Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine are in the top 5 nationally in wood stove emissions

Statistics show that the heavily forested states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are among the top five in the country for the per capita emission of pollutants from wood stoves used to heat homes.

Statistics compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency show that residential wood stoves in Vermont emit just over 22 pounds per person, almost double that of Minnesota, the No. 2 state. Maine is fourth and New Hampshire is fifth.

Vermont Forestry Commissioner Michael Snyder says the Vermont figures do not include emissions from larger-scale wood heating facilities.

He says Vermont doesn't object to new regulations from the EPA that would significantly limit the pollution from newly residential wood heaters, but he wants to ensure the regulations don't hurt Vermont wood stove producers.