The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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Dateline Breaking News Calendar of Events January National Biodiesel Conference + Expo 2014 January 20–23, 2014 San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA www.biodieselconference.org 2014 AHR Expo January 21 - 24, 2014 Javits Convention Center, NY Phone: 203-221-9232 2014 SIGMA Executive Leadership Conference January 26-29, 2014 The Steamboat Grand Steamboat Springs, CO Phone: 703-709-7000 VT Propane/Natural Gas Continuing Education Jan. 29, 2014 VFDA - 963 Paine Turnpike North - Berlin, VT Contact VFDA at (802) 230-4722 or email: steph@vermontfuel.com WPMA 2014 National Convention & Convenience Store Expo February 18-20, 2014 The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas Contact: info@wpma.com or 801-263-9762 March The Work Truck Show March 5-7, 2014 Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, Ind. www.ntea.com OPIS Winning Fuel Buying Strategies March 20-21, 2014 Phone: 888-301-2645. OPIS's Winning Fuel Buying Strategies will help petroleum marketers, fuel resellers, and end-users stay ahead of today's unpredictable fuel marketplace. 4 biodiesel production and the corresponding environmental benefits. "This year's projected volume of more than 1.7 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 billion pounds when compared to petroleum diesel fuel," Haer told the panel. "That's an additional 8 billion pounds of GHG reductions than if we produced 1.28 billion gallons, which means the cost of carbon of biodiesel is dramatically lower than the cost of carbon of diesel fuel." Haer also questioned why EPA officials used outdated data in its proposal instead of current figures showing ample availability of biodiesel feedstocks, decreased cost of production and increasing biodiesel blend rates across the country. "All of the data used to support the proposed volume of 1.28 billion gallons in the 2014 was the same data that EPA used to set the RVO at 1.28 billion gallons in 2012. The data EPA relied upon for the 2014 proposal is from 2011, ignoring the gains the industry has made over the last two years," Haer said. Lutes, who manages REG facilities in two communities hard hit by massive job losses, focused on what the biodiesel industry means to local economies. "The current Danville area unemployment rate is close to 13 percent and we need these jobs more than ever before," Lutes said. Renewable Energy Group® is a leading North American biodiesel producer with a nationwide distribution and logistics system. Utilizing an integrated value chain model, Renewable Energy Group is focused on converting natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels. With more than 255 million gallons of owned/ operated annual nameplate production capacity at biorefineries across the country, REG is a proven biodiesel partner in the distillate marketplace. EPA's Proposal Will Increase Greenhouse Gas Emissions, BIO Says The 2014 proposed rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard, which would for the first time cut biofuel use, will require using more petroleum and increase emissions JANUARY 2014 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com of greenhouse gases. The Biotechnology Industry Organization utilized the GREET1.2013 model to estimate the changes in petroleum demand and the associated CO2 equivalent emissions from both 2013 and the statutory RFS levels for 2014. Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO's Industrial & Environmental Section, noted, "The bottom line on the administration's proposed 2014 RFS rule is that, if left unchanged, it will increase our reliance on foreign oil and increase emissions of greenhouse gases. By stopping growth in use of biofuels, the proposed rule will stymie the commercialization of advanced and cellulosic biofuels and discourage additional innovation in the biotechnology industry. "The RFS was intended to set the United States on a long-term path to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. This proposed rule reverses that path and results in environmental backsliding." In 2013, the United States is projected to use 173 billion gallons of petroleum blendstocks (both gasoline and diesel) and 16 billion gallons of biofuels. The 2014 proposal – as written would require more than 175 billion gallons of petroleum and lower biofuel use to 15 billion gallons. If EPA maintained the statutory levels of biofuels, the United States would reduce use of petroleum to 172 billion gallons of petroleum and increase use of biofuels to 18 billion gallons. Using GREET1.2013 estimates of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with both petroleum and biofuels, the EPA proposal will result in an increase of more than 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Maintaining the RFS statutory volumes of biofuel would decrease emissions by nearly 7 metric million tons. Using EPA's own estimates of the greenhouse has intensity of different fuel choices, the proposal would still result in an increase of nearly 23 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Achieving the statutory use of biofuels would decrease emissions by nearly 13 million metric tons.