The biodiesel industry and environmental groups expressed their pleasure with the New York state legislature’s passage of a 2 percent biodiesel in all heating oil (Bioheat) mandate. Leading those congratulations was the National Biodiesel Board:
“America’s advanced biofuel and Bioheat are a great fit for New York’s heating oil market” said Shelby Neal, NBB Director of State Governmental Affairs. “Creating a standard that includes at least 2 percent biodiesel will replace about 30 million gallons of petroleum annually with a cleaner burning, renewable fuel.”
“New York State’s crop farmers are growing more and more soybeans every year,” said Julia Robbins, Executive Director, New York Corn and Soybean Association. “This policy will help provide New York farmers with a new market for the state’s soybean oil.”
New York City, the largest municipal consumer of heating oil in the country, has already taken advantage of biodiesel’s benefits by instituting a citywide 2 percent biodiesel requirement in October of 2012.
“Extensive testing has clearly shown that biodiesel blended with traditional heating oil is safe, seamless, and actually improves fuel efficiency through cleaning and preserving equipment,” said John Maniscalco, CEO of the New York Oil Heating Association. “This law extends these tremendous benefits to all New Yorkers and will provide the state with the cleanest, most sustainable heating oil in the country.”
Other Bioheat backers pointed out that the statewide mandate will provide a uniform standard throughout the state, while increasing overall economic activity.
The legislation says all heating oil sold in the City of New York, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland counties will need to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel by October 1, 2014, with the rest of the state adopting the standard by July 1, 2015. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.