01.25.07
2007 Annual Biomass Heating Conference Report
(See end of story for links to conference photos and presentations)
Growing Interest in Heating Schools with Biomass Draws Many to Vermont Conference
Open exchange of ideas and experiences provided a range of information for current and potential new users of biomass fuel for schools
Below-zero to single-digit temperatures provided an appropriate setting for the 2007 annual Biomass Heating Conference that took place on January 25th at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph. The conference, which focuses on biomass heating for schools, brought together current biomass system operators, potential new users, biomass fuel suppliers, biomass system vendors, school administrators and board members, and experts from state agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Tim Maker, executive director of Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC), a nonprofit based in Montpelier, opened the conference by welcoming the crowd of 100, a number that has steadily grown over the 15 years that the conference has been held. Maker introduced “Vermont Fuels For Schools,”* an initiative among BERC and Vermont’s state education, energy, and forestry agencies to accelerate the pace at which schools in Vermont install wood-heating systems. Currently, 20 percent of all public school students in the state attend wood-heated schools.
Maker dedicated the day’s gathering to Norm Hudson, a lifelong Vermont forester, now retired, whose vision of the productive and sustainable use of Vermont’s forests included that they serve as a local source for primary heating fuel. Throughout the day, several conference speakers echoed Maker’s sentiment about this early pioneer in woodchip energy use.
Chuck Ross, Vermont director for US Senator Patrick Leahy, spoke on behalf of the Senator by underscoring the environmental necessity of using alternative, renewable energy. Noting the rapidly deteriorating state of the environment in several areas—ground water, fish supplies, coral reefs, estuaries, and the rainforest—he said “biomass represents one of the arrows in the quiver of hope” in confronting this ecological degradation.
The first conference session was broken out into two concurrent tracks to better address the informational needs of the two different groups: owners and operators of existing biomass systems, and those considering the installation of one. The session was followed by the two groups reconvening for presentations and discussion on the current status of the wood fuel supply. Considered to be a key factor in using wood for fuel, the question was raised about its price in the next three-to-five years. Charlie Niebling from New England Wood Pellet offered that when he is asked this question, he responds that if the person is able to get an oil, electric, and gas supplier to come up with a figure three-to-five years out, he too might be able to predict his costs.
Participants broke for lunch and had the opportunity to speak with one another and visit various displays set up around the room by biomass experts, system vendors, and fuel suppliers. The conference wrapped up with a site visit to nearby Randolph Union High School, which has been successfully operating a woodchip heating system for more than 10 years. Fuel supplier Dave Johnson from A. Johnson Sawmill in Bristol, Vermont, arranged for a 25-ton woodchip delivery to the school to coincide with the site visit. Cold notwithstanding, participants crowded around to watch as the self-unloading tractor trailer (also known as a live-bottom trailer) neatly poured the woodchips into the underground bin for conveyance to the boiler room. Randolph Union High system operator Mike Lonergan was on hand, among other experts, to answer questions about his experience working with woodchip heating.
* Vermont Fuels For Schools (VFFS) is a statewide initiative to promote and encourage the use of a renewable, local natural resource to provide reliable heat for Vermont schools. It provides schools with the information and support they need to evaluate and successfully implement biomass-based heating systems that replace expensive fossil fuels with locally supplied biomass fuel. VFFS is an initiative of Biomass Energy Resource Center in collaboration with the Vermont Superintendent’s Association’s School Energy Management Program (SEMP); and in cooperation with Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Department of Education, and Vermont Department of Public Service; with funding from the US Department of Energy through the support of Senator Patrick Leahy.
Conference Presentations:
- School Construction Program. Brief outline and Q & A on Vermont State construction reimbursement aid for schools that install a wood-heating system. Presented by Cassandra Ryan, School Construction, VT Department of Education.
- Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Analysis. Brief overview of the process in determining the financial practicality of installing a wood-fired heating system using a BERC-developed LCC analysis tool. Presented by Kamalesh Doshi, Program Director, BERC.
- Biomass Heating Technologies. An overview of biomass feedstocks, storage, handling, and heat distribution. Presented by Kamalesh Doshi, Program Director, BERC.
- Air-Quality and Permitting Issues for Wood-Fired Boilers at Schools. Compares air-quality levels of various heating fuels and equipment designs as well as the permitting process. Presented by Steve Snook, VT Agency of Natural Resources.
- Sawmill Chips for Heating. Covers types of woodchips, how they are produced, factors influencing supply, and sugestions for schools planning woodchip systems for heating. Presented by Dave Johnson, Manager, A. Johnson Sawmill Company.
- Heating with Pellet Fuels. A primer in wood pellet use, manufacturing, technology, and availability. Presented by Charlie Niebling, New England Wood Pellet.