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Plans underway for first wood pellet mill in Vermont |
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 |
By LAURA CARPENTER
Express Staff Writer
NORTH TROY — Westfield resident Dennis Beloin is in the process of building the first wood pellet mill to be located in the industrial park of North Troy. It will be called Vermont Pellet Fuel Corporation. Beloin’s business partners are Sylvester Masino, and William Powell. Senator Bobby Starr has helped with the land deal, Beloin said in an interview Tuesday.
Currently Beloin owns a hardware store in Westfield and sells wood
pellet stoves. Three years ago he came up with the idea to build a
mill. Now he finally has the backing to do it. “I knew this would be
the future,” he said
The next step is town approval, and then Act 250 approval, which takes
up to 60 days after he gets town permits. Beloin has support from the
Northeastern Vermont Development Association and the Vermont Economic
Growth Initiative.
On Wednesday, the signing of the deal to purchase the ten acres in the
industrial park adjacent to Newport Panels will take place. The
contractors are also ready to go. Beloin predicts the business will be
ready to open as soon as October 1. He says the company will employ
about 30 people to start.
Using wood pellets to heat cost about 50 percent less than using oil or gas, Beloin stated.
“Vermont can become independent from oil companies. The pellets will be
made from Vermont for Vermont,” he said in a phone interview.
About 90 percent of the wood used will come from Vermont. Once the soft
or hard wood is delivered to the mill, it will go through a chipper.
Then it will be dried down to retain just ten percent of the moisture.
It is hammered to saw dust, heated to 300 degrees and put through 60
pounds per square inch of pressure, which creates the pellets. As it
cools, it becomes hard as a rock. Finally it is bagged, Beloin
explained.
“Not only will this help the economy by providing good paying jobs, it helps Vermont be more independent,” Beloin said.
The company’s goal will be to create 100 thousand tons of pellets per year, Beloin said.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 28 July 2008 )
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