The Provincial Government is extending the deadline
for its 2008 Residential Wood Pellet Rebate Program to provide
homeowners an additional month to purchase the appliances and still
qualify.
"We announced the 25 per cent rebate on the purchase
price of the appliances to assist in creating a local market for our
sawmills to diversify into wood pellet manufacturing," said the
Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister
Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. "We still have money
available under the program to provide this extension beyond the
original February 28 deadline to accommodate homeowners still interested
in purchasing the appliances this fiscal year."
The 25 per cent rebate is available to all eligible
Newfoundland and Labrador homeowners purchasing the appliances between
April 1, 2008 and the new deadline of March 31, 2009. Homeowners will be
eligible if the application and proof of installation by a certified
WETT technician or visual inspector is submitted by April 10, 2009.
Applications received after April 10, 2009 will not be eligible for the
rebate.
"As of mid-February, we processed 214 rebate
applications from various parts of the province," said Minister
Dunderdale. "This is a great start in creating a market for sawmills and
an important new industry in the province. We expect at least two wood
pellet manufacturers to be up and running in the province by spring."
The Provincial Government invested $500,000 to provide
the 25 per cent rebate to homeowners on the purchase price of wood
pellet appliances this fiscal year. Homeowners are eligible for rebates
up to a maximum of $1,000 for a wood pellet stove and $1,500 for a wood
pellet furnace.
The rebate program is part of the Provincial
Government�s $14-million Forest Industry Diversification Program
announced in Budget 2008. It demonstrates the Provincial Government�s
commitment to diversifying the forest industry through investment in
strategic areas.
Applications for the rebate can be obtained on the
government website or from wood pellet appliance vendors in Newfoundland
and Labrador. Complete details on the rebate, program requirements and
application forms can be found at
www.gov.nl.ca/nr/. Background information is also available at
//www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2008/nr/1105n03.htm.
For more information, homeowners can call
709-637-2349.
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Media contact:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca
2009 02 27
12:15 p.m.