August 2023 Green Heat News

Volume 156

Green Heat News

A free monthly news service on renewable,

low carbon heating issues

August 2023

Features

Alaska and 9 other states threaten to sue EPA over wood-burning stove standards

To curb Fairbanks pollution, Alaska officials say, the EPA should focus on its wood-stove certifications, while the agency wants additional improvements, including at power plant “But data from the EPA – which has praised Fairbanks’ improvements in wood-burning practices – indicates that those stoves are less of a problem than they were in the past and that validity of certification is now a relatively minor issue.”

AGH webinar: Pellet heating in the age of heat pumps

This webinar will explore how various experts think the heat pump boom will impact pellet heating, taking into account the potential price of electricity, the need and benefits of non-electric heat, consumer preferences and what other factors are in play. Confirmed speakers include Karen Harman Smeltz, Frank Kvietok, Scott Williamson and Adam Sherman.

Agencies

USDA funds wood energy projects

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting the wood products and wood energy economies that are the lifeblood of so many people, especially for tribal and disadvantaged rural communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

DOE : Notice of proposed rulemaking and announcement of public meeting

The U.S. DOE issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer boilers.

DOE rolls out electrification grants to states

This massive program funds states to subsidize heat pumps with up to a $14,000 rebate for low and average income households. Thus, households with incomes up to about $120,000 in lower income states, or about $190,000 in wealthier states will be eligible. (Rebates for wood or pellet stoves are not eligible as far as we know.) Also see Office of State and Community Energy Programs.

Firewood and Firewood Banks

Applications open on Sept. 1 for firewood banks

During the second year of funding, we can fund new wood banks that are just starting up, the largest wood banks who got funded last year, and any existing bank that has not yet received funding. With increased funding and a streamlined application process, we look forward to funding many more firewood banks. Please help spread the word!

Fairbanks air quality Burn Wise quiz

How well are you burning your wood? Want to test your firewood usage knowledge? Take this quiz!

Electrification

AGH launches social media campaign

An AGH social media campaign is promoting wood and pellet heat as a complement to heat pumps. Please share on your social media platforms!

AGH submits comment on MA's H.3183 / S. 2115

Proposed legislation in Massachusetts would require that newly constructed homes use electricity instead of fossil fuels for space heating and cooling, cooking, and clothes drying. AGH seeks to clarify that advanced wood and pellet heating can also be used as primary or secondary heat.

How heat pumps of the 1800s are becoming the technology of the future

A novel air source heat pump design could improve the COP by 3 to 10 percent. Innovative thinking has done away with problems that long dogged the electric devices.

States that allow people to choose their energy

About half of states (in green) allow households to choose who they buy their electricity and gas from. This allows households to choose 50% or even 100% renewable, or just take what happens to be on their grid. Choosing 100% renewable energy is one of the easiest, cost-effective ways to lower your carbon footprint and make heat pumps, for example, very low-carbon. About 26% of households opt to choose their own energy supplier in states that allow it.

Wood Furnaces – and Saunas

Lamppa Manufacturing expands product lines

With help from a $150,000 loan from the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, Lamppa is expecting to expand their products in the next few months. This is part of a $300,000 package to complete design certification and testing of a new wood furnace.

Jobs

Renewable Energy Fellow: Residential Wood Heating Program

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.

Home Rebate Program Tribal Outreach Manager

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.

State News

FNSB residents face deadline for borough stove change-out program

Alaska: In a year and a half, after thirteen years of the stove change-out program's operation,residents face deadline to get funding for change-outs. A majority of conversions today involve oil to natural gas, not old wood stoves to newer wood stoves.

Alaska and 10 other states tells EPA ‘see you in court’ over wood stoves

Alaska: "On the one hand, the EPA is threatening to disapprove the State’s air quality plan for Fairbanks, yet on the other, EPA ignores its own rules that directly impact air emissions by wood stoves."

Alaska seeks more time to submit air-quality plan for particulate-plagued Fairbanks

Alaska: DEC Commissioner Jason Brune asks the EPA for an extension to avoid proposed requirement for more pollution controls at power plants that would drive up the cost of living without meaningful air quality benefits."

Wood-fired air conditioning! Really, it’s a thing

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.”

