In a continuing effort to be a partner in reducing fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas emissions, more than 300 heating oil industry leaders—many from Massachusetts—unanimously passed a resolution last September to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through the accelerated use of clean, renewable Bioheat fuel blends in heating oil.
Michael Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, said: “Many heating oil companies are already delivering renewable liquid heating fuels and have been doing so for many years. This resolution redoubles the industry’s ongoing commitment to improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future.”
Bioheat is a gallon-for-gallon substitute for petroleum-based fuels used for space heating and transportation. It’s a non-toxic, biodegradable renewable fuel, produced from agricultural byproducts and coproducts, including used cooking oil, animal fats, inedible corn oil, soybean oil and canola oil. Bioheat reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly—by 52% to 86%. Bioheat is readily available through your local retail heating oil company and requires no modifications to your existing heating system.
To achieve the targets adopted by the resolution, every heating oil retailer in the Northeast must adopt increasing blends of Bioheat with clean, ultra-low sulfur fuel. Bioheat blends are measured in percentages, such as B10 or 10%. To achieve the 2030 target, the standard Bioheat fuel blend must be at least B20. Fortunately, there are many heating oil companies in Massachusetts delivering Bioheat at this level and they are paving the way for other states to follow.
Want to learn more about Bioheat and ultra-low sulfur heating oil? Start off by browsing our website.