When: April 15. Symposium 8-5.

Where: Salem Conference Center, 200 Commercial St SE, Salem Oregon (503-589-1700).

Why: The issue is newsworthy because there are proposed laws in Oregon being voted on today (April 15) related to wood stoves (Senate Bill 102). Also, Oregonians can take advantage of Oregon tax credits, and federal tax credits for installation of qualifying wood and pellet stoves. At the Symposium (running all day) experts will discuss air quality issues, advantages of using renewable fuels to heat homes (cord wood and wood pellets), and air quality issues. Over 90 people are registered. They include wood stove manufacturers, wood pellet manufacturers, fireplace shop owners, and state, county and municipal employees. Many attendees are from other parts of the U.S. and Canada.

Background: Residential biomass heating - a fancy term for heating with wood and pellet stoves - is increasing in popularity due to interest in renewable sources of energy. The Renewable Heating Symposium: A Conference on Wood and Pellet fuel for Residential Heating provides a series of seminars on renewable fuels, regulatory policies, and technological advances related to residential biomass heating.

Modern woodstoves are highly efficient sources of heat. They produce a tenth of the emissions of an uncertified, dirty burning "fire box" style stove. In a typical household, the single largest energy expense is heating the home. Responsible use of renewable biomass fuel in certified wood and pellet stoves reduces use of electricity. Also, federal requirements place several communities in Oregon at risk for exceeding the federal standard for air quality. Symposium attendees will learn about public education and wood stove changeout campaigns that will help these communities balance the use of renewable fuels for home heating with federal air quality standards.

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Kevin Weeks

Oregon Department of Forestry

(503) 945-7427