Coast Guard looks to replace heating oil with pellets in Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard and USDA’s Forest Service are collaborating on efforts to reduce heating costs at the Coast Guard’s larger Alaskan facilities by converting from heating oil to wood pellets.

Under the agreement, Coast Guard engineer and agency biomass expert Robert Deering, along with Dan Parrent, USFS Wood Biomass and Stewardship program manager, will work closely with the USDA’s Southeast Alaska forest products and renewable energy workgroups, the Alaska Division of Forestry, Alaska Southeast Conference and the Alaska Energy Authority.

Deering is tasked with developing a strategy and action plan to facilitate conversion of oil heat to biomass. He will also initiate implementation of priority projects identified in the plan.