you plan, including a Participation Guide on theBioenergy Day website. Previous participants are also willing to share best practices, lessons learned, and other tips to ensure a smooth and successful event. 

Thanks to many sponsors, including the U.S. Forest Service, and participants, Bioenergy Day has grown each year. Organizations across the country have engaged their communities on bioenergy, earning dozens of media stories and helping more people understand bioenergy. State and local governments, elected officials, universities and businesses have all recognized bioenergy in its many forms. Biomass power, domestic and export pellets, biogas, anaerobic digesters, combined heat and power - all of these types of bioenergy are part of Bioenergy Day.

To learn more, visit www.bioenergyday.com, or send an email to Carrie Annand at [email protected]



 


Upcoming Industry Events 

July 24-26, 2016 : 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

Wildfires Highlight Benefits of Fuels Management
Canadian Biomass Magazine
Fuel reduction efforts kept two wildfires in the Lillooet area of British Columbia from getting too intense, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The service worked preemptively with local municipalities and First Nations groups in the area to thin, prune and burn fuel sources, depriving future fires of the fuel they need to grow.

Read the Full Article

Biomass Plants Make Pitch for Dead Tress to Produce Electricity
Fresno Bee
Trees are dying in the Sierra at modern-day unprecedented rates, posing elevated fire danger and creating health, water and air quality concerns, but a possible solution to rid the forest of dead and dying trees is getting short shrift, officials say.

Read the Full Article


Plans for Wood Pellet Manufacturing Gets Grant in Vermont
Washington Times
Plans for a wood pellet manufacturing plant in northern Vermont are benefiting from a state community development grant.

Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin announced this week that $550,000 has been awarded to the town of Lunenberg, which will lend the money to Kingdom Pellets.

Read the Full Article

New Research Find Likely Cause, Solution for Pellet Derived Carbon Monoxide
Biomass Magazine
Clarkson University researchers believe they have figured out the cause of wood pellet-derived carbon monoxide, and a potential solution.

The issue has been debated and closely studied after several reported deaths in Europe resulted from exposure to high levels of CO believed to have been generated in certain wood pellet storage scenarios. Multiple studies performed over the last couple of years have presented varying results and conclusions, but Philip Hopke, director of the Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science at Clarkson University, is confident the issue is close to being resolved.

Read the Full Article

 


Pellet Fuels Institute |  [email protected]   | 703.522.6778