December '11

Homeowners may soon see reduced energy bills awarded as a tax credit which would earn $2,000 to 5,000 for home energy savings. Wood pellet users should qualify under the legislation introduced in the U.S .Senate. For more information see the "Cut Energy Bills at Home Act".

November '11

The Days Creek Charter School in rural Douglas County recently completed installation of a wood pellet-powered heating system. An energy audit projected that the biomass system will save $6,580 in energy costs per year compared to the average $22,000 spent annually on the old system.

October '11

2010 Census figures show the number of households heating with wood grew 34% between 2000 and 2010, faster than any other heating fuel. The rise of wood pellets in home heating is driven by the climbing cost of oil, the economic downturn and the movement to use renewable energy.

September '11

With oil and propane prices high and wood pellet prices at an all-time low, consumers are switching from petroleum-based fuels to wood pellets for heating their homes this winter. Typical homeowners can cut heating costs by up to 40% by switching from oil or propane to wood pellets.

August '11

FAQ: How much of an impact can one pellet stove make? Each installation of a pellet appliance in a single-family home in a cool climate can reduce about 9 tons of carbon emissions annually. That is about three times the impact of buying a hybrid car. Source: Alliance for Green Heat.

June '11

Senators Merkley (D-OR), Bennett (D-CO), Carper (D-DE), and Udall (D-NM) introduced legislation that would implement a loan program to replace heating oil with biomass heating systems in eligible buildings. This bill is intended to encourage building owners to improve their thermal energy delivery systems in an effort to reduce oil dependency and promote national energy security. Senate Bill 1294 has been referred to the Committee on Finance.

April '11

Wood heat is the most popular form of residential renewable energy in America today, with more installations than solar, wind, geothermal, and hybrid cars combined.

March '11

FAQ: Are there still tax credits available? Yes. As of January, 2011, there is a federal tax credit of 10% of purchase of a wood or pellet stove that is at least 75% efficient up to $300. Oregon also offers state incentives. The Residential Energy Tax Credit allows a tax credit in the first year of installation. The credit has a maximum of $300 or 25% of the system cost, whichever is less. The program expires 12/31/2011. Oregon also provides an additional minor incentive with a $10 tax credit per ton of pellets purchased each year.

February '11

The Alliance for Green Heat released the "State Residential Biomass Report Card" to assess how each US state is tapping the potential and managing the drawbacks of residential wood heat. Oregon was one of only three states receiving an "A".

January '11

FAQ: Which areas of the world are most advanced in their use of biomass heating? Countries like Austria, Germany, and Sweden have pioneered the use of biomass fuels. These countries have particularly advanced pellet furnaces used as primary sources of heat in many residences, displacing oil furnaces in most new home builds.