GOV RELL SIGNS LEGISLATION CREATING CLEANEST HOME HEATING OIL IN AMERICA

[Cromwell, CT] Last week Governor Rell signed ICPA's legislation, SB 382, into law. SB 382 will create the cleanest home heating fuel in the nation by [a] virtually eliminating sulfur from heating oil, and [b] for the first time requiring a renewable fuel content in our heating oil that begins at 2% and scales up to 20% by 2020. This dramatic improvement would begin, under SB 382, on July 1, 2011. Heating oil will become the only fossil fuel in widespread use that will have a domestically produced, renewable fuel content that will eventually replace 100 million gallons of tradition fuel with new, domestically produced, renewable fuel.

Eliminating sulfur and instituting a renewable fuel content in heating oil will come at a cost savings to consumers. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40%. It will work with Connecticut's burgeoning biofuels industry and add jobs to our state. It will work with existing heating systems, without modification, and improve their efficiency.

The General Assembly's House passed SB 382 146-1 and the Senate 35-0, and ICPA on behalf of our 565 members and their 13,000 Connecticut-based employees serving 682,000 Connecticut homes, is proud to have joined with the Connecticut BioFuels and BioDiesel Association, the Environment Committee and its Chairs Sen. Meyer and Rep. Roy, Ranking member Rep. Chapin, Rep. Hurlbert and so many other legislators helping to make this a reality for our state. 20% renewable content by 2020 wasn't just a goal announced in 2006 by Governor Rell, heating oil is the first fuel in widespread use in our state to pass legislation putting us on a path to achieve this goal. Connecticut is the only state in the nation to have made this achievement.

Similar legislation is pending in New York and Rhode Island and the renewable fuel part of the Connecticut mandate is already law in Massachusetts. SB 382 goes into effect as soon as similar legislation passes in those states to ensure our supply markets are properly coordinated with our neighbors.
 

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ICPA represents more than 550 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.