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International WoodFuels LLC
Location: San Diego, CA & Portland, ME International WoodFuels LLC is a new business with offices in Portland, Maine and San Diego, CA with customer base primarily on the east coast. International WoodFuels provides commercial buildings such as offices, schools, and apartment buildings with a renewable energy alternative to natural gas and oil heating. WoodFuels converts whole logs into pellets then delivers the pellets free of charge to its customers. Not only is delivery free, but WoodFuels also installs a pellet boiler and maintains the boiler at no cost. The heat energy will be metered, just like electricity. The quantity will be based on predetermined heat and hot water requirements. The cost is calculated at a discount to fuel oil and by assuming boiler efficiencies. If heating oil costs $2 a gallon the base price this year the pellet heat will be priced 15 percent lower. At $4 a gallon, the discount will work out to nearly 19 percent, the company says. A ten-year contract is required to receive this service. At the end of the contract the customer can have the boiler removed free of charge, purchase the boiler, or sign another contract. Franklin Pierce University signed a contract in January 2009 with International WoodFuels and will have a pellet boiler system installed to heat their athletic complex and several dormitories. "There are several advantages to heating a portion of our campus with biomass such as wood pellets," says George J. Hagerty, university president. "The first advantage is cost savings and the ability to more accurately project energy costs. Another important benefit is that wood pellets are a community-based, local and renewable resource. That is important as Franklin Pierce continues to take steps to reduce its fossil-fuel consumption and carbon footprint." International WoodFuels LLC is currently planning on building several pellet production plants on the east coast with the hopes that they can increase their customer base. Some potential clients are hesitant to enter in to a 10-year commitment with the cost of fossil fuels much lower then several months ago. WoodFuels is hoping that by providing a way for companies to use renewable heat, reduce carbon emissions and support their local communities, they will make it through difficult times. For more about: |
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