MANCHESTER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass is back for its third year. Dedicated to continuing the conversation around the use of forest and agricultural biomass in heating homes and businesses the HeatNE conference will be held in Manchester, NH at the Radisson Hotel on Elm St., April 14 & 15, 2011. Last year’s conference attracted nearly 500 attendees and over 200 businesses, agencies, and organizations.
The HeatNE Conference program is now available at the conference’s website: www.HeatNE.com. All aspects of the biomass thermal industry will be addressed. This year’s conference theme is “Moving Forward; Getting Results.” The comprehensive program will address and bridge the gaps between “The Bold Vision for 2025” presented at the 2010 conference and the current state of biomass in heating applications in the Northeast.
The Northeast Biomass Thermal Working Group (NEBTWG), a coalition of biomass thermal advocates for heating and CHP (combined heat and power) in the northeastern United States, is putting definitive action behind the goals of previous HeatNE conferences. With the fossil fuel market becoming more volatile in recent weeks, the biomass thermal industry has a unique opportunity to make great strides in the adoption of enhanced biomass fuel usage and technologies in homes and businesses. Biomass fuel plays a large role in the nation’s energy independence and environmental needs.
The Energy Information Administration recently reported that prices for U.S. home heating oil rose 24 percent in February 2011, compared to February 2010. Fossil Fuel costs are once again rapidly accelerating, causing the NE Region to refocus efforts in support of renewable alternatives. NEBTWG is actively working with policy makers and business owners to take collective action to embrace thermal biomass as a viable long-term solution to the Northeast’s dependence on fossil fuels.
To provide insight into successful biomass projects, NEBTWG is organizing a pre-conference field bus tour of biomass thermal projects on April 13th starting at 9 a.m. and ending at approximately 5 p.m. Interested parties are asked to visit www.HeatNE.com to register for the day trip that includes tours of a pellet manufacturing plant and a modern hardwood sawmill, as well as a housing community and several educational institutions that are utilizing biomass thermal heating systems.
This year the vendor fair will be open to the public for three hours on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission will be just $25 per person at the door.
The HeatNE Steering Committee is still accepting additional co-hosts and/or sponsors for the 2011 conference. For more information on Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass, visit www.HeatNE.com