Date: May 16, 2022
Last September, Gov. Charlie Baker established the Commission on Clean Heat in the Commonwealth. Its mission was to advise Baker’s administration on a framework for long-term greenhouse gas emission reductions from heating fuels.
Charlie Uglietto, President and Owner of Cubby Oil & Energy, was invited to be one of the Commission’s 21 members. He was honored to be able to bring his decades of experience in the heating oil business. It offered a window into the thinking of many people working on this issue.
One suggestion that should be a no-brainer is finally activating the long-dormant Massachusetts Bioheat® fuel mandate. Unfortunately, we’re continuing to see delays in implementing this important initiative.
The Bioheat mandate requires a percentage of all home heating fuel in the Commonwealth to be biodiesel. This gallon-for-gallon replacement for petroleum is produced using organic waste products like used cooking oil, animal fats, and plants.
Bioheat — the blend of biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur heating oil — is a crucial tool in combatting climate change. Compared to traditional heating oil, Bioheat has 80 percent less sulfur dioxide, up to 30 percent less nitrogen dioxide and 20 percent less carbon dioxide.
Bioheat is actually cleaner burning than natural gas!
Believe it or not, the Bioheat mandate passed years ago. However, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) suspended its implementation. DOER decided it was more feasible to implement a voluntary program to encourage the broader use of biofuels.
This is truly unfortunate, as we are falling behind now. Last year, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island all passed Bioheat fuel mandates that will immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Yet Massachusetts is stalled.
Cubby Oil & Energy is not waiting for DOER. We’re pressing ahead with clean-burning Bioheat fuel.
As a Cubby customer, you can feel especially good because we deliver B50 Bioheat SuperPlus™. This fuel blend is 50 percent biodiesel and 50 percent ultra-low sulfur heating oil. This blend far exceeds even what the mandate would require.
We will keep pressing for implementation of the Bioheat mandate, but in the meantime, our fuel today is the cleanest and greenest sold in Massachusetts.
Want to begin heating your home and water with B50 Bioheat? Contact us to become a customer.