Peter TruckPR photo copy
Legislation that will reduce sulfur and require increasing levels of biodiesel in home heating oil supplied by Bantam Fuel and other Connecticut oil dealers has been signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell effective July 1.
Rell's approval of Senate Bill 382 came after the legislature, which heard testimony from Bantam Fuel President Peter Aziz, voted in support of the measure.
Aziz testified before the legislature's Environment Committee in March and explained Bantam Fuel's success with its Bantam BioHeat fuel over the last four years. Bantam BioHeat, Aziz testified, doesn't cost more than regular heating oil, performs well in cold weather, and burns with greater efficiency.
Improved efficiency, Aziz said, means customers use less fuel and save money. Bantam BioHeat features a biodiesel component (an organic renewable resource) equaling 5 percent. A greater biodiesel component means less sulfur being emitted in the form of greenhouse gas.
"Passage of the law is great news for Connecticut fuel consumers," Aziz said. "Their heating oil will be cleaner, more reliable and have a significant renewable energy content."
By approving the new law, Aziz said, the governor and legislature have put Connecticut on a path towards having the cleanest home heating fuel in the country.
Bill 382 was proposed by the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association (ICPA) and requires at least a 2 percent biodiesel component that will increase to 20 percent by 2020. Connecticut is the first state to sign a bill calling for the 20 percent component into law, although similar bills are pending in New York and Rhode Island.
According to the ICPA, the new law will lead to 100 million gallons of traditional fuel being replaced with domestically produced, renewable fuel. Along with reducing greenhouse emissions, the law will also help create jobs in the biofuel industry, the ICPA said.
The ICPA represents 565 oil dealers in Connecticut and their 13,000 employees. Bantam Fuel is a full-service energy company offering innovative solutions to heating oil and propane customers in Northwest Connecticut. The company provides automatic delivery of heating oil, bio-heat and propane, and 24-hour service of heating and air-conditioning equipment. For more information, go to www.bantamfuel.com or call (860) 567-9431.
