ISSUE 3, SEPTEMBER 2023 | NEWSLETTER |
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SEPTEMBER 2023 | A NOTE FROM BRUNO ZAGAR
Heating the Midwest (HTM) Steering Committee members have been talking to the Great Lakes Timber Professional Association (GLTPA) board members about a joint venture for several months. The joint venture makes fiscal sense for bookkeeping, filings, and conference management. A motion was approved by the HTM Steering Committee on July 13, 2023, to move forward with HTM uniting with the Great Lakes Timber Professional Association.
European markets have changed sustainably harvested timber. Education and by-products are now recognized due to incentives that are available. We look forward to future endeavors with GLTPA. If you would like to receive the monthly GLTPA publication, Great Lakes TPA, please send a mailing address to marketing@heatingthemidwest.org. More details to come.
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AUTHOR:
Bruno Zagar
Environmental Specialist
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
HTM Steering Committee
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HOT TOPIC
There has been a fair bit of news recently about the new European Union Deforestation Regulations – but not a lot of answers on how to meet them. The European Commission recently passed new regulations affecting imports of wood, and other agricultural products that will have broad impacts on global supply chains – even for producers that do not directly export to the EU.
The EUDR establishes requirements and financial penalties for those importing or placing specific products made from cattle, cocoa, coffee, rubber, soy, and wood to ensure that products made from these materials do not come from lands deforested or degraded for agriculture. Importers of these products would be required to keep documentation as part of due diligence for each load of wood leaving the forest, including GPS locations for each harvest site, and other records such as management plans, and harvest prescriptions or contracts. Presumably, this would involve the collection of the required data at the start of the supply chain – by the forest landowner, forester, or logger – and a secure handoff of the data at every point of transfer through the supply chain – for the Roundwood or chips, sawn wood products, pulp, sawmill byproducts and finished or manufactured products to the eventual importer who places the products on the EU marketplace.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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September 21 – Virtual Workshop: Biomass Combustion and CCUS
- September 19-20 – Wood Pellet Association of Canada Conference and AGM
- October 3-5 - 2023 Wood Energy Conference
- October 16-18 – USIPA 2023 Conference
- October 19-20 – Renewable Thermal Collaborative Summit 2023
- November 7-8 - National Carbon Capture Conference & Expo
- February 5-7, 2024 - Indiana Hardwood Lumber Association (IHLA) 2024 Convention & Expo
- February 13-15, 2024 - Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association Conference
- February 12-15, 2024 - US Biochar Initiative-2024 North American Biochar Conference
- March 4-6, 2024 – 2024 International Biomass Conference & Expo
STAKEHOLDER SPOTLIGHT
- Green Friendly Pellet, LLC – Biomass Pellet Plant Equipment and Inventory for Sale
RESOURCES SPOTLIGHT
- The Digest's 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Biomass Feedstocks and Supply Chains
- Alliance for Green Heat Webinar: Pellet Heating in the Age of Heat Pumps
- FutureMetrics New White Paper - Comparison of the Cost of Heat from Pumps and Modern Wood Pellet Fueled Central Heating Systems
- FutureMetrics Releases Recent White Paper and Dashboard - A Quantitive Review of North American Forest Products Industry
- DOE Release Wood Heater Design Challenge Workshop Report
- Biochar Factsheets and Application Guide Available from the Great Plains Biochar Initiative
- A Review of Regulatory Standard Test Methods for Residential Wood Heaters and Recommendations
- Improved 2023 Data on Wood Heating
- Biomass Explained
- Renewable Energy Fellow: Residential Wood Heating Program
- Home Rebate Program Tribal Outreach Manager
LOCAL BIOMASS
- Biomass For Sale
- Biomass Wanted
IN THE NEWS
- Klobuchar Introduces Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act
- Dovetail Partners Receives $271,480 from USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant Program
- New Biochar Plant in John Day Ramps up Production
- 10 States plan to Sue the EPA over Standards for Residential Wood-Burning Stoves
- Springfield City Councilor Testifies Against Biomass Incinerators
- Prairie Clean Energy Wins $1.1M for Flax Straw Pellet Project
- Canadian Government Invests $5.3 Million in BioFuelNet Canada
- Wood-Fires Air Conditioning! Really, It's a Thing
