EPA Wood Smoke Workshop

The EPA held a wood smoke reduction workshop in Denver and all the PowerPoint presentations can be found on the WESTAR site. Key EPA regulatory presentations are included below.

Wood heater NSPS updates

The EPA's Mark Turner reviews the status of residential wood heaters, hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces in past, current and future New Source Performance Standards (NSPS).

EPA wood stove certification program update

OECA's Bob Scinta gives an update on improvements to the wood heater certification process in the wake of the NESCAUM and OIG report. Their final response to the OIG's recommended corrective actions was due on April 28. 

EPA's wood heater test method development

EPA's NSPS lead Stef Johnson discusses the status of the evaluation of the IDC as a federal reference test method, its bias, precision, repeatability, and reproducibility. Stef also reviewed the timeline of finishing testing in 2024 and finalizing a new NSPS by 2027.

Firewood Banks

First firewood bank site visit

AGH staffer, Darian Dyer, visited the firewood bank in Crestone, Colorado, one of the 45 firewood banks we funded over the past year. Site visits help us learn how to scale up similar banks across the country, create models for seasoned wood distribution centers and enable firewood banks to get reimbursed for providing wood to low income households from state fuel funds.

Wood bank a roaring success

The Clear Creek Wood Bank in Johnson County, WY served 402 families this last winter. The sentiment, "I don't want to just talk about stuff; I want to get it done," is a common one among firewood banks. This woodbank plans to apply for AGH funding next year.

State News

Alaska lawmakers call on EPA for better wood stove certification program

Alaska: Alaska legislators passed a resolution calling on the EPA to improve their “deeply flawed” wood heater certification program, apparently because they think the flaws contributed to higher PM2.5 emissions in their non-attainment area. 

Free chimney sweep vouchers for qualifying residents in Portola area

California: To qualify, residents must live in the non-attainment area and have a wood stove that was manufactured after 1992.

Hooked on heating oil: Maine's reliance on a dirty, expensive fuel

Maine: As oil heat fell from 2003 to 2020, wood and pellet heating grew rapidly. Electric baseboard heating is by far the most expensive. Heat and wood, followed by pellets, are still the cheapest.

NHEC customers use electric cars as storage batteries to make a few extra bucks

New Hampshire: Utilities can let EV owners charge their batteries when electric prices are low, and sell it back to the grid when prices are high. This also incentivizes homes to use wood or pellet boilers or stoves instead of heat pumps when electric prices are high. That way, homes can sell more back to the grid, earn more money from utilities and relieve winter peak stress on the grid.

Don't believe the natural gas hype

Oregon: "Natural gas" is no more natural than coal or oil- but it has a far larger lobbying and PR budget. Electrification is our best hope to decarbonize household heating.

International News

EU extension could have devastating impact on low-income households

Europe: Major funding, along with active social and technical support, is essential in making sure the proposed extension of the Emissions Trading System does not deepen existing inequalities.

Facility recycles wood waste into clean energy

Canada: This new center will use 250 tons of wood cut-offs per year to heat two buildings on the Burnaby campus. This will save BCIT from having to buy carbon offsets and natural gas.

Firewood rebate: an additional month to apply

France: For those French households that make under 20,000 euros in taxable income per person, there is an additional month to claim a check that ranges from 50 euros to 200 euros if they heat with wood.

Gas boilers banned by 2030?

Germany:  Heat pumps and pellet boilers will benefit as gas boilers get banned. As of 2024, all plants in Germany must have 65% renewable heat, effectively stopping new installs of gas or diesel boilers.

UK MPs weigh urban ban on wood stoves

UK: “The latest stove designs may emit less pollution, but if every household in the UK were to install one and use them all simultaneously we’d likely be in big trouble.” Bans on new installs could happen in cities.