Biodiesel Optimistic for Bioheat® After Carbon Reduction Pledge

Heating oil industry creating buzz in agriculture industry

The evolving story of Bioheat® Fuel in the Northeast recently made headlines on Agri-Pulse.com. As biodiesel is commonly produced from soybean oil, the heating oil industry’s resolution to move to higher blends of Bioheat® Fuel would provide a much-needed boon to soybean farmers in the midwest, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions in the Northeast.

“It was nice to be able to tell (customers), ‘you’ve made the right choice by sticking with oil heat, which is now Bioheat®, because you’re helping the environment,’” Charile Uglietto , of Cubby Oil & Energy, told Agri-Pulse.com.

Bioheat Takes Center Stage at National Biodiesel Conference

State Oilheat Associations Recognized by National Biodiesel Board

Bioheat has taken center state at the 2020 National Biodiesel Board Conference and Expo in Tampa. Congratulations to the state oilheat associations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions on their Industry Partnership Award as they work collaboratively toward a carbon neutral solution for the heating sector.

Boston Goes to B20

City Emerges as Leader in Shift to Higher Bioheat® Blends

Boston’s municipal buildings will now be heated with B20 Bioheat® Fuel provided by family-owned and operated Broco Oil. Broco will deliver an estimated annual volume of 90,000 gallons of Bioheat® Fuel to facilities maintained and operated by city departments including fire, parks and recreation, police, property management, public schools, public works and transportation. At a B20 blend, this will reduce the city of Boston’s carbon dioxide equivalent building emissions by 322,560 pounds, the equivalent GHG emissions of 357,728 passenger vehicle miles, according to the U.S. EPA.

“We are proud to partner with the city of Boston to provide Bioheat® fuel blends for its firehouses and other municipal buildings,” said Robert Brown, owner of Broco Oil. “As an active fire captain, I am personally honored to be able to serve these sites that play a vital role in protecting our communities.”

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The Road to Net-Zero by 2050 Started Here

‘A cleaner and greener future’

Oil & Energy magazine recapped this fall’s historic Northeast Industry Summit, where nearly 300 heating oil professionals voted unanimously to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Renewable, clean-burning Bioheat Fuel will play a central role in the industry’s incremental decarbonization targets.

“I am thrilled that our industry came together to support a cleaner and greener future for our environment, our customers and the entire Northeast region,” said Summit moderator Charlie Uglietto. “Resolving to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint positions our industry as a key player in the climate change discussions happening in halls of government, local communities and dinner tables across the country.”

Heating Oil Industry Commits to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

Historic resolution passed unanimously at Northeast Industry Summit

The Northeast’s heating oil industry has resolved to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal was set at the Northeast Industry Summit held during the 2019 Heating & Energizing America Trade Show (the HEAT Show) at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

The industry’s resolution calls for a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2023, a 40% reduction by 2030, and net-zero-carbon emissions by 2050. The resolution also directs industry associations and other groups assembled at the meeting to work with each other to achieve these emissions reductions.

The resolution was raised by event moderator Charles Uglietto, of Cubby Oil & Energy in Somerville, MA, and seconded by Rick Bologna, of Westmore Fuel in Greenwich, CT. Over 300 industry leaders from New England and New York attended the Northeast Industry Summit. The resolution passed unanimously. When Uglietto asked if there were any objections, none were raised.

“I am thrilled that our industry came together to support a cleaner and greener future for our environment, our customers and the entire Northeast region,” said Uglietto. “Resolving to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint positions our industry as a key player in the climate change discussions happening in halls of government, local communities and dinner tables across the country.”

“The heating oil professionals gathered here represent the backbone of Main Street America,” said NEFI President & CEO Sean Cota. “These companies are already delivering renewable liquid heating fuels, and this resolution doubles-down on our ongoing commitment to help protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future.”

Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen said, “The heating oil and biodiesel and renewable diesel industries work together to provide homes and businesses with low-carbon fuel options. We are excited to see this partnership strengthening and look forward to a continuing collaboration.”

The Northeast heating oil industry delivers renewable liquid heating fuel to more than 5 million homes and businesses across the region — 80% of the national heating oil market. The average retail heating oil company is a multi-generation family-owned and -operated business with a median of 25 employees. NEFI, the nation’s largest heating oil association, was a lead organizer of the 2019 Northeast Industry Summit and HEAT Show. Partnering with NEFI for this event were the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, Energy Marketers Association of New Hampshire, Maine Energy Marketers Association, Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, New York Oil Heating Association, Oil Heat Institute of Rhode Island and Vermont Fuel Dealers Association.

NEFI: No More ‘Heating Oil’ Industry

Milestone resolution reflects industry-wide transition to renewable liquid heating fuels

At its 2019 annual membership meeting, the New England Fuel Institute, or NEFI, resolved to henceforth refer to the heating oil industry as the “renewable liquid heating fuels industry.” The name change is a move “to better reflect [NEFI’s] commitment to a low carbon and energy independent American economy, and in acknowledgement of the unparalleled achievements of its members in this regard.” NEFI is a regional business and trade association that represents the home heating fuels industry in greater New England. Read the full resolution below.

