Wood stove grant applications due by May 10

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency is helping residents replace older, polluting stoves with newer, efficient ones, but the program is ending soon.

Applications for change-out grants are due by May 10 at spokanecleanair.org.

The upgrades must replace stoves or inserts that were made in or before 1995. Environmental features have been federally mandated in wood-burning devices since then.

Grants are $500 for replacement of a wood stove or insert, $700 for a pellet stove or insert, and $1,000 for a conversion to natural gas or ductless heat pump. Some funds are available for low-income residents.

More than 250 devices have been replaced under the program in the past three years, eliminating an estimated 10.5 tons of fine particles of pollution from wood smoke in that time.

“New wood burning devices are much more efficient, burning less wood and producing fewer emissions,” Lisa Woodard, spokeswoman for the agency, said in a news release.

Woodard provided a statement from one grant recipient.

Diane Birginal said her outdated fireplace insert didn’t keep fires burning for long and it produced a lot of smoke.

“The changeout program was so easy to use,” she said in an email. “We filled out a very simple application, mailed it in, and within a week we had the certificate. We gave that to the retailer, and they took care of everything.

“The incentive definitely convinced us to make the change now, rather than thinking about it, because of the additional savings.

“We are delighted with the decision. We have added value to our home with a beautiful wood-burning insert in our main floor fireplace. We can enjoy a beautiful fire without worrying that we are polluting the air,” she wrote.

To apply, go to spokanecleanair.org and follow the link to wood heating. Find the criteria and application there.