Program announced for Heating the Midwest 2016 Conference & Expo

By Heating the Midwest | August 11, 2016

Heating the Midwest, a regional biomass thermal energy advocacy group, has announced the program and registration for its 5th annual conference and expo. The Heating the Midwest Conference & Expo will take place Oct. 11 – 13 at the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, Michigan. (14 miles west of Escanaba) This year’s conference, “Adopting Renewable Biomass Heat: Investing in Tomorrow’s Sustainable Communities,” will include topics such as investing in our communities with biomass, breaking through market barriers, biomass technologies, realizing a sustainable advanced biomass thermal industry and much more. New to the conference this year, a two-part technical workshop offered in conjunction with the conference.

On Oct. 11, a preconference bus tour of local biomass installations and businesses will take place. The plan is to visit Messersmith Manufacturing Plant, Verso Corp., Pinecrest Medical Care Facility, North Central Area School and a commercial logging job.

The conference will officially open on Oct. 12 with keynote address by Maura Adams, program director for Northern Forest Center. This will be followed by breakout sessions and afternoon and evening workshops. Oct. 13 will open with a keynote presentation by Charlie Niebling of Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC, followed by a morning plenary session focused on defeating the biomass blues. The conference will adjourn at noon CDT.

There will also be indoor and outdoor exhibition areas where biomass-related vendors, businesses and organizations will demonstrate the latest in biomass technologies, information and support.

Registration is available online here. - http://heatingthemidwest.org/conferences/2016-conference-expo/attendee-registration-info-and-rates/    

Heating the Midwest would like to thank the following sponsoring organizations who have confirmed their support of the conference to date:

- Gold Level Sponsors: WoodMaster/Northwest Manufacturing, Inc., U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

- Silver Level Sponsors: Michigan State Wood Energy Team, Timber Products Inspection

- Bronze Level Sponsors: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

- Exhibitors: Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

- Partnering Sponsors: Biomass Thermal Energy Council, Biomass Magazine, Pellet Fuels Institute