Biomass conference to show financial benefits of burning wood rather than oil

MONTPELIER — Engineers and biomass experts will get a look at a state-of-the-art system and hear about Vermont’s pioneering use of wood to heat schools during an industry conference Monday at the National Life Group building.

Vermont is a national leader in biomass, according to those involved.

In 1986, Calais Elementary School became the first Vermont school to make the switch to biomass. Now more than 40 public schools in the state burn wood rather than oil.

According to the Biomass Energy Resource Center in Montpelier, which is organizing the 16th annual Vermont Woodchip and Pellet Heating Conference, public schools in Vermont saved more than $1.7 million by heating with biomass during the 2009-2010 heating season. A total of 23,271 tons of wood chips were burned, the equivalent of more than 1.4 million gallons of oil.

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