April 17, 2015

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities Open for 2015 PFI Annual Conference

We are excited to announce new sponsorship and exhibitor packages for the PFI Annual Conference, which are now available on the PFI website. The 2015 PFI Annual Conference will be held at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, VA, July 19-21.

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. 

Book a hotel room as soon as possible! Please visit PFI’s website to learn how to take advantage of the PFI preferred rate. More information can be found here

In addition to its luxury accommodations and premier meeting space, Williamsburg is easily accessible from Richmond, VA, and offers tons of family-friendly activities. 

We’ll continue to update you on the conference via the Pellet Wire and other communications. Please contact PFI staff for more information about the conference at [email protected] or 206-209-5277. For information on sponsorships and exhibition, please contact Lucia Regan at [email protected] or 206-922-2468.

To learn more about the conference, Please visit PFI’s website. Registration for the PFI Annual Conference will open at the end of the month. We will notify you when registration opens.  


Mark your calendar! Registration is now open for PFI Standards Program Webinar on Tuesday, May 19

Join us on Tuesday, May 19 at 4pm ET/1pm PT for a webinar on the PFI Standards Program! Please register on PFI’s website to get the log in information for the webinar. We will also be sending a reminder email to all registered participants on May 18, the day before the webinar takes place.

We will hear from several speakers on the program’s latest developments, especially following the EPA’s release of the final New Source Performance Standards Rule.

This webinar is open to all, however, is a must for pellet retailers who want to know more about the PFI Standards Program and its participants. The session will help retailers understand the PFI Quality Mark, and educate them on where to purchase pellets from producers meeting the requirements of the PFI Standards Program and displaying the PFI Quality Mark on their bags. Finally, it will help retailers answer questions from customers about the program as they make their purchasing decisions.

Webinar Panelists

  • Richard Thomas - Owner, Courtland Hearth & Hardware
  • Chris Wiberg - Manager, Timber Products Inspection
  • John Crouch - Director of Public Affairs, HPBA
  • Jennifer Hedrick - Executive Director, PFI

Please contact Carrie Annand at [email protected] for more information. 


USDA Awards Funds to Expand and Accelerate Wood Energy and Wood Product Markets in 23 States

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2015 – Last week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of over $9 million to expand and accelerate wood energy and other wood product markets. The federal funds will leverage $22 million in investments from partners, resulting in a total investment of $31 million in 23 states.

"Working with our partners, the Forest Service is promoting deployment of new technologies, designed to support new market opportunities for wood energy and innovative wood building materials," said Vilsack. "This funding also supports forest management needs on the National Forest System and other forest lands throughout the United States."

"The Forest Service recognizes the need for a strong forest products industry to help accomplish forest restoration work," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "One of the best opportunities for reducing the cost of restoration treatments is to ensure strong markets for the byproducts of these treatments."

This year over 100 proposals were received for the Wood Innovations grant program, highlighting the expanding use of wood as a renewable energy source and as a building material. The awarded funds will stimulate the use of hazardous fuels from National Forest System lands and other forested lands to promote forest health while simultaneously generating rural jobs.

For more information on the grant and cooperative agreement program, visit http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/wip/2015-rfp.shtm.

States receiving funding include: Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Ill., La., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.C., Neb., Nev., Ore., Pa., S.C., S.D., Utah, Va., Vt., Wash., and Wis. See a complete list of the awards.


Going to BBI’s International Biomass Conference in Minneapolis? 

Next week, PFI will be at the 2015 International Biomass Conference & Expo in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Several PFI member companies will be hosting booths or speaking on panels at the conference. PFI Executive Director Jennifer Hedrick will be participating in the opening panel the morning of Tuesday, April 21, alongside leaders of other bioenergy industry trade groups.

Here is the full schedule of events. Stop by PFI’s booth if you attend!

PFI’s Board of Directors will also be holding its rescheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 22.


PFI Member Benefits - Updated Information

Each week, new information is added to the PFI Member Area of the PFI website. Current members, you simply have to log in with your member name and password to access this information. Be sure to log in this week to review new updates on PFI’s government affairs initiatives and reports from Washington, DC.

If you haven’t renewed your membership for 2015, it just takes a few moments to do so right on the PFI website.

If you aren’t a member of PFI and want to take advantage of the numerous benefits PFI membership offers, please visit our website for more information. And, we encourage you to contact PFI staff to find out how PFI membership can benefit your business.


Pellet Industry Events

Here is a roundup of upcoming industry events to consider attending. To read more about each of these events, click here

  • April 20: Heating the Midwest, Minneapolis, MN

  • April 20-22: BBI International Biomass Conference, Minneapolis, MN

  • April 22: PFI Board Meeting, Minneapolis, MN (rescheduled from March 2015)

  • May 4- May 6: Sixth AEBIOM European Bioenergy Conference, Brussels, Belgium

  • May 27-29: U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Summit, Washington, DC

 

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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

Two northwestern Minnesota public housing developments receive grants
Grand Forks Herald
RED LAKE FALLS, Minn. — Depending on what part of Fairview Manor you're standing in, the building around you could be heated by fuel oil, propane, or wood pellet stove.

But the heating system for two of the three buildings comprising Fairview is getting an overhaul this summer when everything is switched to propane.

A $245,000 grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency will pay for the renovation to the buildings, which were constructed in 1970 and contain 16 units.

"It's an opportunity to save on energy costs," Executive Director Mary Ann Benoit said. "We're hoping that propane will be more economical."...

Read the Full Article


FutureMetrics: Convert to pellets before upgrading insulation 
BIOMASS Magazine
Last month, FutureMetrics LLC published a white paper on why homeowners should switch from heating oil boilers to wood pellet boilers before upgrading the insulation in their home. The paper argues that even with improved insulation, the continual use of heating oil creates susceptibility to rising fuel prices, drives a bulk of the money spent on it from the regional economy, and sends all production and refining benefits to foreign economies and distant oil refineries...

Read the Full Article


NYS adds wood-fired heating projects to Mohawk Valley and Adirondacks 
timesunion.com
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Vincent’s Heating and Fuel Service have 15 commercial and residential high-efficiency, low-emission wood pellet-fired heating projects and the availability of bulk pellet delivery in the Mohawk Valley and North Country, according to a NYSERDA press release.

Said John B. Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA. “These wood-fired heating projects demonstrate that New Yorkers who want to burn wood for heat are taking advantage of new, cleaner technology that saves money, and benefits the environment and the economy.”

The 15 projects announced today are located in the following areas:...

Read the Full Article

 

 

Pellet Fuels Institute |  [email protected]   | 703.522.6778