[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 234]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MAINE ENERGY SYSTEMS

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, while many hold an idyllic notion of 
Maine in the winter as a haven for skiers and snow enthusiasts, Mainers 
know that the cold winter months bring with them many dangers, 
particularly when it comes to heating homes. That is why I wish to 
recognize Maine Energy Systems of Bethel, a small business that is 
using technology and innovative thinking to help solve our Nation's 
energy crisis and keep Mainers warm during the State's lengthy winter.
  Maine Energy Systems is the product of three men: Les Otten, Dr. 
Harry ``Dutch'' Dressler, and William Strauss. They came together in 
2007 to brainstorm a way to reduce energy costs for Mainers and for the 
Nation. When the trio formed Maine Energy Systems they agreed that any 
solution had to: Reduce dependency on foreign oil; be environmentally 
sensitive; be renewable; and be affordable. With these goals in mind, 
they spent 14 months researching every aspect of energy delivery and 
production. These efforts eventually bore fruit when they partnered 
with German manufacturer Bosch to create a wood pellet fueled boiler 
system suitable for sale in America.
  Bosch created a boiler fueled by high-grade wood pellets that are 
pumped through an automatic feeder into the boiler itself. The wood 
pellets are made directly from trees or from the byproducts of other 
wood manufacturing processes before undergoing a unique and exciting 
process. The wood is first dried, pulverized and forced under high 
pressure through the holes in a die, a specialized manufacturing tool. 
The holes force the wood into a tightly compact pellet shape that 
stores energy without wasting space. These pellets are extremely 
versatile and can be made from either hardwood or softwood.
  Once inside the boiler, the pellets are fanned in order to ensure 
maximum combustibility. Finally, the pellets are burned, generating 
heat that can be used as a home heating source. The boiler has already 
been approved by the Underwriters Laboratories and proven reliable by 
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In addition to their 
dependability, wood pellets are also environmentally friendly.
  The wood pellets have very little ash content. Unlike traditional log 
fires, burning pellets do not appear to create chimney deposits and in 
fact, burning wood pellets creates no visible smoke. The only byproduct 
left after burning is wood ash, which is actually beneficial to garden 
and lawn soil. Wood pellets are a local renewable resource, and many of 
the pellets used by Maine Energy Systems come from trees in the small 
Maine town of Athens. In this way, Maine's abundant forests can help 
reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy, in 
particular Middle Eastern oil. The carbon footprint created by wood 
pellet burning stoves is only 28.6 lbs. per million British thermal 
units, which ranks as one of the most efficient ways to heat a home.
  Maine Energy Systems is at the vanguard of the ``green'' product 
revolution, creating a product that is beneficial to the environment, 
saves consumers money, and produces profits and jobs. Entrepreneurs in 
the purest sense of the word, Maine Energy Systems' founders have 
provided our country a tremendous opportunity for a better future. I 
wish Les Otten, Dr. Harry ``Dutch'' Dressler, William Strauss, and 
Maine Energy Systems continued success as they help Mainers save money, 
energy, and the environment.

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