The PA Biomass Energy Association is pleased to have been selected as one of 92 schools, universities, non-profit organizations and conservation districts across the state to receive an Environmental Education grant from the Department of Environmental Protection.

PBEA will use its grant award to conduct a series of field tours that will combine first-hand demonstrations with education and training at sites across the state where a variety of biomass producers, manufacturers and end-users have used biomass in energy, combined heat and power (CHP), and thermal applications.

Various experts will be on-hand at each field tour to explain the technology, best management practices, lessons learned, and to answer audience question and answers.

“Biomass education is the core mission of PBEA, and we are excited that this grant will enable our organization to reach people across the state,” said Karen Smeltz, PBEA Vice President.

PBEA focuses on the use of biomass in the residential, small business, community, institutional, agricultural, and industrial sectors. The biomass industry is diverse and touches every corner of the state, creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and providing environmental and cost saving benefits.

Pennsylvania is home to more than 100 biomass-burning facilities and 13 pellet mills. Use of “energywood” is widespread with eight industrial-scale facilities using wood as fuel, and more than 65 existing mills and wood-related enterprises with permits to burn wood as fuel.

State businesses manufacture the combustion units, boilers, turbines, controls, pressure vessels, emission control equipment, and many of the materials that are used to manufacture these biomass products.  Pennsylvania has a concentration of commercial-scale biomass boiler manufacturers and is a leader in residential and small-scale commercial biomass systems.

“Pennsylvania is rich in biomass resources, but the Association plans to educate farmers, foresters, homeowners, engineers and businesses on the opportunities available to them from biomass farming and sustainable forestry practices, and by utilizing biomass energy to provide significant economic and environmental benefits in their homes and businesses,” said Jay Clark, PBEA President.

PBEA plans to announce details for the field tour series later this spring.

4/29/2013