The 7th Annual Northeast Biomass Heating Expo is happening at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on April 16-18. We recently caught up with Joseph Seymour to find out what the Expo is all about, and what attendees will find there this year.
SunriseGuide: What is the Northeast Biomass Heating Expo and what can attendees expect from this year’s Conference and Expo?
Joseph Seymour: The 7th annual Northeast Biomass Heating Expo is the largest regional collection of business, government, engineering, finance, and non-profit professionals interested utilizing biomass (e.g. wood and agricultural residues) for heating and combined heat and power. The conference has 12 educational sessions that range from how to design a heating system, to finance and insurance, to state regulations and rebates. While one side of the conference is focused on educating professionals, the expo allows the public and prospective buyers to examine equipment that could heat their homes or businesses. This latter part is called the “Green Heating Fair,” and we also have a special “Eat, Heat, and Learn” workshop just for facility managers looking to assess biomass as a heating fuel for their school, hospital, or other building.
SG: Why was Maine chosen as a host site?
JS: Maine has one of the most active markets for biomass heating, and that was one of the main reasons we chose to make Portland home for both 2014 and 2015. The combination of high fossil fuel heating costs, a long (and potentially expensive) heating season, plus a growing list of local biomass heating system and wood pellet suppliers makes Maine a leader in renewable heating. Plus, there’s wide knowledge and familiarity among residents of wood as a heating fuel, and that’s a good starting point when we share how advanced and efficiency modern biomass heating technologies are.
SG: We understand that the Expo will be open to the public April 16-18 from 4-7 pm. Who should attend and is there any cost?
JS: We want Mainers to see this technology first hand and speak with energy experts about how this technology can help their home or business, so we’re welcoming the public to our Green Heating Fair from 4-7PM on Thursday and Friday, April 16-17, and then Saturday morning from 8am-11:30. There’s no cost to attend the Fair, and all participants will receive Green Heating Starter Kits* and be entered into a raffle for a $2,500 Windhager BioWin pellet boiler voucher as well as other heating prizes. (*As supplies are available).
SG: What are some of the most exciting things happening in biomass heating right now, nationally and in Maine?
JS: Nationally, we’re finally seeing traction states and the federal government on the recognition and promotion of heating. Thermal energy (e.g. heating) represents nearly 30% of all the energy we consume as a country, but until recently you wouldn’t have known it from the discussions in Washington, DC or state capitals that tend to focus on renewable electricity and transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. New England is on the leading edge of supporting renewable heating technologies, as New Hampshire and Massachusetts have mandates now for renewable heat, and Maine has its successful rebate program for high performance residential wood pellet boilers. This part of the country is doing a lot to reduce its dependence on fossil heating fuels.
SG: Anything else you think we should know?
JS: Consumers looking to reduce their home or business costs may have a perception that modern biomass heating systems are dirty and smokey, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Today’s technologies take local, renewable fuels and convert it to clean energy with little to no effort. Some biomass heating systems can even be controlled by an iPhone app and will send you an email when it’s time to remove any small amount of ash.
