New England pellet producers predict big demand

January 27, 2012

Blessed with deep stands of forest, an experienced timber industry workforce and proximity to the large markets that generate demand, New England is in good position to lead the country in production of wood pellets.

As growing numbers of citizens and businesses learn about the benefits of choosing renewable fuels, sawmills and logging companies throughout Vermont have the raw materials at hand to reach a burgeoning retail market for bioheat and wood pellet heating, experts say.

The future of Northeast pellet production grew even brighter this month when officials with the Port of Eastport in eastern Maine said they would be ready this month to begin exporting wood chips to Europe - using an 800-foot long conveyor belt to load waiting ships - and could soon start shipping wood pellets as well, according to Biomass Power & Thermal.

Having a major deepwater port in a neighboring state might not have an immediate effect on residential consumers in Vermont, but homeowners would likely benefit in the long run as the industry adds manufacturing capacity, increases storage space and produces a more reliable supply with improved industrial equipment.

"Back in '08-'09, we saw on the horizon this was going to be a market that was going to explode and we looked up and down the coast of the Eastern United States and said, 'There's an opportunity here'," says Chris Gardner, executive director of the Port of Eastport.