Renewable Heating Symposium 2009:A Conference on Wood and Pellet fuel for Residential Heating

April 15, 2009
Salem Conference Center, Salem Oregon
Host Hotel: Phoenix Grande Hotel, connected to the Salem Conference Center

Registration Info:
Registration count, April 13: 89

$60 members, government and non-profit
$85 non members
Click HERE to download the registration brochure (fillable pdf)
Registration at the door will not be guaranteed a lunch

Purpose of the Event
Click HERE   to download the press release (April 1, 2009). Members of the media are welcome to attend at no charge.

Due to increases in the cost of fossil fuels and improvements in technology, there is now a dramatic increase in biomass energy. Biomass energy, because of its many environmental advantages and the opportunity to lesson our dependence on foreign sources of oil, is now a significant industry. However, most effort has been placed in the development of industrial bio fuels energy production. Major conferences address these industrial applications and other green issues, but none have addressed the residential use of biomass energy.

Residential biomass heating with cordwood and wood pellets is an extremely viable biomass application. This application is a practical and cost effective way to use biomass as a residential heating source. Biomass wood home heating provides significant environmental advantages. Issues and opinions on renewability, sustainability, carbon neutrality and impacts on global warming will be discussed.

However, there continue to be concerns about particulate emissions of the certified, clean burning wood stoves and pellet stoves that use biomass wood products. This conference will explore the broad scope of factors relating to residential biomass wood heating, from its many environmental and performance factors to current and pending regulatory policies.

"This is going to be 'the place' to be. The merging of minds - including hearth technology experts, regulatory officials, and air quality regulators - will result in stimulating conversation and real solutions." Harvey Gail OHPA Executive Director

Thank You Sponsors!  (indicates live-burn unit model on display)

Blaze King Industries, Inc. (Princess Catalytic Wood Stove)
Dansons
FPI / Regency
Harman Home Heating (PF 100 PelletFurnace)
Hearthstone (The Heritage)
Morso U.S.
Napoleon Fireplaces (1450 Wood Stove)
Pellet Fuels Institute
Quadra-Fire (Mt. Vernon AE)
RIKA / Lucky Distributing (RIKA Pellet Stove)
Timely Construction (Masonry Heater)
Travis Industries
West Oregon Wood Products (Central Boiler Maxim 250 Pellet, Corn furnace)
Zephyr Wood Stoves (Zephyr Wood Stove)

Also on display: Renaissance EPA Phase 1 Low Mass Fireplace

Sponsorships are $500. Manufacturers, non profit organizations and individuals are encouraged to support this important event. Contact Harvey Gail, OHPBA Executive Director at 503-371-7457.

Click HERE for a sponsorship form.

Agenda (revised 4-10-09)

7:30 – 8:00  Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 – 8:05  Welcome - Harvey Gail, Executive Director, OHPBA

8:05 -8:45   Wood Stove Change out Programs: 20 Years of Clearing the Air, John Crouch, HPBA Dir. Public Affairs

8:45 – 9:30  Pros and Cons in Modern Wood and Pellet Biomass Heating; Dr. James Houck, OMNI Labs

9:30 – 10:15 Environmental Advantages of Wood and Densified Biomass Fuel; Dan Henry, Hearth & Home Tech

10:15 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 11:15 Burn it Smart! How to Run Effective Air Quality Education Campaigns; Tex McLeod; Claudia Vaupel, EPA Region 10; Karen King, Pendleton Air Quality Commission.

11:15 – 12:00 Environmental Impacts of Biomass Residential Heating; Tex McLeod; Dr. James Houck, OMNI; Roger Sanders, HeatGreen Council

12:00 – 1:00 Buffet Lunch

12:20 – 12:50 Biomass Hearth Product Emissions: The Consumer Factor; Kurt Rumens, Travis Industries

12:50 – 1:00 Break, Live-burn Displays

1:00 – 2:00 Technology Advances in Low Mass Fireplaces - with demo fireplace; Ray Bonar, ICC, RSF

2:00 – 3:00 Break Out Sessions and Partnering Opportunities:

Work Group 1: Clean Burning Technologies - Panel of Manufacturers: Dan Henry, HHT; Kurt Rumens, Travis Ind.; Chris Neufeld, Blaze King.

Work Group 2: Bio-fuel Revolution: Renewable Fuel Sources: John Crouch, HPBA; Stan Elliot, Bear Mt. Forest Products, Chris Sharron, West Oregon Wood Products.

3:00 – 3:15 Break, Live-burn displays

3:15 – 4:15 Break Out Sessions and Partnering Opportunities:

Work Group 1: The Transition to Tighter Standards for PM 2.5: Impact on Oregon’s Airsheds and the Public: Larry Calkins, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality; Sally Markos, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency; Merlin Hough, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency; Steve Body, EPA Region 10.

Work Group 2: Heat Smart 2009: Overview of Oregon Legislation and Accelerating the Removal of Uncertified Woodstoves: Steve West, OHPBA Lobbyist; Rachel Sakata, Oregon DEQ; Karen King, Pendleton Air Quality Commission; Delbert Bell, Klamath County.

4:15 – 5:30    Reception, Live-burn displays