Register for the 2017 PFI Annual Conference in Stowe, Vermont!    

Registration is open for the 2017 PFI Annual Conference! We hope you will join us in Stowe, Vermont, to network with friends and peers from the pellet fuels industry and learn about all the current market trends.

Don't forget to book your hotel room soon! Stowe Mountain Lodge is a
popular summer destination for New England, with hiking, biking, golf and
other activities available nearby. PFI has negotiated a conference rate
with The Stowe Mountain Lodge for $259.00 (single/double), but we expect
those rooms to fill up quickly. Contact the hotel directly to make your
reservation at 888-478-6938 or online.

Stowe has been a destination for world travelers for well over a century. The alpine style of the lodge reflects the beauty of the green mountains and rolling hills. Having opened in June 2008, Stowe Mountain Lodge sets a new standard of luxury and aesthetics for the East Coast's most magnificent resort.

In conjunction with a dynamic conference program, you can visit some of the nearby sites like the Alchemist Brewery and some of the best shopping and dining Vermont has to offer. Combined with some of the area outdoor activities such as zip lining, biking, the PFI conference is a must-attend event. Take a look at all the great things Stowe has to offer.

We hope to see you this summer in Vermont! Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

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Connect with PFI on Linkedin

This week, PFI updated its LinkedIn page. We'd like to connect and interact with PFI members and anyone else involved in pellet fuels production!

Here's how you can help us build our online community:
1. Follow us on LinkedIn!
2. Encourage your colleagues and other business associates to follow us.
3. Send Carrie Annand news or other ideas to post on LinkedIn. 

Lignetics Expands its Footprint into Wisconsin with the Acquisition of The Marth Companies

Below is an excerpt of the press release issued to announce Lignetics' acquisition of the Marth Companies.

Denver, CO - Today, Lignetics, Inc. ("Lignetics") announced the acquisition of the Marth Companies LLC, which includes manufacturing plants in Marathon, Athens, and Peshtigo, Wisconsin as well as the Marth Transportation trucking assets, giving Lignetics a strong position in the Wisconsin and upper mid-west markets. Lignetics is the largest residential wood pellet manufacturing company in the U.S., which now has a production capacity of approximately 650,000 tons of wood pellets per year. The company is the only pellet manufacturing company that has wood pellet manufacturing plants in the East, Central, and West geography with nine plant locations in the states of Maine, Oregon, Idaho, West Virginia, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Brett Jordan, CEO of Lignetics stated, "Completing this acquisition is a significant step in continuing to execute our strategy to expand our geographic footprint in the U.S. and remain the market leader in the residential wood pellet industry." Jordan added, "The Marth Companies have long been the leader in the Wisconsin market with a diverse product offering of high quality wood products and relationships with an amazing group of customers managed by a very talented team, whose goal is to continue to provide a superior product and excellent customer service."

Jerry Natzke, owner of the Marth Companies LLC will stay on to manage the three Wisconsin plants and the trucking operations as General Manager of Lignetics central division. Jerry said of the transaction, "After careful consideration, it was clear to me that Lignetics and Marth have a shared vision of how we can create a business that can serve our customers, vendors, employees, and shareholders even better with merged operations. I am excited to bring these businesses together and continue to help build on the legacy of the Marth business as part of a larger entity." Jerry will also continue with a minority ownership position in the new combined entity.

New England Wood Pellets Hosts State Regulators Tour

On May 11th PFI and New England Wood Pellets (NEWP) hosted a regulators tour of the NEWP Jaffrey wood pellet production facility. The purpose of the tour was to better familiarize regulators with how wood pellet production facilities work and how the PFI Standards Program is implemented at the site to control quality as well as materials used in the production of wood pellets. In attendance were representatives from US EPA, NESCAUM, MA DEP, NH DES, VT DEC, VT FPR, VT DEC, ME DEP, NYSERDA as well as representatives from PFI, NEWP, and Timber Products Inspection.

The event started with about 4 hours of conference room presentations and discussion to provide an overview of how wood pellet production facilities work and how the PFI Standards Program is implemented at the site to manage product quality as well as how the auditing agencies and labs provide oversight. Afterwards a plant tour was conducted where attendees were able to see an example of a plant that fully implemented the PFI Standards Program. Attendees walked away with an appreciation for the complexity of the program and its effectiveness for controlling wood pellet quality.

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. 

Upcoming Industry Events

July 23-25, 2017: PFI Annual Conference