Time running out to swap those old wood stoves

There aren’t many snow-free months left to replace old polluting wood stoves in Truckee.

The Town of Truckee and the Placer County Air Pollution Control District have programs to replace older, non-Environmental Protection Agency certified stoves and fireplaces, and both offer rebates of $300 to $500 to help with removal and replacement.

Truckee’s program is mandatory, with a deadline for completion set for July 15, 2007 to replace all non-compliant stoves and fireplaces, while Placer County has a voluntary rebate program for the Martis Valley and Northstar areas.

Wood stoves in Truckee

The deadline on replacement has been extended in Truckee from the 2006 deadline to “provide better notification and sufficient time for replacement,” said Truckee Town Planner Duane Hall.

A $300 rebate for the removal of a non-certified wood stove or fireplace and a $500 rebate for removal and replacement with a pellet fueled wood heater or gas-service stove will be available through the end of the year, Hall said, but as funds run out the rebate may be decreased or become unavailable.

Once the July 15, 2007 deadline passes, those who do not comply will first be informed, then may be fined, and finally the town may take action to have the stove removed, he said.

“First violation will be no more than $1,000, second in a year will be no more than $2,500, and the third will be no more than $5,000,” Hall said.

However, because of second home-owners and other complications, the town will try to “inform and educate” people first, he said.

“This is one part of the town’s strategy to reduce particulate emissions and improve air quality,” Hall said.

For more information on requirements and rebates call 582-7876.

Stove and fireplace facts • EPA certified wood stoves emit approximately 70 percent less pollution than older, traditional wood stoves. • Older uncertified stoves and fireplaces release 40 to 60 grams of smoke per hour while new, certified stoves release two to five grams per hour. • Replacing 20 non-certified, older stoves with 20 EPA-certified stoves can prevent the emissions of one ton of particulate matter into our environment per year. • The cost of a new wood stove, including installation, varies depending on make and model, but a basic model with installation will cost approximately $1,000 to $3,000. • Because they more efficiently burn wood and create less unburned by-products like smoke and ash, new stoves will save money on wood consumption. — Source: Environmental Protection Agency. The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District is also offering rebates for wood stove replacement in the Portola area, with limited funding available for low-income seniors. Rebates will be up to $2,500 for qualified applicants. Call 274 9360 extension 103 for more information. — Source: myairdistrict.com

Placer County’s program

The Placer County Air Pollution Control District funds currently cover only Colfax and Martis Valley-Northstar and offers rebates until money runs out.

The Martis Valley-Northstar area has been specifically targeted because funds for the project came from the Lahontan development, said Ann Hobbs, an air quality specialist for the Placer County Air Pollution Control District.

The total budget for rebates in the Martis Valley-Northstar area is $137,000, with rebates of $300 for replacing a non-certified stove or fireplace with a certified wood stove or fireplace, or $500 for replacing a non-certified stove or fireplace with a pellet or gas stove or fireplace, she said.

Hobbs said there are no currently plans in Placer County for more programs of this type.

For more information on how to get the rebate, call the Placer County Air Control District at 745-2330.