Applications available today for wood stove swap-out funds

Applications will be taken starting Wednesday for a program to help replace old wood stoves and fireplaces with newer, cleaner-burning models.

Vouchers of $1,000 are available to help with the cost of replacing a pre-1988 non-epa-certified wood stove or a fireplace that is a primary source of heat, with a new cleaner-burning wood, natural gas, propane or electric heating device.

For low-income residents or those living in census tracts designated low-income or disadvantaged, vouchers to cover the full cost of replacement are available, up to $3,500.

The Wood Smoke Reduction Pilot Program is funded by the state’s cap-and-trade program through California Climate Investments.

The program is administered by local air quality districts, and Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties will all start with $112,500 in project funds, according to Jason Mandly, senior air quality planner for the Butte County Air Quality Management District.

Another $500,000 is available from a fund for the whole air basin, which also includes Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, Plumas, Nevada, Sierra and Shasta counties.

“I expect we’ll be dipping into that quickly,” Mandly said.

He said more money might also be available as it’s a statewide program, and some jurisdictions might not participate or have limited participation. Money unspent elsewhere would be shifted to where the program is more popular.

In Butte County, the applications will be available at 8 a.m. through participating retailers, at the Air Quality District office at 629 Entler Ave., Suite 15, Chico, or online at www.bcaqmd.org.

More information and a list of participating retailers is available on the website or by contacting Mandly at jmandly@bcaqmd. org or 332-9400 ext.108.

In Glenn County, applications will be available at participating retailers, in person at the Air District office in Willows, at www. countyofglenn.net/apcd, or mailed by request.

More information and a list of participating retailers is available at the website or by contacting Ian Ledbetter at iledbetter@ countyofglenn.net or 934-6500.

To apply, submit a completed voucher application and a photo of the old wood burning device to the air quality district by mail or email, or drop them off in person.

Vouchers will be issued in the order complete applications are received, and are good for four weeks.

Within those four weeks, the applicant must select a replacement device from a participating retailer and use the voucher toward the price.

Installations must be done by appropriately licensed contractors with the necessary permits and follow all local fire and building codes.