Oil Gets Cleaner
12 September 2010
This past summer, two pieces of legislation were passed which will ultimately make oil more expensive and cleaner burning. Starting in 2012, NY State wil require number 2 heating oil to be further refined to the point where it is as clean as automobile diesel. This transaltes into a 99% reduction of sulfur to 15 PPM from 2,000 to 12,000 PPM. In addition, NY City will require number 4 oil sulfur content to be capped at 1500 parts per million...50% below the current levels. All else being equal, prices will rise because of the additional refining necessary to achieve these levels. Also worth mentioning, although not currently a law, is the discussion of the elimination of number 6 heating oil.
