Corinth - Even in the dead of winter, when the ground is frozen over, there's a place in Corinth that is still trying to grow.

Corinth Wood Pellets is a business that combines one of Maine's necessities with its resources.

"We have huge thermal energy needs, this region has an abundance of solid bio fuel," said George Soffron, the company's CEO.

The company is one of four in the state producing wood pellets to use as an alternative to oil for heating.

Over the last three years, their efforts have garnered support from the federal government, but in order to expand they say they'll need more.

"We feel as though solid bio fuels or solid fuels are disadvantaged in the way the USDA views renewable energy fuels. The liquid fuels are clearly given higher subsidies and preferential treatment," said Soffron.

But the department has given $1.4 million to support the state's industry over the last three years. Under Secretary, Dallas Tonsager, says they recognize Maine's pellet industry has more promising components than other parts of the country.

"Within the federal government we're trying very strongly to build alternative energy business structures across the U.S. We're finding all parts of the country have their strengths and weaknesses and Maine's happens to be its availability of timber, the use of lumber."

While it's unclear how the department plans to help down the line, the company feels the conversation was a good start for potential growth in the future.

"To hear him say that strategies need to be different by region was a huge step forward," said Soffron.

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