Wood pellets scarce in US Northeast
March 6, 2014
By
Scott Jamieson
March 6, 2014, Portland, ME - According to news reports across the northeastern US, this old fashion winter and the relatively low cost of pellet heat have led to some retailers running low on wood pellets.
According to a report in the Miami Herald, the long cold winter has taken a bite out of the wood pellet supply
in Northern New England, forcing some dealers to ration the fuel that
has been growing in popularity.
"It's been a lot colder than
average, and neither consumers nor retailers planned for it," said
Charles Niebling, a consultant for New England Wood Pellet in Jaffrey.
"The situation is temporary and will alleviate with more seasonable
temps."
Customers bought fuel based on past usage but relentless
weeks of cold mean they're burning their woodstoves longer than they did
last year, Niebling said. Plus, more people are using the pellets:
They're cleaner than hardwood, easier to handle and store, more
efficient and ready to burn. They're also relatively cheap, the Herald continues. As of Feb. 24, bulk pellets in New
Hampshire cost $14.71 per million BTU, the standard way to compare
heating costs. That was second cheapest, behind natural gas at $13.68
per million BTU.
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