New England Wood Pellet News

[Eric Johnson]

I got this from the New Hampshire Timberland Owners' Assoc.'s monthly newsletter:


New England Wood Pellet Commences Construction of Wood Pellet Bagging and Distribution Plant in Palmer Massachusetts

In a move designed to rapidly enhance wood pellet fuel availability in the
northeast, New England Wood Pellet LLC has begun construction of a $1.5 million wood
pellet bagging and distribution plant in Palmer Massachusetts. The plant will be
operational by September. The company has a five-year agreement with British
Columbia pellet manufacturer, Houston Pellet Inc. to import by bulk rail about
82,500 tons of premium wood pellets annually (enough fuel to heat over 27,000
average homes.)

The new facility will employ about eight people. Demand for wood pellets has
increased significantly in response to increases in oil, propane and natural gas
prices in recent years. Consumers are also showing increasing preference for clean
burning, "carbon neutral", renewable energy products. New England Wood Pellet's
Jaffrey New Hampshire facility produces over 80,000 tons per year, all of which has
been fully allocated to dealers through 2007.

You are invited to attend the dedication and ribbon-cutting of a new $1.5 million
facility

A new 20,000 square foot research, development and manufacturing facility dedicated
to design, testing, and full scale fabrication of wood pellet manufacturing
equipment and machinery (the first such facility in the United States) will have a
ribbon cutting ceremony at 4pm on Wednesday, August, 9, 2006 (rain or shine) at 415
Squantum Road, Jaffrey NH. BioFuel Energy Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of
New England Wood Pellet LLC. Special Guests will include the Honorable John Lynch,
Governor, State of New Hampshire and Clay Hollister, Jaffrey Board of Selectmen
among others. For more information call Charlie Niebling at 603-532-4666 x202 or
write [email protected].

 

[begreen]

Good news, infrastructure helps. I was surprised to see that the pellets coming from the west coast. Still, I hope that helps the east with costs.

 

[Sandor]

A NEW manufacturing plant opens in the US. Thats news!

 

[Harley]

A NEW manufacturing plant opens in the US. Thats news!

And a new manufacturing plant opens in Massachusetts????? That's more than news.... That's Amazing :bug:

 

[Mike Wilson]

A NEW manufacturing plant opens in the US. Thats news!

And a new manufacturing plant opens in Massachusetts????? That's more than news.... That's Amazing :bug:

Ahh yes... American laborers hard at work at our brand new facility...

Putting Canadian pellets into plastic bags. yay. :-S

Well, at least we'll hopefuly see cheaper pellets here on the Right coast. Go Canada!

-- Mike

 

[Eric Johnson]

Actually, they're breaking ground shortly on another 100,000 ton-per-year pellet mfg. plant in Central New York. Just a few miles from my house, as it happens. I think their target is to have it up and running by the start of the 2007 heating season. So that's a new manufacturing plant in New York State--even more amazing.

 

[daninohio]

I know of one pellet plant coming on-line this fall in southern, central Ohio. I believe it is supposed to be a manufacturing facility, not a rebagging distributor.

 

[daninohio]

A link for the curious:

(broken link removed to http://www.peoplesdefender.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=123480&SectionID=13&SubSectionID=83&S=1)

(Happens to be in the county as my tree farm . . . that's why I noticed this.)

 

[Eric Johnson]

That's not too encouraging, Dan. Sounds like they're trading 130 jobs for quite a few less.

 

[Sandor]

That's not too encouraging, Dan. Sounds like they're trading 130 jobs for quite a few less.

Eric, what do you do for a living? Sounds like you rather connected.

 

[Eric Johnson]

I edit a magazine called The Northern Logger & Timber Processor.

Any new use for low-grade wood is always big news for us.

 

[carpniels]

Hi Eric,

Where is this local new pellet plant going to be build??

carpniels

 

[Eric Johnson]

It's going to be built in Skylar, which is between Utica and Herkimer on Route 5. Skylar's claim to fame, I believe, is the rest stop on the Thruway just east of the Utica exit. I assume the highway has something to do with the location--that and basically giving away the Crown Jewels (in the form of tax incentives) to get a few more jobs in this economically depressed part of the state. They wanted to build a plant in Boonville, but had a problem nailing down a site. I'm thinking if things work out in Skylar, they might actually do one in Boonville some day. Lots of low-grade wood up there on the Plateau; lots of underemployed locals, too.

 

[Sandor]

I edit a magazine called The Northern Logger & Timber Processor.

Any new use for low-grade wood is always big news for us.

Whoa! Your big cheez editor.

Or should I say,

EXECUTIVE EDITOR,

From your website.

From now on, I'll refer to you as Mr. Johnson.

(broken link removed to http://www.northernlogger.com/pages/northernLoggerMag/northernLoggerMag.asp)

 

[Roospike]

What!?! < Really !?! You mean China is not buying all the scrap wood and shipping product back to us as JUNK retail . O' wait ......... thats STEEL .

 

[stuart]

WOW a some thing made in the north east

 

[BrotherBart]

I edit a magazine called The Northern Logger & Timber Processor.

Any new use for low-grade wood is always big news for us.

Whoa! Your big cheez editor.

Or should I say,

EXECUTIVE EDITOR,

From your website.

From now on, I'll refer to you as Mr. Johnson.

(broken link removed to http://www.northernlogger.com/pages/northernLoggerMag/northernLoggerMag.asp)

Where the heck do ya think he gets the connections to keep him in trees to whack up for that boiler? To do fifteen cords a year ya better be in the business.

 

[daninohio]

That's not too encouraging, Dan. Sounds like they're trading 130 jobs for quite a few less.

Yep, I agree Eric. Although it's at least better than just totally shutting down. Maybe the pellet business will grow for them?

Anyway, 130 jobs is a big deal out there. My farm is in the middle of nowhere -- I think 130 jobs may be the #3 employer in the county behind the school system and GE.

 

[BrotherBart]

You would be amazed to know how many counties in this country have county government as their largest employer.

 

[Eric Johnson]

I edit a magazine called The Northern Logger & Timber Processor.

Any new use for low-grade wood is always big news for us.

Whoa! Your big cheez editor.

Or should I say,

EXECUTIVE EDITOR,

From your website.

From now on, I'll refer to you as Mr. Johnson.

(broken link removed to http://www.northernlogger.com/pages/northernLoggerMag/northernLoggerMag.asp)

That's why I should keep my nose out of the ashcan. Or at least get me a sock puppet for that.

 

[Homefire]

No, that is why you need to be here.
We already have far and away to many with no clue spouting
building codes and quality of workmanship issues.
I find it comical how envy rolls out whenever someone has made it
in their chosen field.
Remember ash wipes off with a swipe of your hand but dumb is ground in deep.

 

[HarryBack]

im a bit leery tho of transport costs fromW. Canada making the prices of the softwood pellets they are bagging there really high. Also a new place starting up in Seekonk MA as well.......anyone hear of that one? (at least I think its Seakonk)