HeaderGreen Heat News
September 2010
Issue No. 14


Dear friends,

The Alliance for Green Heat was founded to be an aggressive advocate for clean, efficient wood and pellet stoves and boilers.  We need your support to continue and expand our work. 

I want to invite you - as an individual, an organization or a company - to become a member of the Alliance for Green Heat.  The first 250 members will be entered into a drawing to win a free wood or pellet stove (first prize), or a ton of pellets or a cord of wood (second prize). Many thanks to Jotul for donating a wood stove and to Wood pellets.com for donating a ton of pellets.

Thank you for your support,
Sincerely,
 
John Ackerly and the Green Heat team

 Alliance for Green Heat projects & activities

Become a member and win a stove or a ton of pellets!
The Alliance is launching its first membership drive to build support for our work and our mission. Please consider becoming a founding member of this exciting non- profit group that is dedicated to promoting clean, high-efficiency and affordable wood heating. The first 250 people to join will be entered into a drawing to win a free wood or pellet stove for first place, or a ton of pellets or a cord of wood for second place! To learn more details and donate, click here.



Maryland: A social justice case study in residential renewable energy incentives
Maryland, like many states, provides generous grants to families who can afford solar, geothermal and wind systems.The only major renewable left out of Maryland's programs is wood for heat, despite the existence of modern, clean burning systems like pellet stoves and advanced wood combustion (AWC) that are popular in Europe. Full article: click here.

Alliance backs progressive wood burning ordinance
The Davis City Council (Davis, California) is considering the most progressive 'No-burn' day ordinance yet proposed in the country. This ordinance recognizes the benefits of clean high-efficiency wood stoves while controlling unhealthy burning practices. The nuanced approach Davis may take on the levels of emissions produced by different stoves is unique and could become a valuable model for other cities. To read the Alliance's letter of support, click here.

Alliance helps form firewood CSA
The Alliance is working with Seneca Creek Joinery to use the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model to distribute firewood.  CSAs establish a direct relationship between a farm and customers.   Seneca Creek Joinery is offering wood to residents of Takoma Park, MD who use wood stoves to lower their fossil fuel usage, that comes from the urban wood waste stream.  Customers pledge to keep the the wood covered and dry and burn hot fires in EPA certified stoves.  For more info: woodsurgeon.com
Washington Watch

National wood stove rebate program still possible
Later this week the House will consider H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, a bill authorizing new energy efficiency loan programs. A total of $4.25 billion is authorized over five years for the HOME STAR program. forgreenheat.blogspot.com

PACE programs stalled
The much heralded PACE programs, which would allow homeowners in many states to finance wood and pellet stoves and boilers with a long-term loan attached to the home's property tax bill, have ground to a halt. To read more: forgreenheat.blogspot.com

Washington Post editors question energy subsidies for the rich
A recent editorial in the Washington Post, "Low Voltage," criticized the DOE's support for a electric car battery plant on the grounds that "electric cars will be far too expensive for anyone but upper-income Americans." But why focus on electric car batteries when the exact same phenomena is occurring with residential solar PV, geothermal and wind energy? To ready more: forgreenheat.blogspot.com

LIHEAP funding to fall short for coming winter
The Alliance for Green Heat is working with heating assistance groups and trying to expand the opportunities for low income homes that use wood and pellets for heat.  LIHEAP data provides some extremely interesting insight into low income families that heat with wood.
For more:forgreenheat.blogspot.com

Playtime is Over: Why September Means Biomass Advocacy or the Consequences of Inaction
Joseph Seymour, a BTEC Program Associate, calls biomass stakeholders to action at the start of the heating season and Congress' return to session.
For more:biomassmagazine.com
From the Newsroom

National

Bill Cook, a biologist at the Michigan State University Extension runs through ten popular wood energy myths gleaned from the mainstream media and websites.

$147,000 grant to promote biomass energy conservation
The Forest Guild of New Mexico receives grant to promote innovative logging practices that sustain forests and use biomass to create energy in nine Northeast states.


Green and clueless
The most common choices made by people to reduce their carbon footprints are often the least effective.  Home weatherization, investing in efficient wood stoves and replacing old boiler filters are just some methods that can make a real difference.


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States

Residents of Fairbanks Alaska who qualify can now receive government assistance in replacing outdoor wood stoves and boilers for more efficient, cleaner, EPA approved models.  The program is part of a larger effort in Fairbanks to improve air quality.




