Bioheat Fuel
The industry-wide push for Bioheat fuel is picking up speed . Global Partners CEO Eric Slifka has been making the rounds , including at the annual meeting of the Connecticut Energy Marketers , talking up Project Carbon Freedom , a coalition of heating fuel distributors in the Northeast and farmers in the Midwest who support the scientific community ’ s assessment that advanced liquid biofuels are essential in order to quickly , safely ,
STEPHEN BENNETT and affordably transition to a carbon-free economy .
In Connecticut , a bill that was meant to provide consumers with alternate low-carbon dioxide emitting heating fuel other than electricity will require that low-carbon liquid fuel be blended with home heating oil passed in June , reports CEMA in its June 17 newsletter , Pipeline . The bill now goes to the governor for his signature before it becomes law . According to Pipeline , the bill does the following :
Expands the definition of the fuel that can be blended with heating oil to lower the carbon intensity from just biodiesel to all advanced biofuels identified by the federal RFS .
Repeals the existing requirement that the state have “ sufficient ” in-state production of biodiesel to trigger the law that requires Connecticut to have a similar blending requirement as N . Y ., R . I . and Massachusetts .
Requires blending advanced biofuels with heating oil as follows - 5 % July 1 , 2022 , 10 % July 1 , 2025 , 15 % July 1 , 2030 , 20 % July 1 , 2034 , 50 % July 1 , 2035 .
Requires fuel retailers to disclose “ approximate ” percentages of low-carbon fuel blends sold to customers .
Requires that the Comprehensive Energy Strategy ( CES ) to consider GHG reductions from low-carbon liquid fuels based on a life-cycle basis . Requires the CES to consider the GHG benefits of a TREC program . And New York state trade groups are pitching a “ pledge to deliver Bioheat fuel .” The Empire State Energy Association in conjunction with both the Upstate New York Energy Association ( UNYEA ) and the Hudson Valley Oil & Energy Council ( HVOEC ) have partnered with Consumer Focus Marketing to launch “ One Industry — One Choice ” in New York . The program is designed to secure a stable future for the heating fuel industry , they say . One Industry — One Choice is dedicated to educating heating retailers on the importance of embracing Bioheat fuel for the industry ’ s survival and providing support to retailers transitioning to provide Bioheat fuel to their customers , the associations say . For more on the pledge , see the News section in this issue ( page 6 ).
In her new job as executive director of the Energy Marketers Association of Rhode Island , Diane E . Quesnelle says , the biggest issues are stopping electrification , growing the biodiesel market , educating consumers on the green benefits of biodiesel , and recruiting young people to careers as technicians . The biodiesel effort got a boost recently . Biodiesel Products ( H5132 / S357 ) Sub A was unopposed in both the House and Senate committees and continued to both Chamber floors for vote , the Association reports in a July 1 email to members , and “ the bill is now on its way to the Governor ’ s desk to be signed .” For more on what ’ s happening in Rhode Island , turn to page 21 .
The National Energy & Fuels Institute , NEFI , has proposed the creation of an Industry Survival Fund through a voluntary opt-out program .
An Independent Oversight Committee comprised of representatives from the participating wholesalers , state association executive boards , NEFI , and AEC would review funding use annually
For more on the proposed fund and how it would work , turn to page 22 . l FON
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Office EPG Media & Specialty Information 10405 6th Ave . N ., Ste 210 Plymouth , MN 55441
Publisher John Prusak 763 / 383-4402 jprusak @ epgmediallc . com
Editor Stephen Bennett 763 / 383-4406 sbennett @ epgmediallc . com
Columnists Thomas Tubman Shane Sweet George Lanthier
List Rentals Kris Grauer 203 / 822 7933 kgrauer @ npsmediagroup . com
Reprints For more information on e-prints or reprints from Fuel Oil News magazine , contact Wright ’ s Media , MBrewer @ wrightsmedia . com - Marcia Brewer , 877-652-5295
PRODUCTION Graphic Artist – Christopher Grotkin
ADVERTISING SALES
Central , South & East Dave Campbell , Associate Publisher 763 / 383-4457 dcampbell @ epgmediallc . com
West – Ken Jordan 972 / 540-2122 Fax : 972 / 540-2127 kjordan @ epgmediallc . com
MAIN OFFICE
EPG Media & Specialty Information 10405 Sixth Ave N , Suite 210 Plymouth , MN 55441
CUSTOMER SERVICE
763 / 383-4492 • Fax : 763 / 383-4499 customerservice @ epgmediallc . com Fuel Oil News PO Box 2123 , Skokie , IL 60076-7823
4 JULY / AUGUST 2021 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com