• Lu, Ning
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

The wood fuel pellet industry has been growing rapidly in recent years. The conversion of a significant proportion of central home heating systems in the New England area from oil to wood pellet fuel from New England forests is also seen as a way to utilize local workers and woods residues. The purpose of this research was to produce a pellet cost model that will help future investors evaluate wood pellet production costs, including raw material and financial recovery costs. This cost model will be helpful to the pellet industry in New England by allowing prospective investors the ability to assess he feasibility of building a wood pellet plant based on local conditions in order to avoid poor decisions.