Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06412 Compare Versions

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7+General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6412
8+January Session, 2021
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4-Substitute House Bill No. 6412
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6-Public Act No. 21-181
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9-AN ACT CONCERNING A LOW -CARBON FUEL BLEND OF
10-HEATING OIL.
14+AN ACT CONCERNING A LOW-CARBON FUEL BLEN D OF HEATING
15+OIL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BIOHEAT ADVISORY BOARD.
1116 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1217 Assembly convened:
1318
14-Section 1. Section 16a-21b of the general statutes is repealed and the
15-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
16-(a) For purposes of this section:
17-(1) "Heating oil" means heating fuel that meets the American Society
18-of Testing Materials or "ASTM" standard D396 or the "ASTM" standard
19-D6751;
20-(2) ["Biodiesel blend" means a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of
21-long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that
22-meets the most recent version of ASTM International designation
23-D6751;] "Low-carbon fuel blend" means a fuel meeting the standards for
24-advanced biofuels under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard Program,
25-requiring a fifty per cent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas
26-emissions, including, but not limited to, qualifying biodiesel meeting
27-the most recent version of ASTM International designation D6751; and
28-(3) "Sold" means the wholesale sale made to a retailer or the retail sale
29-made to an end-user consumer. [;] Substitute House Bill No. 6412
19+Section 1. Section 16a-21b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
20+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 2
21+(a) For purposes of this section: 3
22+(1) "Heating oil" means heating fuel that meets the American Society 4
23+of Testing Materials or "ASTM" standard D396 or the "ASTM" standard 5
24+D6751; 6
25+(2) ["Biodiesel blend" means a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of 7
26+long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that 8
27+meets the most recent version of ASTM International designation 9
28+D6751;] "Low-carbon fuel blend" means a fuel meeting the standards for 10
29+advanced biofuels under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard Program, 11
30+requiring a fifty per cent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas 12
31+emissions, including, but not limited to, qualifying biodiesel meeting 13
32+the most recent version of ASTM International designation D6751; 14
33+(3) "Sold" means the wholesale sale made to a retailer or the retail sale 15
34+made to an end-user consumer; and 16 Substitute Bill No. 6412
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31-Public Act No. 21-181 2 of 6
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33-[(4) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer
34-Protection, or the commissioner's designee; and
35-(5) "Sufficient in-state production of biodiesel" means fifty per cent of
36-the annual mandated volume of biodiesel, as determined by the most
37-recent data available from the Energy Information Administration of the
38-United States Department of Energy, is available from in-state
39-producers based upon the combined nameplate capacity of such
40-producers.]
41-(b) [(1)] Subject to the provisions of [subdivision (2) of this subsection
42-and subsections (d) and (f)] subsection (d) of this section, [(A)] (1) not
43-later than July 1, [2011] 2022, all heating oil sold in this state shall be a
44-[biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel blend containing not less than [two]
45-five per cent biodiesel, [(B)] (2) not later than July 1, [2012] 2025, all
46-heating oil sold in this state shall be a [biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel
47-blend containing not less than [five] ten per cent biodiesel, [(C)] (3) not
48-later than July 1, [2015] 2030, all heating oil sold in this state shall be a
49-[biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel blend containing not less than [ten]
50-fifteen per cent biodiesel, [(D)] (4) not later than July 1, [2017] 2034, all
51-heating oil sold in this state shall be a [biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel
52-blend containing not less than [fifteen] twenty per cent biodiesel, and
53-[(E)] (5) not later than July 1, [2020] 2035, all heating oil sold in this state
54-shall be a [biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel blend containing not less
55-than [twenty] fifty per cent biodiesel.
56-[(2) The provisions of subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of
57-subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not take effect until the states of
58-New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island each have adopted
59-requirements that are substantially similar to the provisions of
60-subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this
61-subsection.]
