| A recent trend in wood pellets manufacturing has | | | | material such as sawdust from lumber mills and parts |
| been an increase in home owners and small | | | | of a log that are unsuitable for making lumber or |
| businesses producing pellets on a small scale. Small | | | | other wood products. Sometimes even whole trees |
| scale mills are allowing operators to make their own | | | | are chipped and made into pellets. This can be a good |
| pellets or to start a business selling them. | | | | way to utilize low grade trees or parts of trees that |
| Many home owners have been reluctant to switch to | | | | may have otherwise gone to waste in a forestry |
| pellet heat partly due to a question of whether pellet | | | | operation. |
| supplies will always be available. Most pellets are made | | | | Pellets didn't catch on as a source of fuel until the |
| in large industrial mills and there have been times in | | | | late 70's. Before then pellets were made from mostly |
| the past when producers and distributors haven't | | | | agricultural materials like alfalfa and grains as animal |
| been able to keep up with demand in some areas. | | | | feed and bedding. Pellets can be made from just |
| Since small pellet mills are becoming more available to | | | | about any organic material for both heating and other |
| smaller businesses and even individual home owners | | | | uses. |
| this opens up more possibilities for consumers. Pellets | | | | As fossil fuel prices continue to rise and as people |
| produced by local businesses are starting to become | | | | are searching for alternative renewable energy |
| more available and home owners who have access | | | | sources pellet demand will likely increase. For |
| to wood and other forms of biomass can make their | | | | someone with a pellet mill there are many |
| own. | | | | opportunities for wood pellets manufacturing as well |
| Wood pellets are usually made from wood waste | | | | as other types of pellets for their own use or to sell. |