“New England’s power grid operator is warning it may ask homes and businesses to curtail electricity use during bouts of extreme cold this winter.

ISO New England, which runs the system, said it could ask customers to cut back during prolonged cold spells or back-to-back deep freezes to reduce stress on the grid amid tight natural gas supplies, according to a statement Monday. The grid operator said it does not expect to have to resort to rolling blackouts.”

“A couple years ago my husband and I moved into a home that, like 60% of houses here in Maine, burns oil for heat. When we were ready to switch to an alternative heating system, we knew we would be looking for options that helped move us away from fossil fuels, weren’t going to break the bank, and could fit relatively seamlessly within the existing infrastructure of our home, which is plumbed for baseboard hydronic heat. We ultimately decided to invest in a wood pellet boiler, and so far we are glad we did…”

“Within the growing clean energy community, advocates agree that transitioning away from fossil fuels must be a top priority in the fight against climate change. Similarly, energy efficiency has to be aggressively pursued in tandem with clean energy generation….”

“The Clean Heat Standard would require fossil fuel corporations and utilities that sell heating fuels in Vermont to reduce their climate pollution over time, in line with Global Warming Solutions Act requirements. Fossil fuel suppliers will be able to meet the performance standard either by selling cleaner heating fuels or by paying for work done by others that helps Vermonters use clean heating options (such as weatherization, heat pumps, or advanced wood heat). The goal of the Clean Heat Standard is to both reduce climate pollution and reduce costs of home and building heating over time…”

“If Maine is going to achieve zero emissions by 2050, the state is going to have to change how it thinks about fuel.

Wood pellets, made from the compressed leftovers of timber processing, can be burned as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, producing fewer carbon emissions than both oil and gas. With its abundance of trees, Maine is uniquely suited to have pellet fuel play a role in its journey to zero emissions because it keeps the fuel sources local, limits the emissions caused by transporting oil or gas and vitalizes Maine’s economy.”

“Wood pellet pricing has remained steady over the past decade and is expected to remain so, pleasing many bulk pellet delivery customers in the Northeast this winter.  While fossil fuel costs are historically volatile, the cost of heating with locally sourced wood pellets remains steady over time, so pellet households can have some peace of mind heading into a cold winter…”

“Bethel, ME – With fossil fuel prices spiking, Maine Energy Systems locks in its prices for bulk wood pellet delivery customers for this winter.  Wood pellet prices, compared by heat value, will be at the equivalent of $2.47/gal compared to oil or $1.68/gal propane* – far lower than this year’s fossil fuel price projections…”

“Analysis shows wood pellet fuel reduces greenhouse gas by 54% vs. oil, and 59% vs. natural gas. The Northern Forest Center commissioned a study of the greenhouse gas impacts of heating buildings with state-of-the-art wood pellet boilers. For the analysis, the Spatial Informatics Group-Natural Assets Laboratory (SIG-NAL) used data specific to the region’s forest composition and harvest practices, and the pellet sourcing and manufacturing of 9 out of 10 Northern Forest pellet mills, all of which produce pellets exclusively for thermal (heat) generation…”

“Maine Energy Systems (MESys) has recently joined the Maine Energy Marketers Association (MEMA) and is a featured member in the Summer 2021 issue! MESys is highlighted as an industry leader in pairing consumer demand with renewable answers through fully automated, highly efficient, central wood pellet heating systems reliant on bulk wood pellet delivery that’s as easy (and hands-free) as oil…”

“BETHEL, ME – Congress has recently passed the monumental Biomass Thermal Utilization (BTU) Act, which starting in 2021 will provide homeowners with the ability to receive a 26% federal tax credit on purchases of renewable wood pellet central heating systems…”

We plan to continue our pellet delivery operations despite these uncertain times.  However, our drivers will not be entering homes and will be practicing safe social distancing for their own and your safety.