Coming off a long, harsh winter during which some retailers ran short of bagged wood pellets, the Maine Pellet Fuels Association is urging homeowners to stock up for the future season.
“Maine’s four pellet plants have significantly expanded their capacity and are producing ’round the clock,” stated Bill Bell, the association’s executive director.
Bell noted, “Maine has the best-developed industry infrastructure of any state in the country for home heating with wood pellets. We are producing a lot more pellets than ever before. Smart homeowners should take advantage, right now.”
He said homes with central heating pellet boilers are guaranteed delivery at all times, but that pellet stove owners “need to plan and purchase ahead, just as if they were still heating with cordwood.”
The Pellet Fuels Association reports that Corinth Pellets, which was purchased by a Maine family business in early 2014, has since that time been undertaking major changes and has more than tripled its annual production capacity, from 30,000 tons/year to the current 100,000 tons/year. Maine Woods Pellet Company in Athens is currently also significantly expanding its production capacity. Northeast Pellets in Ashland and Geneva Wood Fuels in Strong have undertaken major manufacturing upgrades as well. All four firms are currently producing around-the-clock, or close to it.
According to the association, these four firms employ a total of 100 people in their manufacturing plants and over 500 when wood harvesting operations are included.
“Maine homeowners really understand the meaning of ‘Heat Local,’” stated Bell. “They know that wood pellets remain cheaper than oil, even at oil’s present price, and that every dollar spent on wood pellets stays right here in Maine, with no net greenhouse gas emissions.”
