Budget 2010 Funds Residential Wood Pellet Appliance Rebate Extension

The Provincial Government will provide $500,000 through Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future to continue the Residential Wood Pellet Appliance Rebate Program which provides a 25 per cent rebate to help homeowners purchase a wood pellet appliance.

Homeowners interested in purchasing and installing a wood pellet appliance have until March 18, 2011, to apply for a rebate under this year's program. Since the program was first introduced in late 2008, 405 rebates at an average of $580 each have been issued to qualifying homeowners.

"The rebate program was introduced to help create a demand for locally-produced wood pellets and we are very pleased to see that homeowners are responding to the program," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. "We are building our local wood pellet production capacity to meet the growing demand, which is good for the environment and for our forest industry. Retailers and consumers are supporting our suppliers and are buying local products."

Two local companies — Exploits Pelletizing Inc., a division of Blanchard's Cabinet Doors in Bishop's Falls, and Cottles Island Lumber Co. in Summerford — are currently manufacturing pellets. A third pellet plant under construction in Roddickton by Holson Forest Products anticipates having pellets available by the next heating season.

A May 2009 survey sent to homeowners who have purchased a pellet appliance in this province indicated that 88 per cent of respondents would recommend a pellet appliance.

"That response indicates that homeowners are pleased with their decision to switch to a pellet appliance and that the program is achieving its goal of establishing a wood pellet manufacturing industry in this province," said Minister Dunderdale. "We are pleased to be able to extend the program to assist homeowners with their purchase and to support this forest sector diversification initiative."

The Residential Wood Pellet Appliance Rebate Program is an initiative under the Forest Industry Diversification Program to help diversify the industry and identify new markets. Details on the rebate, program requirements and application forms can be obtained online at www.gov.nl.ca/nr, from wood pellet appliance vendors in the province or by calling 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 

2010 04 22                                                   12:05 p.m.