The equipment, while very popular throughout the European Union (EU),
has had limited acceptance in the United States, mostly due to the low
price of traditional heating fuels, according to Frank.
The new bill essentially accepts the European safety rating in lieu of
the U.S.'s safety rating for commercial as well as public buildings.
The European systems are required to meet strict air quality and
efficiency standards set by the EU nations, which Frank said "makes them
a good fit for Vermont."
"It's considered a win-win to many sectors of Vermont's economy
including timber, and at the same time reducing our dependence on
foreign oil," he said.
Vermont is considered a leader in heating sustainability with wood
(biomass).
"It's no coincidence that Vermont has the largest number of students in
the U.S. attending public schools that are heated with wood. The number
is currently estimated to be 30 percent of all public school students
which includes our own Harwood Union High School," Frank said.
Harwood successfully completed construction on a wood chip boiler plant
two years ago.
Vermont is the second state to successfully pass this type of
legislation.
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