Pellet business heats up

ASHLAND, Maine — Business is picking up at Northeast Pellets, according to owner Matt Bell, who provided state and local officials a tour of the facility on Oct. 2, 2014.
“UMFK, NMCC and the Mapleton Fire Department, among others, are using our pellets. We produce about 15,000 tons annually,” said Bell.
He said his delivery service has proven to be quite successful.
“We use a walk-in trailer. The floor system shuffles, working the wood product to the back door,” said Bell. “We can go to places without a dumper. This makes delivery easy.”
“We deliver truckloads of bagged pellets, 26 tons at a time, to local retailers. Bulk delivery is done by Daigle Oil Co. and Agri-Cal (Houlton). We sell a 4.5 ton bag that can be installed at a residence and filled by either DOC or Agri-Cal. They also sell other storage bins and devices.
Pellets can be purchased by the ton in 25- and 40-pound bags, as well as loose bulk.
Bell said he’d be at NMCC on Oct. 22 to help mark National Bioenergy Day.
“We will be doing a bulk delivery demonstration on Oct. 22 at the college in recognition of National Bioenergy Day. The public is welcome to come check out how deliveries are done and tour NMCC’s pellet boiler. I and other representatives will also be on site to answer any questions,” he said.
Sen. Angus King was one of the officials touring the facility. He asked Bell where he got his raw materials for the pellets.
“The flooring mill across the road, the Irving and Masardis mills, as well as Louisiana Pacific,” responded Bell.
He explained that pellets are made from a wood mixture.
“We get a mix of wood which is then placed into the bin and ground down for pellet production,” said Bell.
King noted it didn’t take long for the business to get up and running again after the fire a few years ago.
“The fire occurred in 2009. We were back on line in 2011. We currently employ 16 people. We work two shifts, usually 12 hours each. We can add staff as demand picks up,” said Bell.
King was impressed by the facility’s use of sustainable materials.
“I love the fact you’re keeping the energy money in Maine,” said King, noting, “I have a bill in Congress to treat pellets the same as wind or solar, to provide a tax credit to homeowners.”
Bell said he works closely with Efficiency Maine, which works with homeowners, providing rebates on products like appliances and heating systems from time to time.
Northeast Pellets can be purchased throughout northern Maine, at stores located in: Caribou, Easton, Fort Kent, Houlton, Limestone, Lincoln, Madawaska, Patten, Presque Isle and Washburn. For more information, visit www.northeastpellets.net or look on Facebook for Northeast Pellets LLC.