FARMINGTON — The Model Neighborhood Wood Heat Initiative can help people reduce heating bills by replacing oil boilers with high-efficiency, fully automated wood pellet boilers.

An informational session on the initiative will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Old South Congregational Church on Main Street.

Project staff from Western Maine Community Action and the Northern Forest Center will explain the program and answer questions. Local project participants will be on hand to talk about their experiences since converting to modern wood pellet heating. Representatives from manufacturers for several qualified wood pellet boilers will also on hand to demonstrate how the boilers work and answer questions.

Homeowners in Farmington and Wilton may be eligible for a 15 percent subsidy of up to $3,000, plus a $5,000 rebate from Efficiency Maine for qualifying boilers.

Municipal buildings, affordable housing properties and other nonprofit facilities can also apply to participate in the program, with a subsidy of 25 percent for up to $12,000 for qualified projects.

Subsidies are still available for 11 homes and three small commercial installations.

The Model Neighborhood Wood Heat Initiative in Farmington is a partnership of Western Maine Community Action and the Northern Forest Center. More information is available online at http://goo.gl/FOcQdn or by contacting Maura Adams at [email protected].

The Northern Forest Center helps create economic opportunity and community vitality from healthy working forests in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.

Western Maine Community Action is a social service agency providing services for almost 50 years to people living in the western mountain region of Maine.