62-(c) Unless the [commissioner issues a waiver] Commissioner of Substitute House Bill No. 6412
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41+(4) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer 17
42+Protection, or the commissioner's designee. [; and] 18
43+[(5) "Sufficient in-state production of biodiesel" means fifty per cent 19
44+of the annual mandated volume of biodiesel, as determined by the most 20
45+recent data available from the Energy Information Administration of the 21
46+United States Department of Energy, is available from in-state 22
47+producers based upon the combined nameplate capacity of such 23
48+producers.] 24
49+(b) [(1)] Subject to the provisions of [subdivision (2) of this subsection 25
50+and subsections (d) and (f)] subsection (e) of this section, [(A)] (1) not 26
51+later than July 1, [2011] 2022, all heating oil sold in this state shall be a 27
52+[biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel blend containing not less than [two] 28
53+five per cent biodiesel, [(B)] (2) not later than July 1, [2012] 2025, all 29
54+heating oil sold in this state shall be a [biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel 30
55+blend containing not less than [five] ten per cent biodiesel, [(C)] (3) not 31
56+later than July 1, [2015] 2030, all heating oil sold in this state shall be a 32
57+[biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel blend containing not less than [ten] 33
58+fifteen per cent biodiesel, [(D)] (4) not later than July 1, [2017] 2034, all 34
59+heating oil sold in this state shall be a [biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel 35
60+blend containing not less than [fifteen] twenty per cent biodiesel, and 36
61+[(E)] (5) not later than July 1, [2020] 2035, all heating oil sold in this state 37
62+shall be a [biodiesel blend] low-carbon fuel blend containing not less 38
63+than [twenty] fifty per cent biodiesel. 39
64+[(2) The provisions of subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of 40
65+subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not take effect until the states of 41
66+New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island each have adopted 42
67+requirements that are substantially similar to the provisions of 43
68+subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this 44
69+subsection.] 45
70+(c) Unless the commissioner issues a waiver pursuant to subsection 46
71+[(f)] (e) of this section, any [biodiesel] low-carbon fuel blended with 47
72+heating oil shall be produced in accordance with industry-accepted 48 Substitute Bill No. 6412
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66-Energy and Environmental Protection waives the requirements of
67-subsection (b) of this section pursuant to subsection [(f)] (d) of this
68-section, any [biodiesel] low-carbon fuel blended with heating oil shall
69-be produced in accordance with industry-accepted quality control
70-standards. A certificate of analysis that verifies conformity with the
71-critical specifications of designation D6751 of ASTM International, as
72-defined by the National Biodiesel Accreditation Program, or other
73-applicable ASTM specification for low-carbon fuel blends, shall be
74-provided by the marketers or producers of any such [biodiesel] low-
75-carbon fuel prior to the blending of such [biodiesel] low-carbon fuel
76-with heating oil. [The Department of Consumer Protection, within
77-available appropriations, shall verify that biodiesel offered for sale in
78-this state conforms to the critical specifications of designation D6751 of
79-ASTM International, as defined by the National Biodiesel Accreditation
80-Program, and to the biodiesel fuel quality compliance protocol currently
81-accepted by the Department of Consumer Protection.]
82-(d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may
83-temporarily waive the requirements of subsection (b) of this section if
84-the commissioner determines that, at any time, such requirements (1)
85-are not feasible due to a lack of adequate supply of biodiesel, or (2)
86-would result in a financial hardship to consumers.
87-(e) Not later than July 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Energy and
88-Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with
89-chapter 54, concerning the requirement of retailers of heating oil to
90-disclose the percentage of low-carbon fuel blend contained in the home
91-heating oil delivered to consumers or an approximate range of such
92-percentage.
93-[(d) On or before April 1, 2011, and on or before April 1, 2012, the
94-Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the
95-Distillate Advisory Board established pursuant to subsection (e) of this
96-section, shall, within available appropriations, determine whether there Substitute House Bill No. 6412
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100-is sufficient in-state production of biodiesel, to comply with the
101-provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection
102-(b) of this section, respectively. If the commissioner determines that such
103-production is not sufficient, the commissioner, in consultation with the
104-board, may delay the implemen tation date contained in said
105-subparagraph until July 1, 2012, or earlier, and July 1, 2013, or earlier,
106-respectively, provided the commissioner: (1) Not later than three
107-business days after such determination, posts a notice specifying the
108-duration of such delay on the department's Internet web site, and (2) not
109-later than thirty days after such posting, reports, in accordance with the
110-provisions of section 11-4a, the reasons for such delay to the joint
111-standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of
112-matters relating to the environment, general law and energy and
113-technology.