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Resolution of Commitment to Renewable Liquid Heating Fuels

WHEREAS the New England Fuel Institute, Inc. (hereinafter “NEFI”) is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the home heating oil industry and the interest of its constituent businesses and their employees and consumers; and

WHEREAS the industry has delivered warmth, comfort, safety, and security to countless American families for 85 years and continues to serve approximately six million homes and businesses nationwide, including more than five million in the Northeast United States; and

WHEREAS the average retail heating oil company, often referred-to as a “fuel dealer,” is a multi-generational family owned and operated business that retains a median of 25 employees and is emblematic of the quintessential small Main Street American business; and

WHEREAS these businesses have made and continue to make vital contributions to regional, state, and local economies by delivering a safe, well-regulated and storable fuel for space and water heating and emergency power generation, and therefore play an important role in regional energy security and reliability; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Oilheat Research Alliance, the industry has made considerable gains in energy efficiency and conservation that has resulted in an average of a thirty percent (30%) reduction in fuel use per home since 2000; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the industry’s own advocacy efforts, most heating oil sold in the Northeast is required by law to contain no more than 15-parts-per-million sulfur, which reduces emissions and improves air quality, reduces maintenance intervals and related consumer costs, and greatly improves system efficiencies and the longevity of individual heating appliances; and

WHEREAS many wholesale and retail heating oil companies are helping to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offering home heating oil blended with quality renewable low-carbon liquid fuels at quantities of up-to twenty percent (20%); and

WHEREAS the industry can play an even greater role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing American energy independence by transitioning to higher blends of renewable fuels, including renewable liquid fuels derived from locally sourced feedstocks and produced by American businesses, and that can achieve a net-zero carbon emissions profile by 2050; and

WHEREAS the National Oilheat Research Alliance is committed to conducting ongoing research on higher blends of renewable low-carbon liquid fuels in heating oil with the goal of attaining a fifty percent (50%) blend level by 2030, and

WHEREAS the industry is committed to seeking a significantly reduced carbon emissions profile by 2050 through use of higher blends of renewable low-carbon liquid fuels, and

WHEREAS the foundation for the infrastructure to store and deliver these renewable low-carbon liquid fuels is already in-place, and that the home heating oil industry is committed to further collaboration with wholesale terminal asset owners to ensure that higher blends can be accommodated in the future; and

WHEREAS these fuels can be safely used in existing home heating appliances with small investments in system modification, or by means of an affordable and easy-to-install retrofit, and offer the cost-effective means of carbon reduction in the home energy market; and

WHEREAS this transition to heating oil blended with renewable low-carbon liquid fuels is helping to meet state and federal greenhouse gas reduction goals, and will provide an alternative to state and federal policies, regulations, and laws that  seek to eliminate heating oil through incentives, subsidies, or high fuel costs resulting from a carbon tax, fee or other pricing mechanism; and

WHEREAS failure to transition to a renewable heating fuel and lower carbon emissions in the timeframes set-forth by many policy proposals and in some states, previously enacted laws, could jeopardize the industry’s competitiveness and long-term viability, and

IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the many contributions made by these mostly small, Main Street American businesses and to preserve the important role they play in promoting economic growth and job creation in their local communities and the welfare of the environment and public health, and in ensuring regional energy security and reliability, now therefore be it

RESOLVED that NEFI remains committed to the advancement of renewable, low-carbon liquid heating fuels and the promotion of their production, sale and use throughout the industry; and be it further

RESOLVED that NEFI supports the research, development and deployment of advanced biofuels, cellulosic feedstocks, and space heating technologies necessary to achieve a 50% reduction in fossil fuel-based carbon emissions within the heating oil industry by 2030 and a net-zero carbon emissions profile by 2050, and be it further

RESOLVED that NEFI will deploy staff and other resources and coordinate with industry associations and other likeminded organizations at the local, state, and federal level as necessary to advocate for government policies and reforms in furtherance of the goals; and be it further

RESOLVED that NEFI stands ready to deploy staff and other resources to conduct advocacy campaigns, organize educational programming, engage public relations and media-outreach initiatives, and other activities in furtherance of these goals; and be it further

RESOLVED that NEFI will henceforth refer to the heating oil industry as the “renewable liquid heating fuels industry” to better reflect its commitment to a low carbon and energy independent American economy, and in acknowledgement of the unparalleled achievements of its members in this regard.

Unanimously approved with instructions to incorporate revisions and suggested amendments at the NEFI Annual Membership Meeting in Springfield, Massachusetts, on June 5, 2019. Amendments incorporated and finalized on June 11, 2019.

NYOHA Sets The Record Straight in New York

An open letter to home owners across the NY metro area

The New York Oil Heat Association (NYOHA) recently responded to misinformation shared by representatives from the natural gas industry, who characterized heating oil as being dirty. “Our fuel uses renewable, American resources, is cleaner at a B7 blend than natural gas, and is readily available without costly system conversions,” NYOHA said on it’s website. Read the full letter below.

Brookhaven Study Validates Higher Bioheat Blends

Results of technical report are encouraging

Brookhaven National Laboratory’s report, B20 to B100 Blends as Heating Fuels, which was submitted to the New York State Energy Research Development Authority, Clean Fuels Alliance America, and the National Oilheat Research Alliance, “have not identified a clear technical barrier which would limit the use of biodiesel in home heating systems”

Berkeley, CA, Bans Natural Gas in New Homes

Becomes first U.S. city to ban natural gas lines in new homes

Berkeley has become the first city in the nation to ban the installation of natural gas lines in new homes. The natural gas ordinancerequires all new single-family homes, town homes and small apartment buildings to have electric infrastructure. The city determined in a report last year that gas-related emissions have increased due to 18-percent population growth since 2000. The report also noted that the burning of natural gas within city buildings accounted for 27 percent of Berkeley’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Opponents Say Ban Goes Too Far

In an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times, Matt Rahn, chairman of Californians for Balanced Energy Solutions, called the ordinance “an overreaction.”

“Forcing people to switch to all-electric homes will have an insignificant effect on climate change but will cost billions of dollars to retrofit older homes and purchase electric appliances,” Rahn writes. “There is no consideration of what the carbon footprint is for that change, because, let’s be honest, all those new appliances and changes have an impact … We cannot solve our problems with short-sighted actions and political soundbites.