NEFI, ABFA ink partnership to drive adoption of low-carbon heating oil

In Washington, the National Energy & Fuels Institute and the Advanced Biofuels Association signed a partnership to jointly promote government policies and industry initiatives in support the use of advanced biofuels in the home energy market. They will seek opportunities to work with the Biden Administration and Congress to leverage the potential for dramatic GHG reductions without jeopardizing small businesses or placing costly new burdens on consumers.

At a NEFI-sponsored heating oil summit in Providence, Rhode Island in 2019, hundreds of industry professionals ratified a pledge to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and deliver a net-zero liquid heating fuel to consumers by 2050.  Advanced and cellulosic biofuels, some of which have been used to heat homes for nearly 20 years, deliver a minimum of 50% greenhouse gas emissions reductions compared to fossil-based alternatives. 

NEFI represents the nation’s retail distributors of liquid heating fuels and related products and services. Most are family owned and operated small businesses; 85 percent of these homes are in the Northeast region from Maryland to Maine.

ABFA represents more than 40 member companies in the United States and around the world who develop, produce, and distribute advanced biofuels. Collectively, these companies produce 4.7 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel each year, including cellulosic heating oil. 

Reaction from the stakeholders

“We can and will achieve net-zero by 2050,” said Sean Cota, NEFI’s President & CEO. “Vigorous research and testing of renewable liquid heating fuels find they efficiently decrease emissions and do so at little-to-no cost to the consumer. Unlike electricity, which is still largely generated by fossil fuels, renewable liquid heating fuels can be stored and delivered by our small family businesses and utilized by American families during the most severe winter weather. If government policies are performance-based, appropriately measure greenhouse gas emissions, and designed to minimize consumer impacts, we will do very well. This shared vision for market-driven and pro-consumer policies forms the foundation of NEFI’s partnership with ABFA.”

Michael McAdams, President of ABFA, said his association has had a close relationship with NEFI since 2015, when the two began working together to protect the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit. “We are pleased to now formalize this long-time partnership,” he said. “ABFA and NEFI share a vision for a low-carbon future for the liquid fuels industry that is critical to both American competitiveness and environmental security. I can tell you firsthand, the folks at NEFI are some of the best ‘boots on the ground’ in the Northeast states and in Washington. We would not have successfully reinstated the blenders’ tax credit without their support. Today the liquid fuels industry faces even greater challenges and I want them by my side going forward.”