David Dungate of ACT Bioenergy gave a tour of The Wild Center’s system, the first commercial scale pellet boiler in New York State, during the April 19 Biomass Basics workshop. Dungate designed the boiler, which saved $31,652 in its first year.
Instability in fuel costs will be felt around the Northeast, and particularly in rural areas that rely heavily on oil as the primary source of heat. With 8.8 million forested acres in the Adirondack North Country region, ANCA advocates for the expansion of wood-based enterprises including solid wood manufacturing, pulp and paper producers and the use of biofuels.
Would you like to see your school district or community buildings switch to a biomass system?
Many schools and communities have already begun to transition to woody biomass-based heating/power systems, which bring to the potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in upcoming heating seasons, as well as opportunities to create jobs and boost the local economy. Working with our partners, we aim to connect interested parties with information on beginning the process.
Contact
Kate Fish, Executive Director: kfish@adirondack.org
and Jamie Rogers: jrogers@adirondack.org, 518-891-6200
Program Partners:
Biomass Energy Research Center (BERC): A national nonprofit located in Montpelier, Vermont, that works on projects around the country to install systems that use biomass fuel to produce heat and/or electricity. Information website is site is full of case studies, FAQs and publications.
Northern Forest Center (NFC): Serving the Northern Forest region of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, NFC handles policy and programs that promote sustainable forestry and wood products, renewable energy from biomass and tourism.
Related reading
Report on Biomass Basics workshop held April 19, 2011: Four organizations convened a workshop at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake to answer New York communities’ questions about converting to biomass-based energy systems.
Biomass as Economic Driver: Story published in ANCA newsletter, May 2011
Case study: Edward Knox School: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110130/NEWS05/301309941
For wood-products producers
Wood products marketing guide: Co-produced by ANCA and published through the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture