Biomass Boiler Training on Prince of Wales Island

ACEP Biomass Coordinator Amanda Byrd is in Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales Island this week filming a biomass boiler training program. The program is organized by Southeast Conference, Alaska Energy Authority, and the State of Alaska Department of Labor.

Biomass boiler operators from Interior and Southeast Alaska are attending this training and will learn how to conduct prescribed maintenance and troubleshoot issues, in addition to learning proper boiler operation methods. A greenhouse operator workshop will be held on Friday.

This is the second biomass boiler operator training program organized; in 2015 18 operators from nine Western and Interior Alaska attended a training in Tanana. Later this year, another operator training program will again be held in Tanana.

While in Coffman Cove, Byrd will interview Southeast Island School District students, teachers, and community members about their highly successful biomass boiler heated year-round greenhouse operated by the school. Students load and operate the boiler in addition to growing vegetables for their company, Island Fresh. Videos of the boiler operator training and school greenhouse will be produced this spring.

Image: Map of Prince of Wales Island. Image Courtesy of Google Maps.