PFI Standards Program qualifies New York, Maine pellet plants

The Pellet Fuels Institute recently announced the qualification of two new pellet fuels manufacturers to the PFI Standards Program. Lignetics’ Strong, Maine, facility joins four of the company’s other facilities in the program and New York-based Instantheat Wood Pellets also qualified. The PFI Standards Program is a third-party accreditation program providing specifications for residential and commercial-grade pellet fuel, now representing 19 pellet manufacturing companies, among them 32 facilities.

“With the addition of Instantheat Wood Pellets and Lignetics’ fifth facility, PFI Standards Program has now qualified wood pellet producers in 19 states and Canada,” said Chris Amey, chairman of the PFI board of directors. “With every new qualification, consumers have better access to pellets that are produced in independently accredited facilities. The Quality Mark on the bag lets a consumer know that they are purchasing fuel from an independently evaluated pellet producer. If you’re not sure, ask your retailer about how to identify the Quality Mark on pellet bags. We welcome Instantheat Wood Pellets into the PFI Standards Program and look forward to many more PFI Standards Program members.”

In qualifying for the Standards Program, Instantheat Wood Pellets joins companies with previously qualified facilities New England Wood Pellet, Curran Renewable Energy, American Wood Fibers, Lignetics Inc., Marth Peshtigo Pellet Co., Forest Energy Corp., Indeck Ladysmith, Energex, Spearfish Pellet Co., Smith Flooring, Michigan Wood Fuels LLC, Trae Fuels Ltd., Somerset Pellet Fuel, NWP Jasper, Georgia Biomass, Snow Timber Pellets, Colombo Energy and Appalachian Wood Pellets.

PFI Standards Program participants can display the PFI Quality Mark on their pellet bags, signifying their qualification to the program requirements. This quality mark demonstrates to consumers that the product comes from a facility that submits its product to regular third party audits by an independent accredited auditing agency and testing laboratory. Random audits are regularly performed at production facilities to ensure qualified companies are following a quality control program. Wood pellets are tested according to the program specifications, also on a monthly basis. By taking these steps, participants ensure that their pellet quality remains consistent.

Both facilities were qualified by accredited auditing agency Conway & Robison LLC. For information on qualifying for the program, the first step is to contact an accredited auditing agency, a list of which can be find on PFI’s website. For further details on the PFI Standards Program, including a list of participating manufacturers, visit the PFI website, www.pelletheat.org.