Buyers burn as prices rise for scarce wood pellets

Gas, oil costs turn many people to alternative fuel source, and now industry is scrambling to catch up

ALBANY — John Denmark is glad he filled his cellar with 4 tons of wood pellets in May, but he’s not so happy about the rising price and scarcity of the fuel he tosses into his new wood stove.

Prices of wood pellets have gone through the roof over the past few months because of a number of factors, including the demand of more people turning to wood to avoid oil and natural gas costs, which have risen by double digit percentages the past two years.
Even at the high prices, many retailers can’t get enough of the pellets. Local big box stores don’t even have them. Small mom-and-pops might. Specialty energy supply houses could. Yet, wherever and whenever available, the price has risen by $100-$150 a ton in just a few months, and it is not necessarily a first-come, first-serve sale anymore.

“They won’t even sell them to you if you haven’t bought your stove from them,” Denmark says about supply outlets he’s tried. “They say, ‘We’re taking care of our customers first.’ ”

Albany Times-Union