Interest continues to rise Local company province's only pellet producer SUE HICKEY Advertiser

Trudy Blanchard, office manager at Blanchard's Woodworking of Bishop's Falls, presents a wood pellet stove. This uses wood pellets, not regular wood, and burns efficiently with low emissions. Government is encouraging more people to consider investing in the stoves, as they now can be produced locally and can even get a rebate. Sue Hickey photo

The province is encouraging people to think about investing in wood pellet stoves to heat their homes.

It's continuing with a rebate for people who buy the stoves.

That initiative arose last year when government introduced the program, mainly to create a demand for wood pellets. The move appears to be successful, says Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale.

"There does seem to be considerable interest in pellet stoves," said a spokesperson for the department. "The number of pellet rebate applications received by the department has increased over the last month, and more retailers seem to be carrying pellet stoves.

"Two to three years ago, most homeowners were not familiar with the technology; today pellet heating has become a viable option for homeowners in this province," she added.

Right now, the only company producing the pellets is Blanchard's Woodworking, through its new subsidiary, Exploits Pelletizing. There are others planning to come onstream, however.

"Cottles Island Lumber continues to develop its pellet plant, and a pellet plant is being constructed on the Northern Peninsula," said the spokesperson.

Exploits Pelletizing had received funding under the Newfoundland and Labrador Green Fund in December for the production of wood pellets as a green alternative to electric or oil heating.

One tonne of waste sawdust makes about half a tonne, or 25 bags, of wood pellets. The manufacturing of the wood pellets in Bishop's Falls will result in approximately 18 tonnes of waste being diverted from local landfills every month.

The low emission is a bonus for green-conscious consumers. A wood pellet stove produces only one-fifth the emission of a regular wood stove.

The Residential Wood Pellet Appliance Rebate Program was introduced under the 2008 provincial budget to diversify the industry and identify new markets. The rebate program continues until March 15, 2010. To date, 319 rebate applications have been submitted to the department.

Details on the rebate, program requirements and application forms are available at www.gov.nl.ca/nr or from wood pellet appliance vendors in the province. Additional information is available at www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2008/nr/1105n03.htm or by calling 709-637-2349.