Wood Pellets – Deutschland’s Sleeping Giant: It is estimated that 2.15 million tons of pellets were consumed in Germany in 2014, approximately 60 percent in pellet stoves and pellet boilers smaller than 50 kW.

About 90 percent of German pellet production comes from sawmill industry residues. Only about 10 percent of round wood is sawed. German sawmills cut approximately 35 million to 40 million cubic meters of round wood, resulting in 13 million to 15 million cubic meters of sawmill residues that could annually supply 1 million pellet heating systems.

According to DEPV, 6 million oil heating boilers can be replaced in the long run. “They have what’s called the sleeping giant in Germany, there are so many old boilers and stoves in cellars….”

NY Biomass Energy Alliance: The New York Biomass Energy Alliance is a coalition of individuals, businesses, and organizations working together to enhance support, understanding and use of sustainably produced farm and forest biomass as a source of renewable energy.

Bioenergy Info Sheets: Useful information from Cornell University on using grasses as fuels.

Biomass Presentation led by Mike Palko from DCNR: Learn about Sustainable Forestry and Best Management Practices and get a Biomass Energy Overview, Thursday, October 2 in Lemoyne, PA, led by Mike Palko of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Ad for Wittus Fireplaces/Stoves: NYSERDA is now offering incentives to NYS Residents for the purchase of efficient pellet stoves. This website has examples of what NYSERDA wants to make available (not an endorsement of Wittus stoves by DCS).

Grass Bio-Energy Feasibility Study: This study was one of the first and most extensive on utilizing grass as a fuel source. It proves grass can be used in residential and small industrial installations.

Vote Hemp seeks the full normalization of and a free market for industrial hemp in America: Seventeen (17) states have defined industrial hemp as distinct and removed barriers to its production. These states will be able to take immediate advantage of the industrial hemp research and pilot program provision.

Video of Pellet Heat Forum, Narrowsburg, NY, November 17, 2013

Oregon has Chance to Become Hemp Seed Leader: Industrial hemp could be a new billion-dollar supercrop if society de-couples hemp from its distant relative, marijuana, as other nations have done. Could the Willamette Valley, grass seed capital of the world, become a hemp seed capital?

Legalizing hemp research was one topic on which a divided Congress agreed this year, recognizing that hemp’s economic bonanza ranges from seed oil (Canada’s principal hemp export, comparable to fish and flaxseed oil), to textiles, medicine, paper, paint, building materials, pellets, biofuels, plastics and soap. Hemp is being used to make guitars, skateboards, water bottles, insulation and nano-composites.

PA Seeks Applications for Renewable Energy Projects: If you are a school, business or community organization within the commonwealth that is considering bioenergy, this grant program may be what you need to get started. Hurry, the application deadline is August 15.

NY Launches $27 Million Initiative for Renewable Wood-Fired Heating Systems: Governor Cuomo launched Renewable Heat NY, a $27 million initiative aimed at building a sustainable, high-efficiency, low-emissions wood heating sector in New York. Renewable Heat NY will also help develop more clean technology manufacturing based in New York, a skilled installer base, and sustainably harvested wood fuels from state forests—supporting economic development while preserving the environment.

On-Farm Grass Energy is an Opportunity for Farmers: Farmers and landowners want to lower fuel and feed costs, explore feed and fertilizer co-products, be more self-sufficient, and rely less of fossil fuels. Biomass grass crops can be established on marginal lands and processed as a fuel replacement for heating oil or propane, or as an addition to wood chips or pellets. Learn more in this article from Renewable Energy World.

Where the Green Grass Grows: Local, Renewable Fuel: May and Bob Miller had always been interested in “green” energy, but when fuel prices started to rise in 2008, they saw new potential in the growing acreage owned by non-farming landowners surrounding their home in Delaware County. Learn how the Millers went from dairy farming to making grass pellets

Alliance for Green Heat: newsletter cites comments to EPA; studies on pellet viability. In its May 9 newsletter, the Alliance for Green Heat links to the comments they recently submitted to the EPA on its new rules for wood stoves and other heating alternatives. It also links to a variety of valuable information on heating alternatives, including studies showing the economic and market viability of pellets as a heating source.

Willow Power – Hughesville School Harvests 1st Biomass Crop: On a frigid January morning, East Lycoming School District Business Manager Dave Maciejewski stood next to a 40-acre field of shrub willow and explained why he had asked the district to plant it.

“It’s all about diversity,” he said, “and opportunity.”

