Renewable Energy Group hailed a new law requiring that New York City’s vehicle fleet utilize a five percent blend of biodiesel beginning next year, and increasing to 20 percent in the near future.
REG President and CEO Daniel J. Oh and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Gary Haer were on hand at City Hall to witness Mayor Michael Bloomberg signing the legislation into law. The measure, introduced by Councilman Jim Gennaro, codifies the city’s existing use of biodiesel blends in the city’s fleet of approximately 6,000 vehicles, REG said in a statement. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has been using B5 for the last two years and began using B20 this year during warmer months.
The new law requires the city fleet to use a B5 biodiesel blend beginning July 1, 2014, REG said. Beginning July 1 2016, the city fleet must use a B20 blend from April to November. The city will also launch a pilot program prior to December 1, 2016, to study year-round usage of B20 with no fewer than 5 percent of the city fleet.
“Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Bloomberg and Councilman Jim Gennaro, New York City has been, and will continue to be, a champion of biodiesel usage,” said Oh. “This law ensures that legacy of support will continue so that New Yorkers can enjoy the benefits of cleaner air and a healthier environment that biodiesel brings, while diversifying our energy sources and strengthening food supply.”
In addition to the fleet law, the city has had a B2 biodiesel requirement for home heating oil in effect since last year. The New York State legislature recently passed B2 statewide legislation, requiring all heating oil for use in any building within Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties to contain at least two percent biodiesel, effective October 1, 2014. On July 1, 2015, all heating oil sold for use in any building statewide will meet this standard.
REG, a biodiesel producer and marketer with a nationwide distribution and logistics system, is active in the New York metropolitan biodiesel market, with a sales team in the area and distribution points in New Hyde Park, Port Chester and Brookhaven, N.Y., as well as Whippany and Bayonne, N.J. The company converts natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels, and says it has more than 255 million gallons of owned/operated annual production capacity at biorefineries across the country.
