Heating the Midwest

Working to increase awareness and usage of renewable biomass for heat

Heating the Midwest

January 2017 Newsletter

Greetings!
Heating the Midwest and BBI International are pleased to announce the co-location of the 2017 Heating the Midwest event at the International Biomass Conference & Expo taking place in Minneapolis this coming April. The pairing was a runaway success when we did it in 2015 and we’re confident attendees will feel the same way this year. Placing Heating the Midwest at the International Biomass Conference & Expo allows attendees to take a close look at local biomass utilization while benefiting from a global event with equipment demonstrations and presentations as well as where to get bulk pellets
delivers. Heating the Midwest joins two other topically specific co-located events at the International Biomass Conference & Expo, the Emerging Biomass Feedstocks Forum and the Biomass Handling, Preparation and Storage Workshop. Together these three events and the main conference agenda will comprise the largest gathering of biomass professionals anywhere in the world in 2017. This is an unrivaled opportunity for professionals working in biomass derived heat, power, pellets or liquid fuels to meet, connect and learn from the very best minds in the field. The agendas for all of the events, including Heating the Midwest, have been published and are available here:http://www.biomassconference.com/ema/DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=Home.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Tony “T.J.” Morice
President
Heating the Midwest Inc.
Tim Portz
Vice President of Content
BBI International


In This Newsletter:
  • HTM Survey
  • EIA begins monthly densified biomass fuel report
  • Swap wood stoves for more efficient models
  • Northeast Biomass Heating Conference & Expo
  • Peterson, Goodlatte Introduce Legislation to Ease Wood Stove Regulations
  • LinkedIn
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Free Publications
  • Ideas for SWET
  • Become an Action Team Volunteer
  • Call for news
Survey- Your Input is Valued!
Please watch your email inbox (or follow this link) for a survey being conducted on the 2016 HTM Conference & Expo, and future planning. Please take a moment to respond as your insight and feedback is very important and valued as HTM plans for future events. Thank you in advance.
EIA begins monthly densified biomass fuel report
The US government is starting to track wood pellet production and use, as it tracks oil, gas and other fuels.
Full article can be found here.
Swap wood stoves for more efficient models
MN: 17 counties in Minnesota are included in Project Stove Swap, a voluntary program offering financial incentives to residents and businesses that replace old wood heating appliances with new, more efficient, less-polluting ones.
Full article can be found here.
Northeast Biomass Heating Conference & Expo
Held in Burlington, VT, April 10-12, 2017. Speakers, panel discussion, tours, the expo and more make this the premier thermal biomass event for industry, government, researchers and non-profit stakeholders.
More information can be found here.
Peterson, Goodlatte Introduce Legislation to Ease Wood Stove Regulations
WASHINGTON- Representatives Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Bob Goodlatte, R-VA., today introduced the Relief from New Source Performance Standards Act of 2017, legislation that would delay emission standards for new residential wood and pellet stoves, hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces by three years.
The full press release can be found here and the bill can be tracked here.
HTM has joined LinkedIn
Heating the Midwest Incorporated has created a LinkedIn page. Follow the page to stay up to date with what we’re working on!
Click here to follow us.
Free Publications
Biomass Magazine and Pellet Mill Magazine are free to subscribers in the USA. Here’s link to sign up and there is also free e-newsletters, free webinars and more:
BTEC Newsletter: If you are interested in receiving the Biomass Thermal Energy Council’s weekly biomass newsletter and other news releases, you are encouraged to sign-up at: http://biomassthermal.org/mailingForm.asp
Have Biomass Project Ideas for SWET?
Michigan Statewide Wood Energy Team
Contact: Ray Miller- rmiller@anr.msu.edu
Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team
Contact: Mark Lindquist- mark.lindquist@state.mn.us
Wisconsin Statewide Wood Energy Team
Contact: Olivia Shanahan – PSC – Olivia.Shanahan@wisconsin.gov
Heating the Midwest- Become an Action Team Volunteer!
If you have a specific area of interest related to biomass thermal, we welcome your participation in one or all of HTM’s three action teams-Biomass Combustion Technologies, Policy & Benefits, and Biomass Resources & Demographics. Is your time often stretched? No problem. Time committed to the HTM effort is volunteer time. The teams meet monthly via conference call, and calls are limited to one hour in respect of members’ time and busy schedules. Members may choose to volunteer more of their time individually to support Action Team specific projects as they arise. The work of each of the action teams involves developing “boots on the ground” projects for spurring action, discussing industry challenges in each sector and how to possibly address, networking and supporting the overall goals and vision of the Heating the Midwest with Renewable Biomass initiative in an effort to grow demand and expand marketing opportunities in the biomass thermal sector, and create awareness of biomass thermal. Following is a list of the schedule for the action team calls:
Biomass Combustion Technologies Action Team
Meets first Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. CST
Biomass Policy & Benefits Action Team
Meets second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. CST
Biomass Resources & Demographics Action Team
Meets third Monday of each month at 10:00 a.m. CST
For more detailed information on the Biomass Combustion Technologies or Policy & Benefits Action Teams, please contact Nan Larson at nlarson@auri.org or via phone at: (507) 537-6020. And for details pertaining to the Biomass Resources & Demographics Action Team, please contact Becky Philipp at bphilipp@auri.org or via phone at (218) 280-8575.
Call for Your Midwest Biomass Stories and Events for February Newsletter
As you’ve seen month after month; companies, governments, and communities around the Midwest are making progress on biomass heating and combined heat and power (CHP) programs and projects. If you have a story or event to contribute for next month , please submit by close of business the 3rd Wednesday of the month to kloeffler@heatingthemidwest.org . And, if you’d like to be on the list to receive upcoming newsletters, please contact Kelsey Loeffler at kloeffler@heatingthemidwest.org