Clean heat standard is a path to environmental and economic success

Vermont: "My friend got a subsidized new wood stove and I was impressed by how much heat it produced and retained — with so little wood! The clean heat standard will help people be able to access these improvements in the way we heat our homes." - Isaac Evans-Frantz, executive committee, the Sierra Club Vermont chapter

International News

Honouring Indigenous leadership at the National Indigenous Clean Energy Forum

North America: "In 2023, an exceptional cohort of 22 participants from Indigenous communities spanning coast to coast to coast will come together to share their remarkable experiences and accomplishments within the Program and the clean energy projects they are working on for their communities and organizations."

P.E.I. forestry commission issues 5 recommendations on biomass use

Canada: The five recommendations include renegotiating contracts, defining terms such as "biomass fuel" and "mixed residue," reviewing current environmental impact assessment procedures, further defining the role of public forests, and determining how and to what extend the forest biomass sector can contribute to the province's "Path to Net Zero" by 2040.

BMW to utilise biomass heat to reduce emissions

China: About a quarter of the wood used as fuel will come from the BMW Group's own untreated waste wood – for example, from single-use pallets and transport crates.

Biomass plant at insect factory

Denmark: ENORM BioFactory has chosen to invest in local CO2-neutral biomass as the heat source, rather than natural gas. Its product? Protein from insects.

Ofi introduces two more biomass boilers for sustainable cocoa production

Germany/Netherlands: "The boilers use cocoa shells, a by-product of the production process, as fuel to generate steam, which in turn powers the crafting of cocoa ingredients from ofi’s brand, deZaan, at its factories in the Netherlands and Germany.

As gas prices surge, bioenergy could help heat Ukraine. So why is it on the back burner?

Ukraine: "According to energy experts and officials such as Sukhomlyn, what’s happening in Zhytomyr shows that Ukraine could substantially reduce its use of natural gas for heating by tapping its enormous resources of biomass, such as wood and plant waste."

Best of Facebook

"Smaller, lighter, more powerful AND no rare earth metals:"

Misleading Article of the Month

“Transform ordinary barrels into incredible wood burning stoves”?????

Manufacturers cannot advertise stoves that are not EPA certified. And according to the EPA, images of stoves such as a barrel stove crosses the line, such as the one in this Facebook advertisement. Images of just the pieces to make the stove do not cross the line. It seems US Stove may not care if they know that the EPA is not enforcing many of its regulations...?

Conferences & Webinars

Wood Pellet Association of Canada Conference and AGM

Ottawa, Canada, September 19-20, 2023

The WPAC Conference and AGM is your opportunity to learn about the most important issues from industry experts around the globe.

2023 Antique Stove Convention

Estes Park, Colorado, September 24-26, 2023

The Antique Stove Association brings amateur and professional collectors, experts and artisans who buy, sell, repair and restore antique wood stoves.

International Training Seminar- Sustainable Bioenergy Heating

Linz, Austria, October 2-5, 2023

The International Training Seminar focuses on small- to mid-scale projects fueled by wood pellets and wood chips: homes, smaller commercial buildings and district heating grids .

Annual Renewable Energy Vermont Conference

South Burlington, Vermont, October 18-19, 2023

The largest comprehensive renewable energy gathering in the region, bringing together a variety of stakeholders that are ready to build a path to a 100% renewable energy future.

Renewable Thermal Collaborative Summit

Washington, D.C., October 19-20, 2023

The Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) is the global coalition for companies, institutions, and governments committed to scaling up renewable heating and cooling.

2023 New England Home Performance Conference & Trade Show

Springfield, Massachusetts, November 7-8, 2023

This two-day conference will deliver the latest region-specific updates and information to home performance and weatherization professionals living and working in New England.

European Bioenergy Future 2023

Schaerbeek, Belgium, November 28-30, 2023

One track at this event will bring together key stakeholders and market actors to discuss the immediate, but also the long-term perspectives, for the premium pellet heat market.

HBPExpo

Nashville, Tennessee, February 13-15, 2024

HPBExpo offers interactive experiences, networking events and forums for conversations with peers and connections with industry colleagues.

2024 European Pellet Conference

Wels, Austria, March 6, 2024

The largest annual pellet event worldwide focuses on the role pellets in the clean energy transition and the circular economy.

2024 National Home Performance Conference

Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 8-11, 2024

This conference brings together contractors, weatherization professionals, trainers, program administrators and energy auditors working on residential energy efficiency.

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