PFI conference to include standards education component

This year’s Pellet Fuels Institute Annual Conference will revisit the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and will include for the first time an educational session dedicated to the organization’s new wood pellet standards.

The conference will be held July 24-26, with the final afternoon dedicated to the PFI Standards Program. “The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for pellet plant managers and operators to learn firsthand about the components of the PFI Standards Program and how they can be put into practice at their respective mills,” said Jennifer Hedrick, PFI association manager.

The standards session is optional and is preceded by panel discussions on pellet plant optimization and efficiency, plant safety and fire prevention. In addition, PFI and RISI have been collaborating on an effort to collect much-needed industry data, Hedrick said, and Seth Walker of RISI will report on its early progress. “We're pleased to have such an accomplished group of speakers joining us for this summer's conference,” she said.

The event kicks off Sunday, July 24 with a golf tournament, kayaking, or tour of nearby St. Augustine. A welcome reception that evening will end the first day, and the panel discussions begin on Monday.

"We're very excited to be returning to Sawgrass after an incredibly successful conference there in 2009,” Hedrick said. “The conference continues to be a strong draw for industry members and those seeking to learn more about the industry. PFI's Conference Committee, under the leadership of Stephen Faehner of American Wood Fibers and Troy Jamieson of Somerset Pellet Fuel, has put together a solid educational program.”