Biomass Thermal Energy Council Update
| October 2011
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Dear Emanuel,
Welcome to the October Issue of BTEC's Newsletter. Plenty of exciting events are happening in the next few months, including the Membership Meeting, elections of the Board of Directors, the Biomass DC Thermal Summit and new webinars. If you want to become engaged in BTEC's many activities, participate in the Thermal Summit or Membership Meeting, join BTEC now. Membership starts at $300 for 12 months. Learn more at www.biomassthermal.org/membership. So without further ado, here are this month's highlights: |
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Thermal Summit / Membership Meeting November 15-16, 2011
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BTEC's 2011 Membership Meeting and the Thermal Summit are scheduled for November 15-16, 2011. The Membership Meeting on November 15 will include elections of the Board of Directors. The preliminary draft agenda is as follows:
BTEC Annual Membership  November 15, 2011, 2:30 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET 2:30 Welcome and Call to Order 2:35 Year-In-Review: Chairman and Staff Report 3:05 Guest Outlook: Biomass in Congress Update 3:35 Election of the Board of Directors 3:45 2012 Program Plan 4:10 General Q&A 4:20 Closing Remarks/Call to Action 4:30 Official Adjourn to Location TBD The most up-to-date information on the membership meeting is available on the BTEC website >>. To attend the Membership Meeting and the Thermal Summit, join BTEC today >>.  The Biomass Thermal DC Summit, which will take place on November 16, will be a broad outreach effort by a dozen industry and environment groups such as the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, ACORE's Biomass Coordinating Council, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Pinchot Institute and Pellet Fuels Institute among others who support a stronger role for thermal energy in U.S. energy policy, led by BTEC. Plans for the Summit are currently under development, but will include numerous meetings with Congressional representatives, a Congressional Briefing and a reception. We will continue to update you with further details when they become available. More information about the Summit >>
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BTEC Co-organizing Northeast Biomass Heating Expo 2012
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BTEC will co-organize the 4th Annual Northeast Biomass Heating Expo 2012 (S  uccessor to the Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass Conference). The event will take place on March 22 -23, 2012 in, Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 ( saratogacitycenter.org). Building on the success of three previous conferences held in Manchester, New Hampshire, the conference is moving to a larger venue that is central to a vital area of growth for biomass heating that stretches from Western Pennsylvania to Northern Maine. Abstract Deadline and Submission Instructions
If interested in submitting an abstract or project nomination, follow these simple steps: - Read the abstract instructions form (access here>>)
- Then complete the abstracts form (access here >>)
- Finally, complete the abstract form and submit by December 1, 2011 to abstracts@nebiomassheat.com , mail to NEBHE2012, c/o BTEC, 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20036, or fax to 202-223-5537
Presentation Criteria
The Program Committee is looking for presentations in specific topic areas, identified on the instructions form above.
We also welcome new workshop ideas. In addition, the conference will feature a "Real Projects" workshop where project developers can summarize exciting installations, new technologies, or innovative ideas. This workshop featured 8 presentations in 2011 and was very well received.
Please make sure to save the date, consider exhibiting or sponsoring the conference. More information is available at www.nebiomassheat.com |
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BTEC, RPG Receive Grant to Promote Biomass Thermal
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The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) and Resource Professional Group (RPG), a BTEC member, were awarded a $70,000 grant by the U.S. Forest Service's Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC). The project will promote energy cost savings and environmental improvement of commercial buildings by educating building architects and biomass appliance manufacturers on wood energy.  The project was influenced by the study "Report of Key Findings: Architects and Energy Professionals-The Missing Link in Wood Energy." Eighty percent of the HVAC designers who responded to the WERC-funded study said they saw woody biomass use as a way to produce energy efficiently, but had concerns about emissions, resource protection, system reliability and operation convenience. The project is designed to address those concerns by bringing manufacturers and HVAC engineers together. Read more >>To learn more about the grant or find out how to get involved, contact Emanuel Wagner (202) 596-3974 x360 or emanuel.wagner@biomassthermal.org. |
Next BTEC Webinar Oct 19 - Focus on the Northeast
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The next BTEC webinar supported by the extended Forest Service WERC grant is titled "Regional Perspectives: The Northeast" on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT).
