Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) announced this week he will be introducing legislation to make heating oil and off-road diesel part of the state's biofuel mandate that will requiring these products to contain 5 percent biodiesel by May 1, 2011.

In the co-sponsorship memo to colleagues, Sen. Erickson said over 1.1 million homes and thousands of businesses use oil heat fuel in Pennsylvania. A total of nearly one billion gallons of the distillate are consumed in the state every year.

Sen. Erickson said the legislation would also require heating oil sold in the Commonwealth have a sulfur content not to exceed 15 parts per million by May 2011. This limit mirrors the federal ultra low sulfur requirement for both on-road and off-road diesel. The on-road ultra low sulfur requirement was fully implemented in 2009 and the off-road by August of this year.

Using ultra low sulfur heating oil would result in significantly more efficient and cleaner burning fuel in furnaces. The net effect would be cost savings in fuel use, as well as a reduction in the frequency of furnace service.

The use of ultra low sulfur fuel would also help the state meet federal mandates of limiting PM .5 particulate standards and reduces the state's carbon foot print compared to the existing fuel.

The legislation is supported by the Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and other groups.

2/1/2010