Oil dealers: Wood pellets dirtier than oil

Claim pellets do more to pollute air PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A study conducted for Maine's oil dealers concludes air quality could worsen if thousands of homeowners switch from oil heat to wood pellet stoves. The study commissioned by the Maine Oil Dealers Association concludes pellet stoves generate more particle pollution and air toxics than oil furnaces. It takes aim at a draft recommendation of the governor's Wood-to-Energy Task Force, which has set a goal of having 10 percent of homes heat with pellets. "Advocating wood energy is fine, but you can't tell untruths about oil," said Jamie Py, executive director of the Maine Oil Dealers Association. The Wood-to-Energy Task Force says that the switch to wood could help the state reduce its heavy dependence on costly oil heat and move toward cleaner-burning wood fuels. Les... [read full story]