With federal renewable efforts delayed due to fiscal concerns, activity on renewable thermal initiatives has shifted towards states and regions. Regional advocacy groups, proposed legislation, and regional-focused market data will provide an overview of challenges and opportunities on the increased use of woody-biomass for thermal energy purposes. This will be a three-part seriesfocusing on the regions Northeast, Midwest and West.
View this webinar and learn:
- The Northeast's vast resource potential for biomass heat
- How wood heating can help create jobs in the Northeast
- Ways to overcome technical and logistical challenges
- Successful policies on the state-level and how they may be implemented regionally
This webinar will feature:
- Bill Strauss, President of FutureMetrics
- Scott Nichols, President of Tarm Biomass
- Neil Veilleux, Project Consultant, Meister Consultants Group
- Joe Seymour, Acting Executive Director as Moderator
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2010 Census Shows Wood is Fastest Growing Heating Fuel
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 By Alliance for Green Heat
October 10, 2011
Recently released U.S. Census figures show the number of households heating with wood grew 34 percent between 2000 and 2010, faster than any other heating fuel. Electricity showed the second fastest growth, with a 24 percent increase over the past decade. In two states, households using wood as a primary heat source more than doubled-Michigan (135 percent) and Connecticut (122 percent). And in six other states, wood heating grew by more than 90 percent-New Hampshire (99 percent), Massachusetts (99 percent), Maine (96 percent), Rhode Island (96 percent), Ohio (95 percent) and Nevada (91 percent). Read more >> |
25x'25 Renewable Energy Goal to Create Millions of New Jobs
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 Ernie Shea, 25x'25 and Burton English, BEAG
September 25, 2011
With the United States on a path to achieving the 25x'25 clean energy goal, an estimated 1.4 million new jobs would be created by 2015, 2.9 million jobs by 2020, and 4.7 million by 2025, according to a University of Tennessee study. Released by the 25x'25 Alliance, 25% Renewable Energy for the United States by 2025: An Analysis on Jobs Created By Meeting this Goal shows that the jobs will be created by annual economic growth in the renewable energy sector, reaching $208 billion by 2015, $411 billion in 2020, and $646 billion by 2025.Read more >> |
Biomass Industry News
| This section features a selection of noteworthy biomass news which BTEC members receive. More updates are available through BTEC's twitter feed >>.
Project Development
As the United States biomass thermal and power industry continues to expand, new reliable technologies offering higher efficiency solutions must be introduced. The newly introduced EOS series biomass gasification boiler is among the most energy efficient of AESI's high-performance, low-maintenance biomass energy plants. Read more >> State and Federal Policy & Regulatory Developments
ME - GreenME Biomass Project Awarded $1.9 million Grant The Northern Maine Development Commission was awarded a $1.9 million grant to replace or supplement heating oil furnaces with wood biomass units in businesses and homes. Read more >> AK - Sealaska Strategy Helps it get through Recession Native corporation explores feasibility of developing a pelleting plant in Southeast Alaska. Read more >> Regional Activities IA - UI officials Tout Renewable Energy at Meeting
The vast portion of UI Director of Renewable Energy, Ferman Millster's speech focused on biomass, which is the process of using plant matter to generate energy. UI is well positioned to generate power from biomass, he said, because of its multi-million-dollar investment in biomass boilers, which burn wood chips to produce steam and hot water. Read more >>
MT - No Timber Suppliers Bid on Contract to Feed UM's Biomass Boiler
UM is proposing to use 16,400 tons of ground wood per year to feed its $16 million biomass boiler, which is slated for construction adjacent to the existing heating plant on campus. The university predicts the project will reduce its carbon footprint by 22 percent and save $1 million in natural gas expenses.However, they are having difficulty finding a supplier for high quality pellets. Read more >>
MT - 3 UM forestry professors receive $1.1M grant to study biomass
The University of Montana announced Monday that three forestry professors have received a $1.1 million grant to study woody biomass as an economical and efficient energy source. That research will take place simultaneous to UM's efforts to switch from using primarily natural gas to woody biomass to heat the campus. Read more >>
CO - Study Finds Biomass Heating Project Viable for Valley
There is enough wood supply in and around the Roaring Fork Valley to use biomass for heating purposes and a carbon-negative, energy-positive result, a new study has concluded. Read more >>
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New Publications
| This section features new research papers, studies and publications relevant to the biomass thermal industry. Major publications are available on the BTEC website, under Resource Center - Publications. See all publications >>
Monthly Energy Review
US Energy Information Administration
During the first half of 2011, renewable energy sources (biomass & biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, wind) provided 4.687 quadrillion Btus of energy or 12.25% of U.S. energy production. By comparison, renewables accounted for 11.05% of domestic production during the first half of 2010 and 10.50% during the first half of 2009. (On the consumption side, which includes oil and other energy imports, renewable sources accounted for 9.45% of total U.S. energy use.)
