NL extends pellet heating rebate

Apr. 23, 2010, St. John’s, NL – The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is
extending a rebate that helps homeowners switch to wood pellet heating. The
provincial government’s 2010 budget is providing $500,000 to continue the
Residential Wood Pellet Appliance Rebate Program, which provides a 25% rebate
to homeowners purchasing a wood pellet appliance. Homeowners interested in
purchasing and installing a wood pellet appliance have until March 18, 2011, to
apply for a rebate under the 2010 program. Since the program was first
introduced in late 2008, 405 rebates at an average of $580 each have been
issued to qualifying homeowners.

“The
rebate program was introduced to help create a demand for locally produced wood
pellets, and we are very pleased to see that homeowners are responding to the
program,” says the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, minister of natural resources
and minister responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. “We are
building our local wood pellet production capacity to meet the growing demand,
which is good for the environment and for our forest industry. Retailers and
consumers are supporting our suppliers and are buying local products.”

Two
local companies – Exploits Pelletizing Inc., a division of Blanchard’s Cabinet
Doors in Bishop’s Falls, and Cottles Island Lumber Co. in Summerford – are
currently manufacturing pellets. A third pellet plant under construction in
Roddickton by Holson Forest Products anticipates having pellets available by
the next heating season.

A
May 2009 survey sent to homeowners who have purchased a pellet appliance in
this province indicated that 88% of respondents would recommend a pellet
appliance.

“That
response indicates that homeowners are pleased with their decision to switch to
a pellet appliance and that the program is achieving its goal of establishing a
wood pellet manufacturing industry in this province,” says Minister Dunderdale.
“We are pleased to be able to extend the program to assist homeowners with
their purchase and to support this forest sector diversification initiative.”

The
Residential Wood Pellet Appliance Rebate Program is an initiative under the
Forest Industry Diversification Program to help diversify the industry and
identify new markets. Details on the rebate, program requirements, and
application forms can be obtained from the Newfoundland and Labrador Department
of Natural Resources website, from wood pellet appliance vendors in the
province, or by calling 709-637-2349.