Maine Pellet Fuels Association elects new officers

    At their second annual meeting, the Maine Pellet Fuels Association recognized the new industry’s many accomplishments and challenges, while electing directors and officers for the coming two years. Association Co-Founder Les Otten, who is the owner of Maine Energy Systems, stepped down as president and was succeeded by George Soffron, CEO of Corinth Wood Pellets. Dutch Dresser of Maine Energy Systems was elected vice president; Jonathan Kahn of Geneva Wood Fuels, of Strong, continues as the Association’s secretary-treasurer.      The increased use of wood pellets for heating fuel in Maine was symbolized by the election of Tim Heutz, of Heutz Premium Pellets, in Lewiston, to the MPFA Board of Directors. Heutz is part of the 75-year-old Heutz Oil family business in Lewiston and also serves as a board member of the Maine Oil Dealers Association.  
    Matt Bell of Northeast Pellets, in Ashland, was also elected as a new director of the Maine Pellet Fuels Association.
    Past-President Otten will continue on the Board of Directors to spearhead the industry’s efforts to secure for pellet fuels the same tax treatment as that presently accorded wind and solar energy residential installations. Senator Susan Collins has led successful passage of a consumer tax credit for installation of wood- and pellet-burning stoves, and Senator Olympia Snowe has introduced legislation which will apply to pellet-fueled boilers and furnaces.