Vermont Outdoor Wood Boiler Change-out Program Description: This project used vouchers to replace uncertified outdoor wood boilers (OWB, a.k.a. hydronic heaters) with cleaner, EPA-certified units. OWBs targeted for replacement by VT DEC included units associated with complaints from residents, those with high emission rates, and those located within 200 feet of a residence, school, or health-care facility. The change-out program began in 2011 before VT passed legislation in 2012 requiring uncertified OWBs to be retired by the end of 2012. Title Vermont Outdoor Wood Boiler Change-out Program Location (City, Counties, Region) Vermont, state-wide Population/Number of homes covered by project • Population: 623,989 (2019) • Housing Units: 339,439 (2019) Objectives (NAAQS attainment/maintenance, indoor air, visibility, air toxics, public education) • Reduce fine particles (PM2.5) from wintertime woodsmoke. • Remain in attainment with PM2.5 air-quality standards. • Prioritize replacement of hydronic heaters (aka OWBs) that have been the subject of complaints regarding smoke emissions, have the highest emission rates, or are within 200 feet of a residence, school, or health care facility. Milestones (Project time frame, number of changeouts, air quality goals, number of low-income homes targeted if applicable) • Replaced 85 uncertified OWBs from 2011 to 2015. • Majority of OWBs replaced with certified cordwood OWBs. Four replaced with certified pellet OWBs and two with gas units. • Change-out Program ended in September 2015 due to halt in funding. • See PM Advance: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018- 06/documents/path forward.0418.pdf Budget (projected/actual cost) • $500,000 from settlement of US v. American Electric Power Service Corp. (Civil Action No. C2-99-1250). • Additional funds via VT legislature. Funding Sources (Government funds, grants, Supplemental Environmental Project, fees, etc.) • American Electric Power Service Corp. • Vermont legislature (Act 94, effective May 7, 2010, and codified at 10 V.S.A. § 584): Vermont Air Quality and Climate Division was given $500,000 through the Legislature to implement the OWB Change Out Program. Partners (Government/private organizations involved) • EPA Region 1 • Vermont Legislature • Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): https://dec.vermont.gov/ • Vermont Air Quality and Climate Division (AQCD) • 17 participating OWB dealers • American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/ Incentives Offered (rebates, discounts, vouchers, incentives for low-income homes, etc.) • Up to $6,000 voucher to replace uncertified OWBs with cleaner, more efficient units. • $1,000 voucher for owners of uncertified OWBs owners to change to more efficient units, but whose operation of current boiler did not result in a complaint. Ordinances/Regulations (mandates for cleaner-burning hearth devices) • Uncertified OWBs were required to be retired by December 31, 2012. See 10 V.S.A. section 584(g): https://law.justia.com/codes/vermont/2012/titlel0/chapter23/section584 ------- Title Vermont Outdoor Wood Boiler Change-out Program • Any EPA certified wood-fired central heater, woodstove or wood-pellet stove can be sold in Vermont. Set-back and stack-height regulations apply to hydronic heaters including a 100- foot setback requirement from the nearest residence, school or health care facility not served by the hydronic heater. See: https://dec.vermont.gov/air- quality/compliance/owb/vt-certified-outdoor-wood-boilers Project Yardstick (Number of woodsheds constructed, number of stoves replaced with new stoves or other technology, etc.) • Removed 85 uncertified OWBs from service. • Majority of OWBs replaced with certified cordwood OWBs. Four were replaced with certified pellet OWBs and two with gas units. Outreach/Marketing (Radio/TV public service announcements, workshops, woodstoves expo, flyers, mailouts, social media) • Announced on local TV, newspaper, and online news. See: https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/uncertified-outdoor- wood-boilers-must-be-retired/article 356f0fd0-05aa-5073-979d- 42bf355514b8.html • Provided information for distribution at woodstove retailers. • See: https://www.vtwoodsmoke.org/: https://www.vtwoodsmoke.org/wp- content/uploads/2021/05/OWB-VTFactSheet.pdf Air Quality Data/Other Results (Air-quality status of project area. Is improving indoor air quality part of project?) • PM2.5was the major contributor to air pollution on moderate AQI days in Vermont for 2016-2019. • Average annual number of "good" AQI days has continued to increase. • Difficult to quantify improvement in air quality due to changeouts; however, on average certified OWBs emit 70-90% less PM2.5 than older units. Lessons Learned (What worked? What didn't? Tips? How can project be improved?) • Partnerships between local government and private sector are key. • Important to maintain partnerships and contracts with specific dealers in response to public requests. • Necessary to retain participating dealers in various areas of Vermont to prevent geographic locations of the dealer from becoming a hindrance for people interested in the program. • Educational outreach on proper wood-burning practices is essential. • Consider seeking other funding opportunities in order to extend and expand program. Project Contact (Name, organization, phone number, email address, web link to project) • John Wakefield, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (iohn.wakefieldPvermont.gov) • https://dec.vermont.gov/tags/outdoor-wood-fired-boilers ------- |