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In this Week's Pellet Wire:
Reminder: Deadline is July 1st to Book Your Room at the Omni Grove Park Inn; Register for the Annual PFI Golf Tournament
We hope to see you in Asheville, NC for the PFI Annual Conference taking place July 24-26!
If you are planning to join us, remember to make your reservation at the Omni Grove Park Inn before Friday, July 1, to take advantage of the conference rate. Please contact the hotel directly to reserve your room at 1-800-THE-OMNI (800-843-6664).
Also, 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.
Speaker Preview: Brian Moran of Drax Biomass
At the PFI Annual Conference, attendees will hear the latest from industry experts on policy, technology, market opportunities, and much more.
 Brian Moran with Drax Biomass is a featured speaker on the Global Pellet Outlook panel. Director of Business Development at Drax Biomass, Brian is responsible for leading corporate strategy, development and growth initiatives. Brian joined the company in January 2013 as Strategic Business Manager and also served as Director of Commercial Finance before being named to his current position in June 2015. Prior to working for Drax Biomass, Brian spent more than six years in Bain Capital's Private Equity Finance group and three years as an external auditor with KPMG. He holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Business (Finance and Accounting concentrations) and a Master of Science degree in Accounting from Boston College. Brian is also a CPA (licensed in MA) and a CFA charterholder.
Visit PFI's website to view the full conference agenda.
Government Affairs Update: Federal Land Management
On Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on a discussion draft of legislation to address the twin problems of wildfire funding and the need to manage our federal forestland holdings. Based on a review by Pat Rita of Orion Advocates, the discussion draft provides some extra tools for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to manage the wide range of differing forest types under its control. The discussion draft also provides the Forest Service with access to emergency spending authority through a budget cap adjustment to address wildfire costs that exceed the 10-year suppression average. This is also critical as the costs of fighting wildfire are hampering the USFS's ability to deliver on its mission in other important categories, including critical project work that would make our forest less prone to the threat of wildfires, while having the added benefit of making them more resistant to disease and insect infestation.
Attend PFI's Annual Conference to learn more about federal policy and regulatory activities from Orion Advocates' Pat Rita and Innovative Natural Resource Solutions' Eric Kingsley.
Smith Flooring Qualifies for PFI Standards Program
This week, the PFI Standards Program announced the qualification of Smith Flooring of Mountain View, Missouri. Smith Flooring became the 15th qualified company, bringing the total to 24 facilities that are now qualified.
Read the full press release on PFI's website.
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].
Reserve Your Space at the PFI Annual Conference in Asheville, NC!
Don't miss this year's PFI Annual Conference at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina! Registration opened last month for the conference, taking place July 24-26, 2016.
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.
Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities
We are also excited to announce 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 PFI at [email protected].
Upcoming Industry Events
July 24-26, 2016 : PFI Annual Conference
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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
Ketchikan Celebrates New, Clean Biomass Bioler At Airport
KTOO Public Media, Alaska
Pretty much everyone attending Ketchikan International Airport's boiler-room ribbon-cutting on Friday remarked on how clean the space is. The new biomass wood pellet system also is whisper quiet, environmentally friendly and, officials said, will save the Ketchikan Gateway Borough money in the long term.
“We’re really excited about this airport biomass heating project, which is why you’re all here. I hope. If not, your plane just left, joked Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor David Landis.
But then he quickly focused on the bottom line:
“This new biomass boiler system replaces a unit that was oil-fired and was 43 years old and very costly to maintain,” he said. “These heating costs for this unit will be reduced by about 40 percent, we expect.”
Read the Full Article
Around the House: Pellet Stove Easier to Maintain than Wood
The Gazette, Colorado
Dear Ken: I am thinking about installing a wood stove. I live in an area without natural gas and so have to use expensive propane. What do you think of that as an extra energy source? - Cheryl
Answer: Wood stoves aren't as popular as they were in the 1970s after the first energy crisis. They are messy and tend to add a permanent, smoky smell to furniture and carpet. Plus, it's difficult to keep the space around the stove clean and debris-free.
Have you considered a pellet stove? It burns compressed sawdust chunks, is easier to maintain and is more user-friendly than its wood-burning cousin. Once the hopper is loaded with fuel, the stove feeds itself through an auger system. The mechanism even can be wired to a thermostat to respond to temperature changes. It also produces less ash than traditional wood stoves and is less odorous too. The main drawback is that if the power goes out, the feeder mechanism won't work and the stove shuts down.
Read the Full Article
How to Buy a Grill
Chicago Tribune
Grilling season is firing up across America and most everyone seems hungry to enjoy outdoor cooking. But to grill you have to have, well, a grill - be it a one-time disposable number picked up at the supermarket or a pricey state-of-the-art grill that puts your kitchen stove to shame. When it comes to buying a grill, there are plenty of options to suit your taste, your lifestyle, your budget.
And there are enough new features, gadgets and whatnots for the grill to keep your family and quests talking while you sear up those steaks and burgers. First though, consider the type of grill you want.
Read the Full Article
PH Group to Acquire Pellet Plant in Southeast US
Biomass Magazine
PHI Group, a U.S. public company focused on conventional energy and renewables, recently announced that the company has signed a letter of intent to acquire a wood pellet manufacturing company in Southeastern United States.
The identity of the target company and certain details will be kept confidential until closing. The total purchase price for 100 percent of the operation, excluding liabilities and cash and cash equivalents, is approximately $9 million dollars. The transaction is subject to entering into a definitive purchase and sale agreement, customary conditions, due diligence and financing commitments.
Read the Full Article
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