Northeastern Ohio contains over 24,460 acres (9,898 ha.) of peatlands, some of which combine relatively low ash and sulfur with Btu values comparable to those of Ohio coal. This combination of properties makes these deposits a potential local fuel source.

Eighteen bogs developed in nine different substrate units were sampled to determine the range of within-bog and between-bog variability with respect to Btu, ash, and sulfur content. The substrate units are based on glacial and soil maps of the area. Two bogs were sampled from within each substrate unit. For each unit, one bog was sampled laterally at two localities at a depth of 6.5 ft (2 m), and a second bog was sampled vertically at one locality at depths of 6.5 and 20 ft (2 and 6 m). A total of 36 samples was collected and analyzed for Btu, ash, and sulfur.

The data show a strong negative correlation between ash and Btu. Ash content can explain 99.2% of the Btu values in the peat samples and can be used to predict Btu values to within ±200 Btus. There are statistically significant differences in Btu, ash, and sulfur content in samples from different substrate units. Bogs in the substrate units, which included the Kent-Lavery Drift end moraine and kame facies, are generally high in Btu and low in ash and sulfur. An attempt was made to identify the combination of variables present locally in the nine substrate units which best explained their Btu content. Stepwise multilinear regression analysis of these variables shows that mean annual precipitation and drainage area explain 72% of the variation in the peat Btu values.

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