The Pellet Fuels Institute has announced the qualification of pellet fuel manufacturer Forest Energy Corp. into the PFI Standards Program, a third-party accreditation program providing specifications for residential and commercial-grade pellet fuel. Based in Show Low, Arizona, Forest Energy is the sixth company to qualify for the PFI Standards Program.

“We are thrilled to welcome Forest Energy Corp. into the PFI Standards Program,” said Jennifer Hedrick, executive director of the Pellet Fuels Institute. “It takes time, effort and dedication to qualify for the program and we are proud to see how much the Standards Program has grown in a year and a half. We thank these companies for leading the way and we look forward to many more program members.”

In qualifying for the Standards Program, Forest Energy joins existing program members New England Wood Pellet, Curran Renewable Energy, American Wood Fibers, Lignetics Inc., and Marth Peshtigo Pellet Co. With the addition of Forest Energy, nearly half of the pellets manufactured for residential heat consumption within the United States are produced under this program.

Program participants can display the PFI Quality Mark on their pellet bags, signifying their qualification to the program requirements. This quality mark will help guide consumers' decisions about which brand of pellets to purchase.

To meet the criteria of the PFI Standards Program, participants work with an independent accredited auditing agency and testing laboratory. Random monthly audits are performed at production facilities to ensure qualified companies are following a quality assurance and quality control program. Pellets are tested according to the program specifications, also on a monthly basis. By taking these steps, participants ensure that their pellet quality remains consistent.