Green Heat News
A monthly news service for everyone
interested in renewable wood & pellet heating
May 2020
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NSPS countdown
: 9
days until May 15, 2020
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Featured stories
The EPA is making a move to provide relief for wood heater retailers. Details are not yet known, but its complicated to change rules quickly and its may not work as planned. Hardy Manufacturer, a Mississippi based outdoor wood boiler company, has played a key role.
AGH and partners are helping families unemployed due to the Coronavirus pandemic get big discounts on stove parts, to keep stoves running safely. We plan to relaunch the program next fall and need your help! Please consider donating. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar and 100% goes to needy families.
In 1988 and 2015, EPA regulations made wood stoves cleaner and more efficient, and warded off states from making their own regulations. EPA regulations on outdoor wood boilers however came 5 - 10 years too late. Here is our short history of how the EPA has tried to regulate this vital renewable energy technology.
Do you know how to spot a certified wood stove, how many automated stoves are on the market and that pellet stoves were never exempt from EPA regulations? Read our updated page of wood stove technology.
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Focus on Federal Agencies
Department of Energy
Our Department of Energy, which is also now funding US stove manufacturers to improve stove designs, is also engaged in a study to prioritize locations where forest restoration should take place that reduces wildfire risk, increases water habitat for fish, improves the overall ecosystem—and even provides biomass for energy use.
Forest Service
Congratulations to Maine Energy Systems, Blue Mountain Lumber, Hoonah Indian Association, NY State Wood Utilization Team and many others for winning USDA grants to move wood heating foward.
The Forest Service announced $1.5 million in grants to seven rural communities through a new Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation grant program. Made possible through the 2018 Farm Bill, the new program will help to fund the installation of wood energy systems and wood product facilities in rural communities.
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Focus on Congress
During the height of the 2008 recession, the government supported renewable energy job growth, including a $1,500 tax credit for wood and pellet stoves. AGH is at the forefront of pushing for that again during this crisis.
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RIP, Tom Stroud
, HPBA’s long-time Senior Manager – Codes & Standards, who passed away last week at his home in West Seattle, Washington (not from Coronavirus). Tom was the chair of the ASTM E1602 task group that wrote the masonry heater standard that is now adopted in the IBC and IRC building codes. Tom was the 3rd President of the Masonry Heater Association before working for HPBA. AGH extends our thoughts and prayers to his family and everyone who was blessed to know and work with Tom.
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California:
In 2019, the District adopted amendments to lower ‘No Burning’ thresholds, which led to more frequent health-protective wood burning curtailments.
California:
The gas lobby claims its clean,but indoor air quality can really suffer from open combustion of gas appliances indoors.
Maine:
With rural microgrids, wood and pellet heating can play a vital role to balance out solar energy. These Mainers know about scarce electricity and plentiful wood heat.
Vermont:
Wood heating advocates in Vermont and NH are helping strike a smart, practical balance between advanced wood heating and heat pumps. More of both is needed.
Washington:
On March 25, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed HB 2528 into law which recognizes the contributions of the state’s forests and forest products sector as part of the state’s global climate response.
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Best of April Facebook
Large and small hardwares that are still open, and specialty hearth retailers selling online, are offered deep discounts in April on Step 1 stoves before the May 15 deadline.
These
were in a Home Depot in NY.
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Lebanon, TN,
Cancelled
A two day workshop that goes into detail the business side of the split firewood business. Will have open discussions and equipment demos.
June 2, 9, and 16, 10:30-12 EST
This special Webinar Series examines the impacts and advantages of utilizing wood resources for thermal biomass energy in Maryland.
Postponed until June 22-24, 2021
Canada’s largest and longest-running conference on the bioeconomy will be postponed for one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washington, DC, June 29-July 1, 2020
Join us for the largest gathering of energy assistance professionals in the country.
Washington DC, June 24 - July 5, 2020
Competing teams exhibit and compete at the Build Challenge Event, as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington.
Scranton, PA, August 31-September 1, 2020
Visit the webpage to see photos from previous conferences.
Vancouver, Canada, September 21, 2020
OptiPellet is the only event of its kind focused on current and future state-of-the-art pellet production technology.
South Burlington, Vermont, October 13-14, 2020
Renewable Energy Vermont’s annual conference convenes innovators and policymakers working to advance renewable energy, electricity, heating, and transportation solutions.
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Misleading Ad
"As of January 2020, you will no longer be able to install ANY wood boiler, according to the EPA" says OutdoorBoiler.com
Beware of vendors that spread rumors and falsehoods about EPA regulations. A
vendors' advertisements
about the their products may be as unreliable as their facts on EPA regulations.
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The Alliance for Green Heat is an independent non-profit organization working to promote cleaner and more efficient biomass heating. Please consider making a generous contribution. The Alliance is a tax exempt 501 (c)(3) organization.
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