Heating Fuel 2018: What's Happening
The heating fuel industry in Connecticut is fast approaching a major milestone. In July of this year, all fuel delivered in the state is mandated to be ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) with
a sulfur content standard of 15 ppm (parts per million). As a comparison, our fuel has had a sulfur content of 500 ppm since 2014, and before that, 3,000 ppm.
So what does that mean for you? The fuel that we deliver to your home is going to be significantly cleaner than it ever has been. The lower the sulfur content of the fuel, the less
sulfur dioxide your system emits, which contributes to things like acid rain and haze. It will also allow your heating system to run more efficiently, which can reduce the amount of fuel
you use and lessen equipment maintenance.
A great representation of the cleanliness of ultra-low sulfur fuel is in the auto industry. The use of ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) in trucks was mandated a long time ago and widely
publicized by the EPA for the positive environmental impact that it would have. For the everyday driver, you will remember that 10 years ago, you would have seen black soot spewing out of the stacks of a truck as it drove down the highway – today, you see nothing. This is the result of reduced sulfur in the fuel.
With this new mandate for ULSHO, combined with the bio that is blended into heating oil, this product is far cleaner than natural gas and will continue to get cleaner as more advancements are made. And by the way, this mandate is not only in effect for Connecticut. On July 1st, every New England state, plus Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, will be delivering ULSHO. Talk about a huge environmental impact!