John AckerlyPresident

The Scale and Potential of Wood Heat: Why Everyman’s Renewable Will Outpace Solar

Northeast Biomass Conference & Trade Show, Pittsburg, Oct. 12, 2011

About the Alliance for Green Heat

• Founded in 2009; based in Maryland

• The Alliance is non-profit, 501c3 organization

• Past funding from Forest Service’s Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC), foundations, companies and individuals

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Overview – Prevalence of Wood Heat

• 10% of American homes heat with wood. (US Census)

• Wood heaters make 80% of residential renewable energy; solar 15% and geothermal 5% (EIA).

• 13 million wood heaters in use (EIA).• Wood heat rose more than 90% in 8 states

from 2000–2010. (US Census)• Wood now ranks as 3rd most common heating

fuel, above propane and oil, when primary and secondary heating is counted. (US Census)

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Residential Energy Trends, 2010

-30.0 -20.0 -10.0 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0

United States 2000 - 2010 Heat Use % Change

PropaneOilElectricityGasWood

Wood is 3rd most common heat in U.S.

Electric-ity

Natural Gas

Wood Propane/LPG

Fuel Oil Kerosene0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

US Residential Heating Fuel Use

SecondaryPrimary

Mil

lion

s of

US

Hom

es

Top 10 States with Fastest Growing Wood Heat Households

In 1950, the South was the leader

Pennsylvania energy firsts

•The first commercial U.S. nuclear power plant came online in 1957 in Shippingport, PA;

• Pennsylvania is the leading petroleum-refining State in the Northeast.

•The Drake Well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, was the world’s first commercial oil well, and western Pennsylvania was the site of the world’s first oil boom.

US vs. Penn. Heating Trends

Wood

Gas

Electricity

Oil

Propane

65.8

3.2

26.9

-18.3

22.2

34.6

4.9

26.8

-21.9

-16.0

2000 - 2010 Heat Use % Change

United States Pennsylvania

Northeastern State Residential Renewable Energy Incentives

Fossil Fuel Reduction of a $2,000 Wood/Pellet Stove =

Fossil Fuel Reduction of a $20,000 Solar PV

• Both systems can displace equal amounts of carbon from fossil fuel: 3 tons.

• 1 kw system, 1 cord of wood or 1 ton of pellets all displace about 1 ton of carbon from fossil fuels.

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Wood Stoves vs. Solar PV & the Prius

Technology

# of appliances installed as of 2010

Tons of carbon saved per year per appliance

Total tons of carbon saved per year in US

Pre 1990 stoves 6 million 1.5 tons 9 million EPA certified stoves 3 million 1.9 tons 5.7 million

Pellet stoves 1 million 3.5 tons 3.5 million

Total stoves 10 million 1.8 tons 17.7 million Solar PV panels (4 kw) 0.3 million 3.5 tons 1.05 million

Prius 0.8 million 3.75 tons 3 million

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Transforming Wood Heat in America

Goals:•Transition to clean & affordable appliances•EPA, USDA, state gov’ts help the transition•Utilize incentives to speed up transition

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2 2.5 4.1 4.5 7.518

30

85.5

161

Comparison of Biomass Appliance Emission

Rates

Created by the Alliance for Green Heat (www.forgreenheat.org)Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management & Washington State Govern-

ment- Department of Ecology.Note: Figures for the EPA and WA state stoves a

Gra

ms p

er

Ho

ur

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Typical (& Flawed) US Emission Chart

•PM2.5 levels from biomass stoves accurate•Levels from fossil furnaces grossly underestimate emissions. • Life-cycle, not just point of combustion emissions, must be accounted for.

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Incentives in Europe vs. the US

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

Recommendations• Renewable Energy Incentives: Cleanest appliances should qualify for

30% tax credit like solar, wind and geothermal

• EPA’s New Source Performance Standards for wood burning appliances: Stricter and mandatory emission and efficiency standards are needed in America for all major wood burning appliances.

• Research & Development: EPA, USDA and DOE needs to start supporting research and development of next generation thermal biomass systems.

 • States governments or legislators can consider measures such as

Oregon and Washington have developed: banning installation of stoves made prior to 1990 and requiring removal of pre-1990 stove upon sale of home.

 • Low Income Heating Assistance: LIHEAP programs should

aggressively support change-outs of wood stoves for families on heating assistance. EPA, USDA and HHS collaboration could speed this up.

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html

To find out more:

www.forgreenheat.org

Transforming Wood Heat in America: A Toolkit of Policy Options

Full report available at: www.forgreenheat.org/resources/toolkit.html