HEATING OIL REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES

On June 7th the Connecticut AP and ICPA met and discussed the role of all home heating sources as contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. ICPA has provided information from a former U.S. Department of Energy Director of Combustion Technology that heating oil in Connecticut is only 1/3rd of residential home heating emissions while electricity is the largest contributor and then natural gas.  While as a state Connecticut ranks 42nd in the nation for greenhouse gas emissions, when it comes to residential emissions Connecticut ranked second in the nation.  However, only 1/3rd of residential emissions come from heating oil, 2/3rds come from the use of other heating sources - hence heating oil is NOT the cause of Connecticut's ranking. ICPA is attaching the data from the former US DOE engineer and invites the media to review and vet the work for accuracy and feel free to contact the author directly [CLICK HERE FOR PDF FILE].  This material is supported by the National Oilheat Research Alliance [John Huber 703-340-1660,jhuber@nora-oilheat.org], the New England Fuel Institute [Shane Sweet 617-924-1000, shane@nefi.com], and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America [Dan Gilligan, 703-351-1000, dgilligan@pmaa.org].

Even though Connecticut's heating oil use is not the cause of Connecticut's ranking, Connecticut's heating oil industry is not sitting idly by and doing nothing. To the contrary of recent allegations by the Connecticut Climate Change Coalition, here is what Connecticut's heating oil industry has done and continues to do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

• Connecticut's heating oil consumers, over the last 30 years, have reduced their per-dwelling consumption from 1,100 gallons per year to 700 gallons per year through the replacement of old, inefficient heating systems with new, higher efficiency heating systems;
• ICPA's member heating oil retailers have distributed information to consumers about how to take advantage of the residential energy tax credit passed in the federal 2005 Energy Act, aimed at helping consumers reduce consumption and emissions;
• ICPA's member heating oil retailers have distributed more than 160,000 Heating System Report cards to help consumers understand the importance of keeping their heating systems operating at maximum efficiency, therein reducing emissions and consumption and ultimately saving consumers on their heating bills;
• ICPA drafted and successfully had included in the state's recently passed energy legislation a Heating Oil Conservation Fund.  This fund will enable oil heat consumers with old, inefficient heating systems to receive assistance to update their systems with the latest, most efficient oil heat technology;
• ICPA has fought for a state residential energy tax credit for the last two years. The recently passed energy bill included a $500 residential energy tax credit that will assist consumers with upgrading their existing heating systems with new, more efficient technology;
• ICPA's member heating oil retailers have begun offering BioHeat, a combination of traditional heating oil and renewable biofuel, that further reduces greenhouse gas emissions. ICPA has spent $300,000 just so far this year in television promotion of the use of biofuels and promoting the use of new, high efficiency heating technology;
• ICPA drafted and succeeded in getting introduced legislation to incentivize the growth of Connecticut's biofuels market and to increase the amount of biofuels sold in our state.  This legislation is expected to become a part of the state budget and is awaiting passage in the General Assembly.

Connecticut's heating oil retailers have already assisted its customers with reducing greenhouse gas emissions and with the replacement of old heating systems with new technology and the use of biofuels we can reduce emissions by another 40%.  No other energy source has succeeded in reducing consumption, becoming more efficient, or marketing a renewable fuel as have Connecticut's heating oil retailers.

The Associated Press story of last week made a contribution to what is an important story and we thank AP for allowing us the opportunity to broaden this discussion and provide Connecticut consumers with a more complete picture of heating oil in our state.

ICPA represents more than 500 Connecticut based independent businesses. These businesses employ 13,000 Connecticut citizens and supply the majority of our state's 1,600 motor fuels outlets and 350 heating fuels dealers. ICPA's offices are at 10 Alcap Ridge, Cromwell, CT  06416.  For more information about today's Press Release, contact Gene Guilford or Chris Herb.