By OGJ editors
WASHINGTON, DC, June 27 -- The New York State Assembly by a 124-24 vote approved clean fuel legislation that reduces sulfur levels in transportation fuels on a faster timetable than federal regulations now on the books.
The NY proposal would cap the sulfur in all diesel fuel and heating oil used in the state at 15 ppm by the end of 2005. The bill is pending in the Senate Rules committee with a floor vote possible this summer. A federal rule now on the books forces refiners to meet a 15 ppm standard before 2007 on 80% of diesel supply. The remaining 20% would be phased in by 2010 (OGJ Online, June 6, 2001).
Gasoline measure
The NY plan also directs gasoline producers and marketers to produce and sell a low-sulfur product containing 30 ppm beginning October 2005; marketers can sell a range of fuels between 30-80 ppm over a 1-year period provided the average is 30 ppm.
On the federal level, clean sulfur gasoline rules start in 2004. But refiners may make gasoline with a range of sulfur levels as long as all their own production is capped at 300 ppm and their annual corporate average sulfur levels are 120 ppm.
In 2005, federal sulfur levels dramatically drop: the refinery average mirrors the proposed state law although a corporate average of 90 ppm is allowed with a cap of 300 ppm. In 2006, refiners must meet a federal 30 ppm average sulfur level with a maximum cap of 80 ppm.
