The Vermont School Woodchip Users Conference has been held annually since 1996. It provides information, support, and networking opportunities for Vermont’s woodchip users, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and supporting service providers.

The conference is intended for operators of woodchip heating systems and those considering systems, woodchip suppliers, equipment vendors, and anyone interested in woodchip heating systems.

This year’s conference, held on February 24 at the Danville High School in Danville, brought together nearly 100 attendees who discussed a range of issues and shared knowledge and practical experiences, including:

• current and future chip prices
• barriers to multi-year supply contracts
• harvesting and chipping considerations
• chip quality and combustion efficiency (moisture content, species, sawmill versus bole)
• forest management
• supply transport distances and truckload weights
• onsite delivery and storage
• the lack of young people entering logging occupations

In addition, experts were on hand from the private sector and state agencies to present current information on biomass system air quality and emissions (notably fine particulate matter or PM), PM control devices, and possible upcoming policy and regulations for operating biomass systems in schools.  BERC Executive Director Christopher Recchia moderated the panel.

Following are PDF versions of the PowerPoint presentations given by the day’s speakers:

Update on Chip Supply and Market Trends
Presented by Paul Frederick, Wood Utilization Specialist, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation

Particulate Matter Emissions: Testing of Institutional Wood-Fired Boilers
Presented by Steven Snook, Air Pollution Control Division, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Emissions Controls for Wood-Fired Boilers
Presented by John Hinckley, Senior Associate, Resource Systems Group (RSG)

Economics Update and Results of Chip Fuel Survey
Presented by Norm Etkind, Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association’s School Energy Management Program

The results of the Vermont School Woodchip Fuel Survey are broken out between a summary of all Vermont schools and a break out of those schools with modern wood-energy systems.

The day also included a tribute by Scudder Parker to the late Norm Hudson, affectionately known to many as "Mr. Chips," who was an early pioneer of woodchip heating in Vermont.  The conference concluded with a tour of Danville High School's woodchip system facility.

The 2009 Annual Vermont School Woodchip Users Conference was organized by the Vermont Superintendents Association's School Energy Management Program, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and the Vermont Department of Public Service; and sponsored by the Biomass Energy Resource Center.

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