February 15, 2008
DPHHS Receives Wood Stove Changeout Grant
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has received a $100,000 federal grant to help low-income Ravalli County citizens replace old pollution-causing wood stoves with cleaner burning units, state health officials said Friday.
The Great American Wood Stove Changeout grant was one of only five given nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2007.
In addition, the funding will be matched with another $90,000 of federal money from the state’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), said Kane Quenemoen of DPHHS.
Quenemoen explained that DPHHS applied for the grant because of the potential to help those who utilize LIEAP, the program that helps low income citizens cover their heat bill. The newer wood stoves can save about 20 percent in average annual heating costs.
Those county residents who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should contact Jim Wilson of the District XI Human Resource Council (HRC) in Missoula.
HRC is a subcontractor for DPHHS and will be the point of contact for all inquiries about this service.
Wilson said eligible county residents will be offered up to $2,570 toward the purchase and installation cost of EPA-approved wood stoves. Old stoves will be disabled and recycled.
“This grant could potentially replace as many as 74 old wood stoves in Ravalli County,” Wilson said.
The program is the EPA’s national effort to reduce pollution by replacing older wood stoves with EPA-certified wood stoves, pellet stoves or fireplace inserts, or with electric or gas heating units. Old, inefficient wood stoves can be a significant source of pollution, including particle pollution, which is linked to a number of serious health problems, said Steve Page, director of EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
“Today’s more efficient stoves don’t just burn less wood, they’re also better for your health,” Page said. “Replacing an old wood stove with a cleaner-burning, EPA-certified stove can reduce emissions of particle pollution at your home by up to 70 percent.”
Quenemoen said Ravalli County was selected largely because some areas of the county consistently exceed the national ambient air quality standards. And, the county has a high number of low-income residents who use wood stoves as the primary source of heat. “This program has been popular at other sites around the country over the past several years and we hope to have similar results in Ravalli County,” Quenemoen said.
Currently, about 15-20 households have already been located as candidates for a wood stove changeout in Ravalli County. “That’s a good start, but we’re hoping to find more as the word gets out,” Quenemoen said.
The EPA spearheaded a similar effort in Libby where over 190 wood stoves were replaced in recent years.
For more information about the Great American Wood Stove Changeout go to http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/changeout.html
For information about how to apply for the program in Ravalli County contact Wilson at 406-728-3710 or by mail at District XI HRC, 1801 South Higgins, Missoula, MT 59801.
Page last updated: 02/15/2008
