Events and Activities : Tri-State Heating Symposium set for Oct. 24

FREEPORT, Ill. – With colder weather approaching, individuals and businesses may wonder how they’ll find room in their budget to pay for heating costs. And although natural gas is relatively plentiful and inexpensive in the Midwest, not all residents and businesses are connected to the pipeline. Biomass as a cost-effective heat source is the topic for the Tri-State Heating with Biomass Symposium on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.at Highland Community College in Freeport.
The symposium, co-hosted by University of Illinois Extension, University of Wisconsin Extension, and Highland Community College, will provide regionally appropriate information on the issues and opportunities related to biomass heating.
“Modern biomass systems are competitive with more expensive heating fuels such as fuel oil, LP gas, and electricity,” said Jay Solomon, a U of I Extension educator, energy and environmental stewardship.
In fact, Solomon said that using biomass to heat buildings has become quite common in some parts of the United States. “The northern regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have embraced the opportunity to heat homes, businesses, and public buildings using wood-based biomass in particular,” Solomon said. “And the tri-state area, which encompasses northern Illinois, eastern Iowa, and southern Wisconsin, has a similarly appropriate natural resource base to follow this trend. However, many residents lack the information necessary to capitalize on this opportunity.”
The symposium will feature speakers from industry and equipment suppliers, universities, and members of the Illinois Biomass Working Group. Local statistics and opportunities, experiences of other projects, review of current timber availability, and the relationship with the larger Midwest biomass effort will be discussed.
Highland Community College is located at 2998 W. Pearl City Rd, Freeport. The symposium will be held in the Student Conference Center, Building H. Registration is required. Early registration is $15/person. After Oct. 17, registration will be $20. For more information, call U of I Extension at 815-235-4125 or visit http://tinyurl.com/pc6whdf.