Midwest (OH, IL, IN, WI, MI, IA) 2014 Early Buy - Green Bay, WI

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program.

Their prices are up from last year, some very substantial.

A maple hardwood variety is up $39 per ton, from $169 to $208. The manufacturer said that "Midwest raw material demand for forestry fiber to supply pulp & paper, sawmills and dry kilns is causing pricing to bump this year which was elevated by the propane shortage and cold winter".

An oak hardwood variety is up $8 per ton, from $191 to $199. ESES's own softwood blend is up $4 per ton from $211 to $215. A ponderosa pine variety is up $2 per 1.2 ton, from $267 to $269. A douglas fir variety is up $48 per ton, from $258 to $301. Another douglas fir variety is up $19 per ton, from $287 to $306. And Bear Mountain went up $2 per ton, from $321 to $323.

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2015.

Most of their prices are up from last year, some very substantial.

A maple hardwood variety is up $10 per ton, from $208 to $218. An oak hardwood variety is up $48 per ton, from $199 to $247. ESES's own softwood blend is up $6 per ton from $215 to $221. A ponderosa pine variety is up $16 per 1.2 ton, from $269 to $285. A douglas fir varieties are same as last year. One at $301 per ton, another at $306 per ton and Bear Mountain at $323 per ton.

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2016.

Most of their prices are down from last year, some very substantial.

Hay Creek - Mixed hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $178/ton
Marth - Maple hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $180/ton
Northern Elite - Maple hardwood - 0.4% ash 8000 BTU $199/ton
Pro Pellet - Mixed hardwood - 0.4% ash 8100 BTU $201/ton
Uncle Jed's Southern - Oak hardwood - 0.33% ash 8250 BTU $241/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $217/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $267/1.2 ton
Pinnacle - Douglas fir - 0.25% ash 8500 BTU $294/ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $314/ton

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2016.

Most of their prices are down from last year, some very substantial.

Do you still have to join their "buyer's club" to get the preferred rates? That was about $40 the last time I considered it, IIRC.

 

[Former Farmer]

Do you still have to join their "buyer's club" to get the preferred rates? That was about $40 the last time I considered it, IIRC.

Yes - $42 per year.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Yeah, that extra charge frosts me a little. I burn 8 tons in a cold winter, so to doesn't amount to much per ton. But it's the principle of the thing. I guess it works for them business-wise.

 

[Former Farmer]

Yeah, that extra charge frosts me a little. I burn 8 tons in a cold winter, so to doesn't amount to much per ton. But it's the principle of the thing. I guess it works for them business-wise.

If you pay for your pellets via cash or check, they will take $7 off per pallet/ton. It offsets the cost of the fee for the buyers club. Also, if you take back good 40" x 48" pallets, they pay you $3 per pallet.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2017.

Easy Heat - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $152/ton
Marth - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $180/ton
Uncle Jed's Southern - Oak hardwood - 0.33% ash 8250 BTU $199/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $227/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $279/1.2 ton
Pinnacle - Douglas fir - 0.25% ash 8500 BTU $292/ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $314/ton

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Thanks for the list, FF. I've been pretty happy burning the Marth Hardwoods in my boiler. The price on Easy Heats is tempting, though.

 

[Former Farmer]

It has been a few years since I have updated the prices. See any trends?

Still have to pay $42 per year to "belong" to their buyers club. Cash discount is $5 per skid.

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2020.

Easy Heat - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $204/ton
Marth - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $237/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $249/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $342/1.2 ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $344/ton

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

The cheap pellets have gone up in price this year, to the point where it's not worth the extra trouble of burning them. I'd happily pay an extra $12/ton for Jed's softies over mediocre Marths (which I thought are more ashy this year and not as hot as they have been in the past).

 

[Former Farmer]

I have been trying some of the Dejnos Hardwood Pellets this year in our Castile insert. They are more ashy than the Jed's softies, but seem to put out the same amount of heat. They are going locally for $225 per ton. I got lucky this last year as my local dealer had some water damaged ones that he had purchased for a discount. I was able to purchase 5 ton for $155 per ton. That will last me a couple of years burning them in the insert. He had sorted out the water damage and I received good quality pellets.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I've been burning Dejnos hardwood and Somersets for most of the winter. I'd say the Dejnos produce more ash than Somersets as well ... as far as heat output is concerned, I'd give the nod slightly to the Somersets. Still, Dejnos are head and shoulders better than the Marth pellets I burned last fall.

$155/ton is a major bargain ... $225/ton is still a pretty good deal. A hardware store near me has them for $234.50/ton. If they have any left I may pick up a ton this week to top off my stash.

