Bureau objects to boiler changes

New York Farm Bureau is speaking out against proposed regulations for outdoor wood-burning boilers.

During a press conference Tuesday, Dean Norton, Farm Bureau president, and Jeffrey A. Williams, deputy director of the bureau's Division of Public Policy, announced a campaign to fight the state Department of Environmental Conservation's proposed regulations for the outdoor units.

"It's bureaucratic red tape that is being put on landowners and owners of outdoor wood boilers," Mr. Norton said. "We don't see why we need to start all over with new regulations when we already have laws that we follow."

Among the proposals, DEC would require wood-burning furnaces to be at least 100 feet from neighboring properties and require smokestacks to be at least 18 feet tall or 2 feet higher than the highest peak of the closest neighboring structure. Additional regulations will be made to curb harmful emissions.

Owners of outdoor boilers would be required to retrofit current units to meet the new standards. A wood-burning boiler made before September 2005 would need costly updates or need to be taken out of service before the end of the unit's useful life, Mr. Norton said.

Mr. Norton said these proposals are a quick reaction to complaints made by local municipalities and are going to cost owners a lot of money.

"The life span of a wood boiler is around 15 to 20 years, sometimes longer," he said. "The regulations would cut the useful life in half, and owners could lose almost half of their investment."

Wood-burning boilers can cost upward of $10,000, Mr. Norton said. If theregulations pass, outdoor furnaces in use since Sept. 1, 2005, that do not comply with emissions standards must be out of service by Aug. 31, 2020. Boilers operating since before Sept. 1, 2005, must be phased out or replaced with ones that meet the new standards by Aug. 31, 2015.

Owners would need to decide to comply with the regulations or return to natural gas or non-renewable, petroleum-based fuels.

"It's a step backwards from the big push for green energy," Mr. Norton said.

The proposed regulations will leave owners of the units to pay for the changes without any help, Mr. Williams said.

"It must be pointed out that DEC doesn't provide financial reimbursement or incentives for the retrofitting of smokestacks or the purchase of a new, compliant boiler," Mr. Williams said.

"It's like the government telling you that you have to switch out your farm truck for a hybrid-electric car, but you have to pay for it yourself. It doesn't make sense."

DEC HEARINGS SET

DEC will hold 11 public hearings throughout the state, including one in Watertown.

■ What: DEC public session on proposed outdoor boiler regulations

■ When: 5 p.m., public informational session; 6 p.m., public hearing

■ Where: Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown

■ Written comments: Until July 2, to John Barnes, P.E., Department of Conservation Division of Air Resources, 625 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Albany, N.Y. 12233-3251, or by e-mail to 247owb@gw.dec.state.ny.us