Vermont, like other states, relies on diverse sources of energy, some from local sources and others from half way around the world. Increasingly, wood chips -- generically called biomass -- are gaining popularity in newly constructed schools or for converting from high-priced energy sources, such as electric heat.

Wood is Vermont's most abundant, indigenous energy supply for heating and has established a trend for heating schools and other large buildings. Several wood chip and pellet-fired heating systems have been installed in recent years in Vermont schools. Depending on their features, a system may automatically feed the wood fuel and remove the ash with moderate maintenance requirements.

Wood, with its low cost, is a local source of renewable energy whose supply is not disrupted by embargoes, high transportation costs or tariffs. Using wood for energy also keeps energy dollars within the local economy. Automated, wood-fired heating systems are often a school's least expensive heating alternative over the long term.

There are two common sources of wood chips: sawmill residue and whole tree chips. Generally, sawmill residue will be either hardwood or softwood. Most hardwood chips range from 38 percent to 42 percent moisture content. Softwood chips range anywhere from 45 percent to 60 percent moisture content.

Whole-tree chips are produced by a chipping machine that chips harvested logs and may contain hardwoods and softwoods. They are usually not as uniform in size as mill residue chips. This means that whole tree chips must often be put through a screen to separate any oversized ones. For best results, chips should be kept out of the weather and should be stored under cover.

Vermont School Wood Chip Users
1998 - 1999

Facility Name	Location	Contact	Phone	'97-'98 Usage
				Tons	Loads *
Barre City Elementary	Barre City	Roscoe Fisher	476-6541	500	20
Barre Town Elementary	Barre Town	Jim Goslant	476-6617	600	24
Berlin Elementary	Berlin	Al Perkins	223-2796	175	7
Calais Elementary	Calais	Pat Halloran	454-7777	150	6
East Montpelier Elementary	East Montpelier	Tracy Storey	223-7936	150	6
U - 32 HS	East Montpelier	Lori Bibeau	229-0553	-	-
Blue Mountain HS	Wells River	Daryl Sulham	757-2711	-	-
Hazen Union HS	Hardwick	Jeff Lacour	472-6511	350	14
Johnson Elementary	Johnson	Scott Johnson	635-2211	200	8
Lyndon Twon School	Lyndonville	Ron Dunphy	626-3209	350	14
North Country HS	Newport	Ron Chaffee	334-7921	-	-
Brown's River School	Underhill	Dwayne Austin	899-3711	350	14
Camel's Hump School	Richmaond	Darcy Spencer, Sr.	434-2188	300	12
Franklin Central School	Franklin	Bob Hamilton	285-2271	150	6
Grand Isle Elementary	Grand Isle	Richard Taylor	372-6913	75	3
Mt Mansfield UHS	Jericho	Don Welch	434-3440	700	28
St Albans Town School	St Albans	Dave Crawford	524-4321	400	16
Shelburne Farms	Shelburne	Marshall Webb	985-2605	300	12
Westford Elementary	Westford	Louie Cardinal	878-5932	250	10
Leland & Gray HS	Townshend	Frank Rucker	365-7355	350	14
The Grammar School	Putney	Chris Harlow	387-5364	-	-
Hartford HS	Hartford	John Frank	295-8600	575	23
Randolph UHS	Randolph	Carl Thresher	728-3397	700	28
The Mountain School	Vershire	Howard Cheshire	685-4520	550	22

Table 1: * Note: Some facilities have special delivery needs (less than full load)

Source: Vermont Superintendents Association (VSA) and the Vermont Department of Public Service.

For more information about biomass heating systems,please send us a message: vtdps@state.vt.us. Be sure to type 'Energy Efficiency' in the subject line and include your name, address, phone number and email address in the body of the message.

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