114-(e) (1) There is established a Distillate Advisory Board. Such board
115-shall be located in the Department of Consumer Protection and shall
116-consist of the following members appointed by the Commissioner of
117-Consumer Protection: (A) Two representatives of the producers or
118-suppliers of biodiesel in this state, (B) two representatives of the retail
119-heating oil industry in this state, and (C) two representatives of the
120-wholesale distillate supply industry in this state. Each member of the
121-board shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner and without
122-compensation. No funds shall be allocated or made available to the
123-board.
124-(2) The board shall advise the commissioner on industry and market
125-progress in meeting and enabling compliance with the requirements of
126-subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
127-(f) (1) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, upon the receipt of
128-a petition submitted by the Distillate Advisory Board in compliance
129-with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, shall
130-temporarily waive the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this Substitute House Bill No. 6412
79+quality control standards. A certificate of analysis that verifies 49
80+conformity with the critical specifications of designation D6751 of 50
81+ASTM International, as defined by the National Biodiesel Accreditation 51
82+Program, or other applicable ASTM specification for low-carbon fuel 52
83+blends, shall be provided by the marketers or producers of any such 53
84+[biodiesel] low-carbon fuel prior to the blending of such [biodiesel] low-54
85+carbon fuel with heating oil. The Department of Consumer Protection, 55
86+within available appropriations, shall verify that [biodiesel] low-carbon 56
87+fuel offered for sale in this state conforms to the critical specifications of 57
88+designation D6751 of ASTM International, as defined by the National 58
89+Biodiesel Accreditation Program for biodiesel, or other applicable 59
90+ASTM standards for low-carbon fuel blends, and to the [biodiesel] fuel 60
91+quality compliance protocol currently accepted by the Department of 61
92+Consumer Protection. 62
93+[(d) On or before April 1, 2011, and on or before April 1, 2012, the 63
94+Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the 64
95+Distillate Advisory Board established pursuant to subsection (e) of this 65
96+section, shall, within available appropriations, determine whether there 66
97+is sufficient in-state production of biodiesel, to comply with the 67
98+provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection 68
99+(b) of this section, respectively. If the commissioner determines that such 69
100+production is not sufficient, the commissioner, in consultation with the 70
101+board, may delay the implementation date contained in said 71
102+subparagraph until July 1, 2012, or earlier, and July 1, 2013, or earlier, 72
103+respectively, provided the commissioner: (1) Not later than three 73
104+business days after such determination, posts a notice specifying the 74
105+duration of such delay on the department's Internet web site, and (2) not 75
106+later than thirty days after such posting, reports, in accordance with the 76
107+provisions of section 11-4a, the reasons for such delay to the joint 77
108+standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 78
109+matters relating to the environment, general law and energy and 79
110+technology.] 80
111+[(e)] (d) (1) There is established a [Distillate] Bioheat Advisory Board. 81 Substitute Bill No. 6412
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134-section when: (A) The United States Department of Energy authorizes a
135-release from the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve, (B) there is an
136-inadequate supply of low-sulfur distillate products, or (C) there is an
137-inadequate supply of biodiesel blending stocks or an operational
138-problem that affects the supply of biodiesel blending stocks. Any such
139-waiver shall be for a period of not less than thirty days and not more
140-than forty-five days, provided such waiver may be renewed after the
141-expiration of such period of time.
