Trucking Concerned Over New Maine Heating-Oil Sulfur-Content Law

Maine has adopted legislation that will eventually require heating oil to have the same low-sulfur content as diesel fuel used in trucks, a move some in the oil and trucking industries fear could raise demand and prices for trucking’s main fuel.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) signed the legislation April 5, saying it would help improve air quality and reduce health risks. The law requires sulfur content in heating oil sold in the state to be 500 parts per million by 2014 and to 15 ppm by 2018.

The ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel used in trucking has a maximum sulfur content of 15 ppm, while that of heating oil can be as high as 2000 ppm. Diesel/ULSD and heating oil are distillate fuels.

Environmentalists and independent heating-oil suppliers backed the legislation, and similar legislative proposals are being considered in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.