FARMINGTON — A Model Neighborhood Wood Heat Initiative information session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Old South Congregational Church, 227 Main St. The initiative helps people replace oil boilers with high-efficiency, fully automated wood pellet boilers that reduce heating costs, keep heating dollars circulating locally, and support the local forest-based economy. Project staff from Western Maine Community Action and the Northern Forest Center will explain the program and answer questions. Local project participants will be on hand to talk about their experience since converting to modern wood pellet heating. Representatives from manufacturers for several qualified wood pellet boilers will also on hand to demonstrate how the boilers work and answer questions.

Homeowners in Farmington and Wilton may be eligible for a 15 percent subsidy up to $3,000, plus a $5,000 rebate from Efficiency Maine for qualifying boilers. Municipal buildings, affordable housing properties, and other nonprofit facilities can also apply to participate in the program, with a subsidy of 25 percent up to $12,000 for qualified projects. Subsidies are still available for 11 homes and three small commercial installations.

The Model Neighborhood Wood Heat Initiative in Farmington is a partnership of Western Maine Community Action and the Northern Forest Center. More information is available online at http://goo.gl/FOcQdn or contact Maura Adams at madams@northernforest.org or call 603-229-0679.

The Northern Forest Center helps create economic opportunity and community vitality from healthy working forests in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Western Maine Community Action is a social service agency that has been providing services for more than 45 years to people living in the western mountain region of Maine.

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