Study finds wood heat on rise in Fairbanks
A study commissioned by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has found a 7% increase in the use of wood heat in the borough of North State in Fairbanks since 2006

Eastern Arizona changeout kick-off
The HPBA and the Arizona Chapter of the American Lung Association kicked-off the Eastern Arizona Wood-stove Changeout in June.  Funded with $750,000 from a major settlement organized by U.S. EPA, this changeout offers cash incentives for low and middle income families.

County to evaluate energy potential of waste wood for heating and cooling public buildings
Officials in Baltimore County Maryland announced that the County is working to evaluate the potential to use waste wood as a renewable source of energy for heating and cooling County buildings.

Connecticut towns move to ban outdoor furnaces
Connecticut is only New England state other than Rhode Island that still allows in the installation of the polluting traditional outdoor boilers. More towns are now seeking simply to ban them.

Outdoor wood boiler rules being drafted
The Board of Supervisors for King Georges County, New York agreed by unanimous vote to review rules addressing the use of outdoor wood boilers in the county after complaints surfaced of improperly placed and maintained wood stoves adversely effecting air quality. 
Upcoming conferences

Heating the Northeast
April 13, 2011
Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass conference will be April 13-14, 2011 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH.  Look out for the updated website at www.heatne.com. In the meantime mark your calendars and spread the word about this important event focusing on bringing together diverse interests in biomass heating fuels.

Capitol Hill briefing on renewable thermal energy and waste heat Sept. 16, 2010
On Thursday, September 16 the Environmental and Energy Study Institute is holding a briefing on Capitol Hill on how district energy systems, local renewable thermal resources and power plant "waste" heat can reduce fossil fuel use.  For more info check out eesi.org

National energy affordability conference
The National Fuel Funds Network and National Low Income Energy Consortium will host The National Energy and Utility Affordability Conference in Ft Lauderdale on June 27 - 29, 2011.   This is the largest event of its kind in the US on affordable home energy and other utilities for low-income households.The intent is to provide valuable information for energy assistance professionals and build national awareness of energy poverty. energyandutilityconference.org

EPA sustainable biofuels webinar, Sept. 21, 2010
On Tuesday, September 21, 9:30-11:00 AM biofuel stakeholders will discuss sustainability indicators and best practices throughout the biofuel supply chain.  In particular, they will look at the guiding principles of sustainability and examine policy mechanisms for managing biofuel concerns. Issues with forest sustainability will also be addressed. To register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/438027121


In this issue
From the Newsroom
Did you know?
Internship Opportunity
Quick links
Did you know?

If the U.S. reaches DOE's target of 20% of U.S. energy demand achieved with combined heat & power, it would save an estimated 5.3 quadrillion BTUs of fuel annually? (Equivalent to half of all U.S. household energy).
CHP Report 12-2008
Quote of the month
"We have 8 beautiful months here and then we have to endure 4 months of summer."
     -Stove Black Richardson,
Owner of Good Time Stove Co.
Paid Internship
The Alliance for Green Heat is currently looking for a researcher who is passionate about renewable energy policy. To learn more about this position, click here.
The Alliance welcomes:
bio picTatiana Butler

Program Manager
Tatiana is the lead researcher and coordinator for a year long project preparing a toolkit on incentivizing wood heat technologies.
more info


K
eith Krosinsky

Researcher
Keith is a senior at American University majoring in political science with a concentration on public policy
more info
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Thanks To...
 


The Alliance for Green Heat is an independent non-profit organization working to promote cleaner and more efficient biomass heating. Please consider making a generous contribution. The Alliance is tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

You can make a secure donation online through PayPal by clicking the button below.  Thank you!
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We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to all of our supporters! Your donations help us advocate for policies to help everyday Americans heat their homes sustainably and affordably.
 

Founders

--Dr. William & Frances Ackerly, the Arbolito Foundation, Family Alliance Foundation, the Ramsay Merriam Fund and Woodpellets.com

Founding members--April Bodman, Ann Down, Tina and Dave Egan, Kim Kaston, Steven R. Kaufman & JD Doliner, John Meeker, Nick Salafsky & Julie Segre, Nina Smith & John Ackerly, Tad Welch & Ali Schultheis and Anonymous.


Become A Green Heat Founding Member: Make Your Donation Here