FRCOG’s Fuel Bids for FY19 now dictate Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel instead of #2 Heating Oil. This phased-in law goes into full effect as of July 1, 2018. In our state alone, distillate oil contributed nearly 30,000 tons of SO2 emissions in 2008; the new regulation will reduce this amount to less than 1,000 tons in 2018 – reducing the allowable amount of sulfur from 500 parts per million in 2014 to only 15 ppm as of July 1 of this year. Costs are estimated to be slightly higher – perhaps 2-3 cents per gallon. The cleaner burning fuel will reduce service/cleaning costs in equipment which should mitigate the overall cost increase. The reduction of these fine sulfur particles will impact our respiratory and cardiovascular health, especially for the elderly and children, and significantly improve visibility (haze). FRCOG Fuel Bids will open on May 14 and there are 23 participants for FY19. More info on FRCOG Collective bids is at https://frcog.org/bids
