August 2019 Newsletter

Greetings HTM Supporters:

As we wind up the summer months and start to feel a chill in the air, we naturally start thinking about warmth and the impending cold winter months ahead. We start thinking about whether or not we’ve got enough supplies to get us through the cold months, how our heat pump Charlottesville needs repairing, how you need to factor the heating into your monthly bills, the list goes on. But as you begin to prepare for the heating season, we invite you to join us on October 23 for the 8th annual Heating the Midwest Bioenergy Celebration in conjunction with National Bioenergy Day! The event will provide an opportunity to learn about the benefits of renewable energy and biomass for thermal processes and how industrial and commercial space heating is achievable utilizing biomass energy. We are also excited about this year’s event being a collaborative effort of Heating the Midwest, the Agriculture Utilization Research Institute’s Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable and Koda Energy LLC.

The full-day celebration will kick-off with a tour showcasing four of the Midwest’s most innovative facilities combusting biomass for heat and/or power-Koda Energy, Rahr Malting, St. Paul District Energy, and Len Busch Roses. Lunch will be provided by Koda Energy, wrapping up with an evening networking reception, dinner and program. Along with the educational aspects and networking for the public and students, Heating the Midwest will also be presenting two awards this year during the evening program-the Heating the Midwest Outstanding Project Award and Heating the Midwest Leadership Award.

It’s a great venue to engage with biomass and energy professionals and learn more about capabilities and growth in this sector. Stay tuned for additional program details in the coming weeks. For more information about registration and rates,lodging, and sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities, please click here.

Thank you for your continued support of HTM. We look forward to you joining us as we celebrate innovation and continued growth in the biomass heating sector in Minnesota and the Midwest!

Sincerely,
Becky Philipp, on behalf of the HTM Steering Committee and AURI


In This Newsletter

  • Save the Date!
  • EPA Updates Database
  • Project Stove Swap
  • Bill Aims to Extend Tax Credits for Biomass, Other Renewables
  • USDA: Wood Pellet Exports Reach 694,515 Tons in June
  • Industry Publications
  • National Funding Opportunities
  • Minnesota Funding Opportunities
  • Social Media
  • Free Publications
  • Become an Action Team Volunteer
  • Call for news

SAVE THE DATE – 2019 Heating the Midwest National Bioenergy Day Event!

JOIN US FOR NATIONAL BIOENERGY DAY ON OCTOBER 23, 2019
FOR A
MIDWEST BIOENERGY CELEBRATION!
Attend, sponsor, and/or exhibit! Click HERE for details.
See you there!
Heating the Midwest / AURI’s Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable / Koda Energy LLC

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS! This year, Heating the Midwest will be presenting two awards at the HTM conference event on October 23-a Leadership Award and an Outstanding Project Award. Recommendations of companies and/or individuals for these awards are being sought. Please submit recommendations to Tim Portz at timportz@gmail.com


EPA Updates Database

The EPA just updated its wood heater database to add columns showing which stoves were newly certified and added to list, and the size of the firebox.
View the updated database here


Project Stove Swap

Project Stove Swap connects residents to local wood stove vendors to swap out their older, inefficient wood-burning appliances for newer models. Swapping out just one older wood stove for a new model is the pollution reduction equivalent of removing more than 700 cars from the road per year, making it an efficient way to improve air quality. This program also supports local economies, public health, and Minnesota’s environment.
We are soliciting proposals from potential vendors who are able to supply wood, wood pellet, and natural gas/propane fired heating appliances. Vendors will be selected based on their responses to the RFP questions, as well as their geographic location and the range of technologies that they are able to supply. For more information on what appliances are eligible and how to apply, please review the full application.
https://environmentalinitiative1.sharepoint.com/Web_Content/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2FWeb%5FContent%2FCurrent%20Projects%2FProject%20Stove%20Swap%2FRequest%20for%20Proposals%20%2D%20Project%20Stove%20Swap%20Appliance%20Vendors%202019%2Epdf&parent=%2FWeb%5FContent%2FCurrent%20Projects%2FProject%20Stove%20Swap&p=true


Bill Aims to Extend Tax Credits for Biomass, Other Renewables

Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Scott Peters, D-Calif., introduced a bill Aug. 13 that aims to extend tax credits for investments in qualified renewable energy production, including closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, and municipal solid waste.?
Read the full story here


USDA: Wood pellet exports reach 694,515 tons in June

The U.S. exported 694,515 tons of wood pellets in June, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Aug. 2. Pellet exports were up when compared to the 553,882.9 tons exported in May and the 535,254.3 tons exported in June 2018.
Read the full story here


Industry Publications

New Publication
Poultry-Barn-Heating-with-Wood-Energy
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Poultry-Barn-Heating-with-Wood-Energy-P1898.aspx
Recent Publications:
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/How-to-Compare-Heating-Fuels-P1893.aspx
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Tips-for-Buying-Drying-and-Storing-Firewood-P1891.aspx
Other publications:
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Wood-Heating-Appliances-for-Homes-and-Businesses-P1718.aspx
https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Biomass-Energy-for-Heating-Greenhouses-P1454.aspxhttps://learningstore.uwex.edu/Biomass-Heating-in-Greenhouses-Case-Studies-P1455.aspx


National Funding Opportunities

USDA’s Guaranteed Loan provides up to 75% of project costs and is not competitive.
DOE: No-cost technical assistance.The DOE Office of Indian Energy provides federally recognized Indian tribes with technical assistance to advance tribal energy projects at no cost.


Minnesota Funding Opportunities

MDA Biomass Thermal Energy Incentive Program . This is a production-based incentive and pays out based on heat generated by using mostly Minnesota-sourced biomass.


HTM has joined LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter

Heating the Midwest Incorporated has created a LinkedIn page and also a Facebook page. Follow the page to stay up to date with what we’re working on! Also follow us on Twitter.
Click here to follow us on LinkedIn
Click here to follow us on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter @HTM_BiomassHeat


Free Publications

Biomass Magazine and Pellet Mill Magazine are free to subscribers in the USA. Here’s the link to sign up for the magazine and free e-newsletters, free webinars and more: http://www.biomassmagazine.com/pages/subscribe/
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


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, Biomass Policy & Benefits, and Biomass Resources & Demographics. Is your time often stretched? No problem. Time committed to the HTM effort is volunteer time. Joint action team calls are held 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.
Individuals with a passion for biomass thermal energy are being sought to lead the Biomass Resources & Demographics Action Team or the Biomass Combustion Technologies Action Team. This is a great opportunity to share your leadership skills in furthering the mission of HTM and to directly connect with the biomass industry sector and other agencies-all with a goal of growing market opportunities for biomass and specifically for biomass as a fuel for thermal heating and cooling, and combined heat and power.
The work 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. HTM Joint Action Team calls are held the >> Third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. CST <<. Separate action team calls are scheduled as needed. For more detailed information on the Biomass Policy & Benefits Action Team, please contact Gregg Mast ( Gregg_Mast@earthtechenergy.com ). Questions pertaining to the Biomass Resources & Demographics Action Team & the Biomass Combustion Technologies Action Team can be forwarded to the action team chair noted, or feel free to contact Becky Philipp ( bphilipp@auri.org ), steering committee member.


Call for Your Midwest Biomass Stories and Events for September 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