- US EIA Densified Biomass Fuel Sales at $840.000 tons in May
- US EIA Updated Bioenergy Forecast
- US EIA Notes Nonfossil Fuel Energy Sources Accounted for 21% of US Energy Consumption in 2022
- EU Wood Pellet Consumption Forecast to Grow in 2023
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- USDA Powering Affordable Clean Energy (USDA PACE) - Letters of Interest Due September 29, 2023
- USDA REAP Funds
- Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
- Tennessee Agriculture Enterprise Fund (AEF) Grants
- Tennessee Forestry, Agriculture & Rural Markets (FARM) Grants
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HTM STEERING COMMITTEE
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Jeremy Mortl* - President
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Bruno Zagar - Vice President
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T.J. Morice* - Secretary/Treasurer
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Stacy Cook*
- John Ackerly - National Rep
- David Neumann
- Joseph Donnell
- Becky Philipp
- Tim Portz - National Rep
- Ben Rose
- Adam Sherman - National Rep
- Patrick Serfass - National Rep
* Executive Members
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY HEATING THE MIDWEST
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UPCOMING EVENTS
September 19-20, 2023
September 21, 2023
October 3-5, 2023
October 16-18, 2023
October 19-20, 2023
November 7-8, 2023
February 5-7, 2024
February 13-15, 2024
February 12-15, 2024
March 4-6, 2024
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STAKEHOLDER SPOTLIGHT
Green Friendly Pellet, LLC
FOR SALE: COMPLETE LINEUP OF BIOMASS PELLETING
Turnkey pellet business and equipment!
Start selling today with current inventory and have all the equipment to start producing next week at your new location! There is a pellet shortage already for the 2023 heating season and there are many biomass, BBQ pellet opportunities.
All semi-trailers, trucks, walking floor, complete plant, all electrical equipment (600 AMP BOX to 480 to 220 and 110 transformers, soft start, plus complete panel), and inventory. Previously decommissioned, loaded in trailers, and awaiting shipment to your new location.
Way Under Value - Asking $300K - offers may be considered.
Finance options available or silent partnership agreements may also be available.
Please contact Sally if interested.
Call 701-862-2132 or 651-210-7717 for all questions.
Email: sally@ndsafetypro.com
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The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Biomass Feedstocks and Supply Chains
Alliance for Green Heat Webinar: Pellet Heating in the Age of Heat Pumps
Register here. Speakers include Adam Sherman, Frank Kvietok, Karen Harman-Smeltz, Scott Williamson, and Christiane Egger. Next up in AGH's webinar series: State Clean Heat Standards. Vermont recently enacted S. 5, "Affordable Heat Act," and Massachusetts is developing one.
FutureMetrics New White Paper – Comparison of the cost of heat from heat pumps and modern wood pellet fueled central heating systems
FutureMetrics Releases Recent White Paper and Dashboard – A Quantitative Review of the North American Forest Products Industry
DOE Releases Wood Heater Design Challenge Workshop Report
Biochar Factsheets and Application Guide Available from the Great Plains Biochar Initiative.
See also the included link to a Combined Heat & Biochar Webinar:
A Review of Regulatory Standard Test Methods for Residential Wood Heaters and Recommendations.
DOE funded Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) to undertake a review of test methods and provide recommendations, many of which will be very useful to the EPA. One recommendation is that outdated equipment used in test methods such as dry gas meters for flow rate measurement, should be dropped. Modern mass flow controllers, digital data loggers, and other modern equipment commonly should be incorporated.
Improved 2023 Data on Wood Heating
The US Government Energy Information Agency collects data on energy consumption vs. the US Census which collects data on heating appliance types. This new EIA dataset is the most robust to date, revealing important wood heating trends. AGH is calling on them to distinguish between cord wood and wood pellets in the future. https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2020/c&e/pdf/ce7.2.pdf
Biomass Explained
Alliance for Green Heat (AGH) is looking for a dynamic individual to take on a 6-month, paid, full-time fellowship. Key responsibilities include: help manage a firewood bank grant program for underserved communities, working with community groups to access funding, troubleshooting grant applications, event and meeting support, researching state and federal energy audit programs, supporting advocacy campaigns on social justice and equity issues, and researching and writing on renewable heating technologies.