Maciejewski was referencing the district’s foray into the field of bioenergy, or the use of renewable energy derived from biological sources, when he spoke at the Willow for Energy Field Day Harvest demonstration at Hughesville High School on Tuesday morning. The event drew a group of more than 30 industry professionals and others.

Pellet Boilers: Not Your Grandfather’s Wood Stove: This review of the November 17, 2013 forum in Narrowsburg, NY discusses how a once-quaint technology is being transformed into sustainability’s cutting edge.

Benefits of Wood Pellet Heating: Heating with wood pellets can yield substantial fuel savings. It is also sustainable, carbon-neutral, creates local jobs and could spur whole new industries for the region.

More Companies, Towns Turn To New Boilers That Heat With Wood: Around New Hampshire more institutions, towns and businesses are turning away from oil in favor of heating with wood, viewing it as a renewable resource that helps the region’s economy, lowers the carbon footprint and apparently saves money.

Pennsylvania’s Fuels for Schools & Beyond: A program centered around the sustainable production and utilization of biomass resources within the Commonwealth.

Biomass Thermal Energy Council Accomplishments Summary: The Council engages in government affairs advocacy to establish a level playing field for biomass thermal energy and also conducts education and outreach activities.

Hemp for Biomass and Biofuel: Colorado hemp grower to plant historic first U.S. crop in decades.

ReEnergy Black River Facility at Fort Drum Celebrates Sustainable Forestry Certification: The 60 megawatt plant will use sustainably harvested biomass as its primary fuel.

Growth in Grass Pellet Industry Highlighted at Heating Seminar: Three farmers talk about becoming fuel pellet developers, highlighting the growth of the perennial grass and agricultural-based pellet sector.

Heating with Wood Biomass Making Inroads: A quiet revolution is taking place across the northeast, as heating with wood finds broad new acceptance in applications from residential wood pellet stoves and boilers, to institutional and industrial pellet and chip heating of schools and factories, to district heating of downtown centers and college campuses.

Making Locally-Grown Industrial Hemp Part of Ohio’s Energy-Efficient Green Economy: The widespread use of industrial hemp could result in numerous environmental and economic benefits, including less reliance on fossil fuels, especially from foreign sources; more efficient use of energy; reduction of atmospheric build-up of carbon dioxide and agricultural pesticide use; and forest conservation.

The History of Hemp as a Fuel Source: Hemp is an extremely versatile crop and has been grown for thousands of years.

Dedication to a Fossil Fuel Free World: Interphase Energy was created by a group of people committed to making a difference for the environment.

Reed Canary Grass as a Pellet Fuel Stock: Based on the increasing interest in alternative energy sources, we have recently looked at the potential for using reed canary grass as a source of heating fuel. Reed canary grass is an abundant, non-native species in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Industrial Wood Pellets Help Keep US Forests Working: Industrial wood pellets, sustainably sourced and supplied from the U.S., are proving to be a clean alternative to coal for European utilities.

Notes on Wood Pellet Conversation: By Patrick Vincent from Vincent’s Heating, Poland, NY.

Preparing for a Pellet Tide: As coal stations in England migrate to wood pellets, the country’s ports are racing to develop robust storage and handling infrastructure.

The Bioenergy Farm Lease Part 3 – Rhizome Reclamation: As the bioenergy industry in the United States expands to meet increased demands for transportation fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard and electrical power under state Renewable Portfolio Standards, farmers will seek the ability to grow dedicated, high yielding energy crops of a perennial nature on leased property.

The MESys AutoPellet Boiler Feature Chart: The MESys AutoPellet boiler is a wood pellet central heating system. It is as reliable and automatic as an oil or propane system.

This Model Concept Could be Happening in the Delaware River Basin: A new program is offering homeowners in Farmington and Wilton, Maine, the opportunity to save 40-50 percent on home heating costs by switching from oil heat to high efficiency wood pellet boilers. Municipalities and non-profits are also eligible to participate.

Weedy Grasses as Pellet Fuel Feedstock: The focus of the project is to find economic uses for weedy grasses as well as reduce greenhouse gas inputs into the atmosphere and improve farm finances.

Residential High-Efficiency Wood Boiler with Thermal Storage and Solar-Thermal Hot Water: This installation of the Econoburn two-stage gasification boiler, integrated with thermal storage and a solar-thermal system at Hidley Farm, is an example of maximizing the efficiency of two complementary renewable heating systems.

Wood Pellet Brands: Testing of wood pellet brands, testamonials of Okanagan Pellets, how pellets are made, etc.