The heating oil industry remains committed to helping the Commonwealth reach the net-zero carbon emissions goals outlined in the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050.
And thanks to the advancement of the industry’s solutions, significant carbon reduction can be achieved immediately.
Heating oil companies in Massachusetts continue a proven pathway to reduce carbon emissions (CO2) with their embrace of Bioheat® fuel.
This is a clean-burning blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel — also referred to as advanced biofuel — that is produced with recycled and organic materials such as animal fats, used cooking oil, and vegetable oils. This renewable liquid fuel is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and it’s produced under rigid specifications.
Some Massachusetts heating oil companies that started off delivering Bioheat fuel blends at 2% (B2) are now offering a B20 blend. And retailers who are registered with the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard are delivering blends above B20 if the fuel meets the program’s rigid specifications.
Bioheat fuel requires little or no heating system modifications and is readily available today. Most importantly, Bioheat fuel offers a responsible pathway to carbon reduction that supports families and local businesses. That’s because Bioheat fuel can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 86% compared to traditional petroleum heating oil
The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) continues to pursue research with other partners on making B100 Bioheat fuel a reality.
NORA has been a leader in the transition to low carbon liquid fuels in the home heating sector for decades through testing and promoting the use of the advanced biofuel (biodiesel) that’s combined with traditional heating oil. NORA’s liquid fuels research laboratory in Plainview, NY is among the leading facilities in the U.S. conducting this type of research.
As an example, NORA has demonstrated that a home heated with 100% biodiesel and using solar panels to produce electricity can reach net-zero carbon emissions quickly — and at an economically viable cost. The Energy Kinetics System 2000® heating oil boiler is used in the NORA Net-Zero Home with the new Beckett B100 burner.
Bioheat fuel is now being produced at more than 75 production plants around the country. Today, these facilities produce about 3.2 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable liquid fuels each year. Biofuel production isn’t just about achieving a cleaner environment. It is about building a stronger economy too. The industry supports nearly 60,000 jobs and generates billions of dollars in gross domestic product, household income and tax revenues.
Right here in Massachusetts, heating oil companies can turn to leading suppliers such as Boston-based World Energy, and Cape Cod Biofuels, which partners with more than 1,000 restaurants on the Cape and South Shore to collect about one million gallons of used cooking oil each year.
This product is then recycled into biodiesel for home and commercial heating purposes. Other significant regional suppliers include Lake Erie Biofuels/HeroBx and Chevron Renewable Energy Group. And recently, Northeast Biodiesel began operations in Greenfield, MA. The company expects to produce 1.75 million gallons of biodiesel per year.
Learn how heating oil companies in MA are fueling the future with every heating oil delivery.