Record LIHEAP Support in RI ; Big News in Biodiesel
Due to passage of the American Rescue Plan , Rhode Island has received a record $ 52.7 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ( LIHEAP ) available this fiscal year ( October 2021 to September 2022 ).
As part of a state-by-state breakdown of funding , the Administration
STEPHEN BENNETT reported that in addition to an annual appropriation of $ 21.9 million for Rhode Island , the state received an additional $ 30.8 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan – more than double the state ’ s typical annual funding .
The total of $ 52.7 million is the highest amount Rhode Island has ever received in LIHEAP to help families struggling with the costs of home heating .
The American Rescue Plan More Than Doubled LIHEAP Funding Nationally : In 2021 , the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional Democrats delivered $ 8 billion in LIHEAP funding nationally , more than doubling typical annual appropriations due to $ 4.5 billion provided by the American Rescue Plan . This is the largest appropriation in a single year since the program was established in 1981 . These resources are already allowing states across the country to provide more home energy relief than ever before .
The American Rescue Plan provided other critical resources that states and localities can use to address home energy costs . ERA programs , which received an additional $ 21.5 billion in funding from the American Rescue Plan , can provide help with past-due utility bills or ongoing assistance with energy costs to help distressed renters avoid shut-offs and keep current on expenses . State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds can also be deployed to help deliver energy relief to families .
And New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill phasing in a requirement for all heating oil sold in-state to contain 20 % biodiesel . Once fully implemented , the new law will reduce New York ’ s annual petroleum diesel consumption by approximately two hundred million gallons per year , cutting the state ’ s annual carbon emissions by approximately 1 million metric tons , leaders of industry groups said .
The new law calls for increasingly higher blends , starting with 5 % statewide by July 1 , 2022 , then phasing up to 10 % in 2025 before the 20 % requirement takes effect in 2030 . A 5 % standard has been in place for New York City and Long Island since 2017 , and some fuel dealers are already selling blends as high as 50 % ( B50 ).
New York ’ s home heating industry has been a vocal proponent of biodiesel-blended heating oil , or “ Bioheat fuel ,” for many years , and has pledged to work with government policymakers to reduce home heating fuel emissions to net-zero by 2050 . Biodiesel has been in widespread use throughout New York and the greater Northeast for more than a decade . Ongoing field use and equipment testing at the National Oilheat Research Alliance laboratory in Plainview , New York has proven Bioheat fuel ’ s viability at various blend levels . Research demonstrates that consumers do not need to modify their current oil-fired heating equipment to use this low-carbon heating fuel . “ Bioheat fuel helps to eliminate fossil fuels and can be used without replacing existing heating systems , making it a low-cost , low-carbon solution that is available right here , right now ,” said New York State Energy Coalition CEO Rocco J . Lacertosa and Empire State Energy Association Executive Director Kris DeLair in a joint statement .
The National Biodiesel Board is now the Clean Fuels Alliance America . The transformation to Clean Fuels helps further the organization ’ s position as a proven , innovative part of America ’ s clean energy mix and helps the industry represent all its industry members : biodiesel , renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels .
“ Our industry has seen and will continue to see significant growth as the world around us focuses on clean energy ,” Donnell Rehagen , CEO of Clean Fuels , said in making the announcement on Jan . 18 . “ l FON
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