Concord, NH (9/8/11) – The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NH-PUC) enriched its rebate program for wood pellet boilers and furnaces earlier this summer to include central heating systems housed outdoors. Previously, the NH-PUC had amended the program to include central heating systems with efficiency ratings of 80% or greater. Originally, the program required an efficiency rating of at least 85%; these adjustments allow consumers to choose from a greater range of systems while still ensuring the use of highly efficient renewable biomass heating systems.
Under the program, consumers can receive a rebate for 30% of their costs (up to $6,000) when they install an approved, high-efficiency, automatic-feed wood pellet boiler or furnace before February 12, 2012. Applications must be approved by the PUC in advance of installation in order to be eligible for the rebate.
Jon Strimling, President and CEO of NH-based WoodPellets.com, says the changes will allow more people to consider switching to wood pellet central heating systems: “now, with more affordable heating systems included, this program can be a viable option for middle- and lower-income families.”
Pellet boilers cost in the range of $9,000-20,000 installed (complete with pellet storage and automated feed systems). But under this rebate program, a consumer would receive an immediate 30% rebate. WoodPellets.com provides a Savings Calculator, which estimates a typical Northeast homeowner participating in the program and utilizing 6 tons of pellets annually instead of oil could save over $1,000 in heating costs each year. So consumers could be breaking even in as little as six years, or even a shorter period if the costs of oil continue to rise. “And after that,” Strimling says, “it’s just pure savings.”
Strimling says that, even independent of a rebate program like this one, the savings with wood pellets have never been greater. “We’ve seen oil fluctuate wildly over the years, but over that same period, the cost of heating with wood pellets has proven to be much more stable. And with oil and propane companies demanding higher prices this year, consumers can save significant amounts by heating with pellets. It’s more reliable and more cost-effective.”
In addition to reducing heating costs for consumers, the NH-PUC rebate program aims to stimulate the regional economy by creating local jobs and reinvesting money in New England that would otherwise go to foreign oil companies.
Strimling hopes that other states in the region will soon follow suit. “There’s been talk in Vermont and Massachusetts of similar programs cropping up, and I’m working with others in the industry to help usher that along.”
About Wood Pellets
Wood pellets are a highly efficient heating fuel made from clean, compressed wood by-products. Sustainable, domestically produced, and cost-stable, wood pellets help to stimulate local economies while simultaneously reducing dependency on fossil fuels. More information is available at www.woodpellets.com or www.forgreenheat.org.
Media contact:
Audrey Bourque, 603-263-2951