A year or two ago I ran into some bargains, including nearly a ton of Uncle Jed's Southern Hardwood pellets a friend of a friend wanted to get rid of. They were a very good southern oak pellet. It looks like EarthSense doesn't offer them anymore. Too bad.

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2021.

Still have to pay $42 per year to "belong" to their buyers club. Cash discount is $5 per skid.

Easy Heat - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $224/ton
Marth - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $238/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $256/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $339/1.2 ton
Pinnacle - Fir - 0.25% ash 8600 BTU $317/ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $351/ton

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2022.

Still have to pay $42 per year to "belong" to their buyers club. Cash discount is $5 per skid.


Pro Pellet - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $244/ton
Marth - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $244/ton
Easy Heat - Hardwood - .6% ash 8000 BTU $250/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $279/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $363/1.2 ton
Pinnacle - Fir - 0.25% ash 8600 BTU $354/ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $384/ton

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

They're charging more for Easy Heats than Pro Pellets ... not what I would have expected.

 

[ABusWrench]

They're charging more for Easy Heats than Pro Pellets ... not what I would have expected.

Hahaha! I was thinking the same thing! Scored a ton of Magic Spark for the first time, burnt very nice. Haven't seen any Pro Pellets lately. I won't ever burn Easy Heat again. Had a ton of Marth, wasn't impressed, lots of fines, very dusty and low heat. Also had a ton of AWF and was impressed, burned real nice, good heat, low fines and moderate dust. Everything I burnt this season has been on the lower side for ash, at least as hardwoods go. Still haven't seen a softwood pellet around here, though I wouldn't pay the prices they're asking for them.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

The local Menards had some Magic Spark pellets recently while they had a sale, so I bought a ton. They're very good, which I'd expect from what I understand is Pro Pellets in a different bag. I'd buy another ton if I could get it for $225 but, unfortunately, that ship has sailed.

My local TSC has come up with some softwood pellets from South Dakota, Rapid Heat. I picked up a few bags to try them out. They're pricier than I like at $4.99 a bag, but they are softwoods, and I suppose that makes them worth the cost to some people. To me they're nothing special. Everything burns well in my Harman, and the ash pan is big enough that I don't have to empty it for weeks regardless of the pellet. I have over a ton of Marths in the basement. They're adequate, burn OK and produce OK heat. I like them fine as long as they're cheap.

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2023.

Still have to pay $42 per year to "belong" to their buyers club. Cash discount is $5 per skid.

Hay Creek - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $247/ton
Marth - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $276/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $286/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $396/1.2 ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $402/ton

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2023.

Still have to pay $42 per year to "belong" to their buyers club. Cash discount is $5 per skid.

Hay Creek - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $247/ton
Marth - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $276/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $286/ton
"Red" Western Elite - Ponderosa pine - 0.3% ash 8500 BTU $396/1.2 ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $402/ton

Jed's softies look like the bargain of the group. I was disappointed with Marth pellets this season, won't be buying them again.

 

[Former Farmer]

I bought 6 ton of Jed's softies. With the buyers club and cash discount, they ended up at $288 per ton. I have them all here and stacked in the garage already. Those will last me 3 years as I don't use the PB105 much anymore with the cost of pellets versus propane. They will be used mostly for our Castile insert.

I had tried Marth pellets years agao and wasn't impressed with them at all. A lot of fines and ash.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I'm seeing some of the big-box vendors cutting their prices a bit. My local TSC has Pro Pellets for $280, and Menards just kicked in their 11% rebate sale, cutting prices to $268. I had a bunch of rebate chits piled up, so took home a ton of Indeck pellets. Indecks have improved over the years, IMO. Right now my stash is a mix of Indeck, Pros and Dejnos. I think the Dejnos were $285. I'd say Dejnos are the best of the lot.

 

[Former Farmer]

Earth Sense Energy Systems has their new pricing for early buy program for 2024.

Still have to pay $42 per year to "belong" to their buyers club. These are cash/check prices. Debit or credit card, add 3%.

Hay Creek - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $258/ton
Lignetics (formerly Marth) - Hardwood - 0.5% ash 8000 BTU $272/ton
Uncle Jed's Softwood - Spruce & pine - 0.33% ash 8450 BTU $294/ton
Uncle Jed's Douglas Fir - Bear Mountain - 0.2% ash 8600 BTU $437/ton

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Earth Sense should start carrying Indecks or, better yet, Dejnos. Hay Creek are crap and Marth aren't much better.