The DOE is hiring a Tribal Outreach Manager to help deliver the $225 million Tribal Home Energy Rebates Program under the Home Energy Efficiency and Electrification Rebate Programs appropriated through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
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Klobuchar Introduces Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act |
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Dovetail Partners Receives $271,480 from USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant Program
Dovetail Partners has been awarded a $271,480 grant through the USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant Program to support a partnership between Dovetail Partners, Minnesota Power, and the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District. Partners are contributing $283,000 in matching funds. The funding will be used for its Northern Minnesota Closed Cycle Biochar Pilot.
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New Biochar Plant in John Day Ramps up Production |
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10 States Plan to Sue the EPA over Standards for Residential Wood-Burning Stoves
Attorneys general from 10 states plan to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying its failure to review and ensure emissions standards for residential wood-burning stoves has allowed the continued sale of appliances that could worsen pollution. View their Notice of Intent to Sue
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Springfield City Councilor Testifies Against Biomass Incinerators |
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Prairie Clean Energy Wins $1.1M for Flax Straw Pellet Project |
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Canadian Government Invests $5.3 Million in BioFuelNet Canada
At a cost of $5.3 million, the BioFuelNet initiative that aims to support the development of biomass supply chains and cutting-edge technologies to produce biomass and value-added agricultural products. The funding was awarded by Agriculture and Agri Food Canada to BioFuelNet (BFN) Canada under the Clusters Component of the AgriScience Program, which is part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
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New Hampshire: “Electricity is a byproduct of making heat,” Charlie Niebling explains. Using that electricity to operate air conditioning or sell power back to the grid in warm months allows better operation, not to mention better finances. “Getting a 12-month load on the boiler, allows you to make electricity at high efficiencies.”
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U.S EIA Densified Biomass Fuel Sales at 840,000 Tons in May |
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U.S. EIA Updated Bioenergy Forecast |
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U.S. EIA notes Nonfossil Fuel Energy Sources Accounted for 21% of U.S. Energy Consumption in 2022 |
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EU Wood Pellet Consumption Forecast to Grow in 2023 |
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USDA Powering Affordable Clean Energy (USDA PACE) – Letters of Interest due September 29, 2023.
The Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which represents the largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936. With $1 billion in funding, PACE helps make clean, affordable, and reliable energy accessible to the people of rural America.
Under PACE, USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will forgive up to 60 percent of loans for renewable energy projects that use wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, or biomass, as well as for renewable energy storage projects.
USDA PACE Application Webinar Recording from July 20:
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USDA REAP Funds
USDA REAP Funds may be used to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses install renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements. The next round of applications is due September 30, 2023
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Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that USDA is accepting applications for loans and grants to expand access to new and better markets for rural small business owners and microentrepreneurs. The Department is making approximately $29 million available in funding through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). USDA provides RMAP funding to non-profits, Tribes, colleges and universities to create revolving loan fund programs and support training and technical assistance for rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. Rural businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees are eligible for loans and technical assistance.
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Tennessee Agriculture Enterprise Fund (AEF) Grants
Upcoming deadlines, October 10, 2023; January 10 and April 10, 2024 -
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Tennessee Forestry, Agriculture & Rural Markets (FARM) Grants
Applications will be accepted in November 2023, and March 2024
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MORE WAYS TO GET BIOMASS NEWS |
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BiomassMagazine.com
- Printed Magazine
- Free digital Magazine
- Free e-Newsletters
- Free Webinars
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Pellet Mill Magazine Free to U.S. Subscribers.
- Printed Magazine
- Free digital Magazine
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Heating the Midwest
Now featured in Great Lakes TPA Magazine
Annual cost is only $34 for this content packed monthly publication.
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