More significantly, energy production from renewable energy sources in 2011 was 17.91% more than that from nuclear power, which provided 3.975 quadrillion Btus and has been declining in recent years. Energy from renewable sources is now equal to 79.83% of that from domestic crude oil production, with the gap closing rapidly. Read more >>
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Conferences & Events
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For a complete overview of upcoming conferences, workshops and events, visit http://www.biomassthermal.org/events. To take advantage of discounts of up to $250 per event, become a member of BTEC. Join here >>BTEC Supported Events:
Southeast Biomass Conference & Trade Show
Date: November 1-3, 2011
Location: Atlanta, GA
More Info: http://se.biomassconference.com
BTEC Member Discount: $250
Details: The event will connect the Southeast's current and future producers of biomass-derived electricity, industrial heat and power, and advanced biofuels with a vast array of industry stakeholders in the region. The program will include more than 60 speakers within four tracks: Electricity Generation; Industrial Heat & Power; Biorefining; and Project Development & Finance.
European Pellet Conference
Date: February 29 - March 1, 2012Location: Wels/Upper Austria
More Info: http://www.wsed.at/en/programme/european-pellet-conference/
Details: The European Pellet Conference is the largest annual pellet event in the world. Drawing more than 600 participants, this year's conference will include specialized sessions such as the "Pellet Academy" and "World Pellet Business Forum," giving opportunities for in-depth information and interactive training on technologies, standards, as well as examples of product and service innovation, R & D results, business models, finance, inspirational case studies, etc.
4th Annual Northeast Biomass Heating Expo 2012
Date: March 22 -23, 2012 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
More info: http://nebiomassheat.com
BTEC Member Discount: TBD
Details:The Northeast Biomass Heating Expo is the successor to three very successful annual Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass conferences held in Manchester, New Hampshire. The 2012 Expo will be held at a new venue that is central to a vital area of growth for biomass heating stretching from Western Pennsylvania to Northern Maine. The City Center in Saratoga Springs, New York, will be the site of the 2012 Expo. In addition to the committed New England industry leaders who have attended past conferences, we look forward to welcoming many new registrants and exhibitors from New York and Pennsylvania.
Other noteworthy events:
2011 Midwest Biomass Conference
Date: Dubuque, Iowa
Location: November 2-3, 2011
More Info: http://www.midwestbiomassconference.com/index.html
Details: The conference will feature speakers and discussion pertaining to direct use biomass applications, feedstock development and existing resources, feedstock harvest transportation and logistics and biomass market development in the Midwest.
Kentucky Agricultural Summit
Date: November 17-18, 2011
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
More info: www.kyagsummit.com
Early Registration Discount: Now through October 18, 2011
Details: The Ag Summit aims to paint the broad landscape of issues the ag community as a whole is facing nationally and internationally. We are bringing together expert speakers from around the country who will document the paradigm shift that is taking place in agriculture around the world. It will also include a Pre-Summit Symposium on Bioenergy - a field that holds important opportunities for all parts of our state and sectors of agriculture - from forestry to row crops to many new forms of biomass being developed and for which commercial markets are emerging. |
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