Announcements
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FAQs
Q: What is biomass?
A: Biomass is any biological material that can be used as fuel. Biomass fuel is burned or converted in systems that produce heat, electricity, or both heat and power. Woodchips, wood pellets, and other low-grade wood wastes are the major type of biomass fuel. Other common biomass fuel sources are agricultural crop residues and farm animal wastes.
Q: What is BERC? How can you help us with our project?
A: BERC is a national nonprofit located in Montpelier, Vermont, that works on projects around the country to install systems that use biomass fuel to produce heat and/or electricity. BERC’s partners in these projects have included schools, communities, colleges, businesses, utilities, and government agencies. We offer services in program design and project assessment and implementation as well as a variety of technical resources. Program services include Fuels For Schools, Clean Energy Funds, state energy planning for biomass, and forest fire hazard reduction. BERC project work includes biomass energy feasibility studies, biomass energy project development and management, and technology development.
Q: What kinds of facilities use biomass?
A: Facilities suitable for biomass systems include schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, public buildings, hotels and motels, commercial buildings, greenhouses, large-scale agricultural operations, manufacturing plants, power plants, and community district energy systems (the latter being the use of a central heating plant to provide heat to multiple buildings using buried pipes to distribute the energy). BERC’s expertise is in ‘community-scale’ biomass systems in the 1-to-10 million Btu per hour (output) range.
BERC in the News
| Calais Inventor Brings Wood Chips to Schools |
| Rutland Herald & Times Argus, December 14, 2008 | |
| Read more... |
| Hot topic: Wood or pellets? |
| Champlain Business Journal, November 2008 | |
| Read more... |
| A Wood-Fueled Future? |
| The Montpelier Bridge, November 6, 2008 | |
| Read more... |
Romancing the Stove: Vermonters' Ardor for Wood Heat Returns |
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| The Montpelier Bridge, September 18, 2008 | |
| Read more... | |
| Vermont Funds Biomass Projects: The Central Vermont Public Service utility recently approved $500,000 in renewable energy projects |
| Biomass Magazine, August 8, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. CST | |
| Read more... |
| Finding value in lumber leftovers |
| Marketplace, National Public Radio, August 6, 2008 | |
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| Schools may switch to energy efficient heating system with federal help |
| Vermont Pubic Radio, June 17, 2008 | |
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BERC Conference Activity
FEBRUARY 2009
Green Mountain Society of American Foresters
February 6, 2009, Montpelier, Vermont
BERC Program Manager Adam Sherman will join other experts on a panel entitled “Fuel From the Forest: An Update and Reality Check on Woody Biomass Supply and Markets.” Sherman will speak specifically on a 2007 Vermont wood fuel supply study as well as a broader view of biomass supply issues and the nuances and limitations of fuel supply studies in general.
Better Buildings by Design Conference 2009
February 11-12, 2009, Sheraton Conference Center, Burlington, Vermont
BERC Program Manager Adam Sherman will co-present workshop (February 12) entitled, “Integrated Renewable Fuel Heating Systems”
2009 Annual Vermont Woodchip Users Conference
February 24, 2009, Danville School, Danville Vermont (invitation only)
Organized by BERC, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and the Vermont Superintendents Association’s School Wood Energy Program, conference attendees include woodchip system operators, woodchip suppliers, and equipment vendors.
World Sustainable Energy Days: Regional Biomass Action Plans
February 25-26, 2009, Wels, Austria
BERC Senior Program Director Timothy Maker will give a presentation on Regional Biomass Action Plans.
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