HOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM) - From raw, green hardwood chips, Michigan Wood Pellet Fuel is making pellets as fast as possible, trying to meet the demand from stores that sell their product.
The company says demand is so high they added a second shift. A third and fourth shift will be needed by July next year. Justin Moran of Michigan Wood Pellet Fuel tells WZZM 13, "five customers a day are asking us to carry our product."
The demand is being brought on by homeowners searching for a cheaper alternative to heat their homes.
Pellet stove retailers are also seeing a spike in interest. Paul Vanderwall of Vanderwall Brothers Stove Shop expects to have his wood pellet stoves sold out by October. Vanderwall says, if he could get more stoves in stock, they'd be sold "looking to sell 40 to 50 this year. I would double that if I could get them."
With the cost of natural gas and fuel oil steadily rising, according to the Biomass Energy Resource Center, heating with wood pellets is 25 to 50 percent cheaper than heating with fossil fuels.
Jon MillsIn your voice
