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Causer opposes state regulation of outdoor wood-fired boilers
Encourages residents to make their voices heard
Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is speaking out against proposed regulations from the state’s Environmental Quality Board that would place significant restrictions on the use of outdoor wood-fired boilers in Pennsylvania.
“These boilers are one of the last affordable forms of home heating for many rural Pennsylvanians,” Causer said. “Government intervention has helped drive up the cost of electricity, oil and gas, and now it’s going to do the same to wood-fired boilers.
“This is just another example of ‘big brother’ government stepping in where it is not wanted or needed,” he added. “Local governments are more than capable of regulating these boilers if they believe it is warranted.”
Under the proposed regulations:
A person may not purchase, sell, offer for sale, distribute or install a boiler unless it meets Phase 2 standards for efficiency.
New boilers must be installed at least a minimum of 150 feet from the nearest property line.
New boilers must have a permanently attached stack that must be at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 150 feet of the boiler.
Existing boilers must also have a permanently attached stack that is at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 500 feet of the boiler.
Only clean wood, wood pellets made from clean wood and certain home heating oil, natural gas or propane fuels can be used in the boilers.
The regulations are currently open for public comment, and Causer is encouraging people directly affected by the regulations, as well as those concerned about state government overstepping its authority, to make their voices heard on the issue.
“We need to stand up and tell the Rendell administration that enough is enough,” Causer said.
Comments must be received by the Environmental Quality Board by Jan. 4, 2010. People have three options for submitting comments:
Send written comments to Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 (express mail: Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301). No fax comments will be accepted.
Send written comments via e-mail to RegComments@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each e-mail. If the sender does not receive acknowledgement that the comments were received within two working days, the sender should resubmit his or her comments.
Attend one of four public hearings scheduled on the matter. The closest hearing will be held in Williamsport at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Department of Environmental Protection Office, 208 W. Third St., Suite 101, Williamsport. Additional hearings are slated for Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre and Cranberry Township.
Visit RepCauser.com for a complete hearing schedule and the proposed regulations.
“These boilers are one of the last affordable forms of home heating for many rural Pennsylvanians,” Causer said. “Government intervention has helped drive up the cost of electricity, oil and gas, and now it’s going to do the same to wood-fired boilers.
“This is just another example of ‘big brother’ government stepping in where it is not wanted or needed,” he added. “Local governments are more than capable of regulating these boilers if they believe it is warranted.”
Under the proposed regulations:
A person may not purchase, sell, offer for sale, distribute or install a boiler unless it meets Phase 2 standards for efficiency.
New boilers must be installed at least a minimum of 150 feet from the nearest property line.
New boilers must have a permanently attached stack that must be at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 150 feet of the boiler.
Existing boilers must also have a permanently attached stack that is at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 500 feet of the boiler.
Only clean wood, wood pellets made from clean wood and certain home heating oil, natural gas or propane fuels can be used in the boilers.
The regulations are currently open for public comment, and Causer is encouraging people directly affected by the regulations, as well as those concerned about state government overstepping its authority, to make their voices heard on the issue.
“We need to stand up and tell the Rendell administration that enough is enough,” Causer said.
Comments must be received by the Environmental Quality Board by Jan. 4, 2010. People have three options for submitting comments:
Send written comments to Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 (express mail: Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301). No fax comments will be accepted.
Send written comments via e-mail to RegComments@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each e-mail. If the sender does not receive acknowledgement that the comments were received within two working days, the sender should resubmit his or her comments.
Attend one of four public hearings scheduled on the matter. The closest hearing will be held in Williamsport at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Department of Environmental Protection Office, 208 W. Third St., Suite 101, Williamsport. Additional hearings are slated for Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre and Cranberry Township.
Visit RepCauser.com for a complete hearing schedule and the proposed regulations.
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Air Freedom wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:16 AM:
" The problem is this as quoted by the U.S. EPA: "Current outdoor wood-fired heaters are substantially less efficient and more polluting than other home-heating devices." That pretty much sums it up. An OWB creates on average 72 g/hr of pm 2.5 particulate matter as compared to other forms of heating (even with wood) of: OWB = 72 g/hr Conventional Wood Stove = 18 g/hr EPA Certified Stove = 6 g/hr Oil Furnace = 0.07 g/hr Gas Furnace = 0.04 g/hr Secondly, these DON'T I repeat DON'T save a person money. These cost around at minimum $10,000-$15,000 to purchase and operate before you even throw your first log on the fire. So when someone claims "I can't afford my bills" well they sure could afford $10,000 to buy one of these monstrosities. I know I don't have $10,000 to throw down on anything much less, something like this. Also take into consideration the $2,000 -$5,000 in installation costs that are associated with this. You can easily spend $15,000 before the so-called savings even start. So don't believe the "I'm so poor I can't heat my home" argument because it is all bogus. The other thing to mention is that these things consume and use electricity about 3 times as much as a normal furnace. Electricity bills nearly triple when using these. So spend $150 a month on electric instead of that price on gas? So in closing would you want this across from your home? Probably not...... "
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Air Freedom wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:15 AM:
A person who uses any device that compromises the elements (air, water, noise) and creates a nuisance, should be held accountable under the nuisance and property damage statutes and laws. However, in many cases they are not held accountable for laws that are already on the books.
I am not looking to reinvent the wheel, about this particular issue simply enforce and follow the laws that already exist. The right to use and enjoyment of property can be found in the common law doctrine that our country adopted from the King of England predating the birth of our country and the U.S. Constitution.
Property Enjoyment dates back to the 13th Century in Italy. So why is this such a difficult idea to grasp? It has only been around for hundreds of years... "