Disinfecting PPE
Did anyone expect that the fuel oil industry would be playing an innovative part in disinfecting personal protective equipment so that frontline medical personnel could reuse their N95 masks during the coronavirus pandemic ? But that is just what ’ s happening , as we report in our cover story , beginning on page 19 .
Burch Oil , Carlin Combustion / Hydrolevel , Thermo Products , and Triton Defense helped inventor Matt Hayes make a “ Hot Box ” designed to disinfect
STEPHEN BENNETT personal protective equipment . Now three facilities in Maryland are using the oil-fired devices to treat N95 masks so that they can be reused .
Hayes , who came up with the conceptual design , says he approached Burch Oil and Triton Defense , companies in Hollywood , Maryland , for their technical and manufacturing expertise .
“ Our big challenges are scaling up the production , meeting the demands of healthcare facilities and making sure that everyone ’ s aware that this is now an option that they have ,” Hayes says in a phone interview with Fuel Oil News .
A goal is to build the devices and distribute them nationally and internationally , says Bobby Parlett , sales manager for Burch Oil . Fuel Oil News will continue to cover this developing story in upcoming issues . Federal policy addressing climate issues is changing drastically under the administration of President Joseph R . Biden Jr . Starting on page 16 we offer a rundown of executive actions taken by the president . Executive actions that the president took on his first day in office included rejoining the Paris Agreement .
Facilities in Maryland are using oil-fired devices to treat N95 masks so that they can be reused .
A White House statement noted , “ President Biden set ambitious goals that will ensure America and the world can meet the urgent demands of the climate crisis , while empowering American workers and businesses to lead a clean energy revolution that achieves a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and puts the United States on an irreversible path to a net-zero economy by 2050 .”
As companies prepare to meet deadlines set by the Biden Administration on carbon emissions , the National Energy & Fuels Institute announced that it is launching the NEFI Resource Center , an online industry repository that will comprise blueprint documents , state-specific fact sheets , infographics , press packets and other materials .
“ This vital information will allow state and regional associations to underscore the value [ fuel marketing ] businesses bring to local economies and communities ,” NEFI said in an announcement . For more on the new NEFI Resource Center , turn to “ News ” beginning on page 6 .
Meanwhile , a renewable diesel venture announced plans for a plant to produce 470 million gallons per year (“ News ,” page 6 ). Darling Ingredients Inc . and Valero Energy Corp . said they will build the renewable diesel production facility at Valero ’ s refinery in Port Arthur , Texas . The project will be carried out through their joint venture , Diamond Green Diesel . The new plant is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2023 . ( Expanded capacity is in the works at a plant in Norco , Louisiana , as well .)
“ We expect low-carbon fuel policies to continue to expand globally and drive demand for renewable fuels ,” said Joe Gorder , Valero ’ s chairman and chief executive officer . l FON
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4 FEBRUARY 2021 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com