BTEC News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2010

BTEC Launches Series of Educational Webinars on Biomass Heating and CHP
First in the free webinar series will be held September 28 at 3PM EDT

WASHINGTON, September 17 - The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) today announced the launch of a series of free educational webinars on topics important to the biomass thermal industry. The first in the series, “The Opportunity of Biomass Energy: Renewable Heating and CHP,” will be held September 28, 2010 at 3PM EDT.  This event is made possible with funding from the USDA Forest Service’s Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC).  Advance registration is required and is available online at www2.gotomeeting.com/register/805300683. 

This webinar will provide an overview of the biomass thermal industry, including market background, woody and non-woody feedstocks, supply chains, economic impacts, available technologies, and potential challenges and opportunities. Featured presenters include Charlie Niebling, General Manager of New England Wood Pellet, T.J. Morice, Vice-President of Operations and Marketing at Marth Wood Supply, and Kyle Gibeault, Deputy Director of BTEC.

“The potential of biomass energy in the U.S. is extraordinary. On a number of levels, heating or CHP with biomass makes economic and environmental sense,” said Mr. Gibeault. “We are excited to be offering these webinars free of charge to anyone interested in learning about the opportunity of biomass thermal energy.”

In June 2010, the USDA Forest Service awarded BTEC a grant to advance education and outreach on biomass thermal energy.  The grant project will produce an array of educational tools, including fact sheets, web resources, webinars, audio interviews, and a slide presentation for use by all stakeholders. All tools are free and will be publicly accessible on the BTEC website at www.biomassthermal.org/resource.

For more information on the webinar or the grant, contact;

Joseph Seymour
Program Associate
Biomass Thermal Energy Council
joseph.seymour@biomassthermal.org
202-597-3974 x302

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About BTEC
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) is an association of biomass fuel producers, appliance manufacturers and distributors, supply chain companies and non-profit organizations that view biomass thermal energy as a renewable, responsible, clean and energy-efficient pathway to meeting America’s energy needs. BTEC engages in research, education, and public advocacy for the fast growing biomass thermal energy industry. 

About WERC
The USDA Forest Service's Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) is located in Princeton, WV, and is administered by the agency's Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry organization. The Center's mission is to work with the forest products industry toward sustainable forest products production for the eastern hardwood forest region. The Center provides state-of-the-art training, technology transfer, networking opportunities, applied information.