that future renewable liquid low-carbon heating fuel .
The New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act ( CLCPA ) sets New York State government apart from other states in addressing climate change in a comprehensive manner , providing for a cleaner environment for future generations and transitioning away from fossil fuels .
Please note the following points relative to the use of biodiesel and renewable diesel , together known as biomass-based diesel , in thermal space heating appliances :
• First , the optics … the name of these fuels includes the word “ diesel ” as they are diesel replacement fuels ; they do not include petroleum or diesel fuel in their makeup .
• As a drop-in replacement fuel for petroleum heating fuel , biomassbased diesel works seamlessly in current home heating appliances , even at high blend volumes or at 100 %.
• The two largest home liquid heating appliance equipment manufacturers , Beckett Corporation and Carlin Corporation , will be manufacturing 100 % biodiesel UL-rated components in 2023 , as Underwriters Laboratories has approved the protocols to allow such manufacturing .
• Biomass-based diesel provides an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions of up to 80 %, 73 % on average depending upon feedstock , from petroleum heating oil .
• Biomass-based diesel production and supply is ample to cover the space heating sector needs in New York State as over 3.2 billion gallons are domestically-produced each year , with an estimated 6 billion gallons to be produced by 2030 and 15 billion gallons by 2050 .
• According to New York State Energy Research & Development Authority ( NYSERDA ) pricing data , the use of biodiesel is at no extra cost to consumers .
• Preliminary results of a health benefits study by Trinity Consulting shows the use of biodiesel in space heating reduced cancer rates by 85 %, and reduce asthma attacks as well as a reduction in premature deaths and lost workdays .
• There are 1.4 million homes in New York State that currently use heating oil ; biomass-based diesel is a low carbon , renewable liquid fuel alternative fuel available that provides GHG savings and health benefits to them right now .
• As renewable replacements for diesel fuel , biodiesel and renewable diesel are made from used cooking oil , animal fats , brown grease , and agricultural byproducts and co-products . The feedstocks used to produce U . S . biodiesel have become increasingly diversified with waste products making up an increasing volume of feedstock used to produce fuel . There is no food for-fuel issue , as waste oils are primary feedstocks and Palm oil is also not eligible for the U . S EPA Renewable Fuel Standard ( RFS ), and thus deforestation is not an issue for biodiesel fuel used in the United States under the RFS program .
• With the NYISO raising concerns about the ability of the grid to be built-out to handle full electrification of vehicles , homes and businesses , the use of Bioheat by the 1.4 million homes that currently use heating oil can help mitigate stress on the grid while still providing immediate carbon reductions to the home heating sector .
NYSEC would like the state to apply all pathways to decarbonization of the thermal heat sector , by allowing home heating consumers to have their choice of low carbon emitting fuels versus being forced to install an electric heat pump . Current NYS state law calls for a 20 % blend of biodiesel in heating oil by 2030 . NYSEC is asking the Governor and Legislature to ( 1 ) include stand-alone renewable diesel and biodiesel-renewable diesel blends in the law , and ( 2 ) to increase the blend percentage to 50 % by 2035 , and then ( 3 ) to100 % use of biomass-based diesel by 2050 , thus eliminating of use of petroleum diesel for thermal heating . This does not preclude electrification , but rather offers a renewable liquid fuel pathway using current home heating equipment . This would eliminate the approximate 1 billion gallons of heating oil from use in the state and provide immediate carbon reductions . The 50 % blend will provide approximately 37 % reduction in carbon and a 100 % replacement will provide upwards of 80 % ( 74 % on average depending upon feedstock ), thus , aligning closely to the CLCPA carbon reduction goals . It should also be noted that as the state moves to a 100 % renewable power grid and cleans the heavy-duty emissions in transportation sector , the carbon savings realized by using biomass-based diesel will increase . Connecticut ( CT ) and Rhode Island ( RI ) currently have laws for biomass-based diesel blending .
News continued on page 35 .
8 FEBRUARY 2023 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com