142-(2) Any petition from the Distillate Advisory Board that requests a
143-waiver of any requirement of subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall
144-include, at a minimum: (A) A statement of the immediate threat to the
145-health and safety of the citizens of this state posed by the inadequate
146-supply of low-sulfur distillate products, biodiesel blending stocks or
147-operational problems that affect the supply of biodiesel blending stocks,
148-as applicable, (B) the cause and nature of such inadequate supply or
149-operational problem, as applicable, (C) the expected duration of such
150-inadequate supply or operational problem, and (D) as applicable, a
151-description of any alternative distillate supply that temporarily is
152-needed to take the place of the applicable distillate supply described in
153-subsection (b) or (c) of this section. Not later than three business days
154-after receipt of any such petition, the commissioner shall issue a waiver
155-of the requirements of subsection (b) or (c) of this section, as applicable.
156-(g) Not later than February 1, 2012, and each year thereafter, the
157-Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the
158-Distillate Advisory Board, shall submit a report, in accordance with the
159-provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the
160-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and
161-the environment on the progress in meeting the requirements of this
162-section and on any effect that such requirements may have on the price
163-or supply of heating oil in this state.]
164-Sec. 2. Section 16a-3d of the general statutes is amended by adding Substitute House Bill No. 6412
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118+Such board shall be located in the Department of Consumer Protection 82
119+and shall consist of the following members appointed by the 83
120+Commissioner of Consumer Protection: (A) Two representatives of the 84
121+producers or suppliers of biodiesel in this state, (B) two representatives 85
122+of the retail heating oil industry in this state, and (C) two representatives 86
123+of the wholesale distillate supply industry in this state. Each member of 87
124+the board shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner and without 88
125+compensation. No funds shall be allocated or made available to the 89
126+board. 90
127+(2) The board shall advise the commissioner on industry and market 91
128+[progress in meeting and enabling compliance with the requirements of 92
129+subsections (b) and (c) of this section] capabilities concerning the 93
130+blending of home heating oil and identify opportunities for, or barriers 94
131+to, increasing the low-carbon fuel blend requirements of this section. 95
132+[(f)] (e) (1) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, upon the 96
133+receipt of a petition submitted by the [Distillate] Bioheat Advisory 97
134+Board in compliance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this 98
135+subsection, shall temporarily waive the requirements of subsections (b) 99
136+and (c) of this section when: (A) The United States Department of 100
137+Energy authorizes a release from the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve, (B) 101
138+there is an inadequate supply of low-sulfur distillate products, [or] (C) 102
139+there is an inadequate supply of [biodiesel] low-carbon fuel blending 103
140+stocks or an operational problem that affects the supply of [biodiesel] 104
141+low-carbon fuel blending stocks, or (D) the cost of low-carbon fuel 105
142+blends, relative to traditional distillate fuels, is such that achieving the 106
143+minimum low-carbon fuel blends required by this section materially 107
144+increases, on an annual basis, the heating fuel cost for consumers. Any 108
145+such waiver shall be for a period of not less than thirty days and not 109
146+more than forty-five days, provided such waiver may be renewed after 110
147+the expiration of such period of time. 111
148+(2) Any petition from the [Distillate] Bioheat Advisory Board that 112
149+requests a waiver of any requirement of subsection (b) or (c) of this 113
150+section shall include, at a minimum: (A) A statement of the immediate 114 Substitute Bill No. 6412
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168-subsection (e) as follows (Effective July 1, 2021):
169-(NEW) (e) For the Comprehensive Energy Strategy next approved
170-after October 1, 2021, and every Comprehensive Energy Strategy
171-prepared thereafter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental
172-Protection shall consider (1) the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
173-resulting from low-carbon fuel blends used in home heating oil on a life-
174-cycle basis, (2) possible contributions to the state's greenhouse gas
175-emissions mandated levels, pursuant to section 22a-200a, in connection
176-with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a life-cycle basis, (3)
177-the ability of a thermal portfolio standard to further reductions in
178-greenhouse gas emissions on a life-cycle basis, and (4) the relative value
179-of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions on a life-cycle basis
180-achieved by biodiesel and other low-carbon fuel blends used currently
181-in the state compared with the value of future projected greenhouse gas
182-emissions reductions achieved by the retail heating oil industry on a life-
183-cycle basis five, ten, and twenty years into the future using the
184-Department of Energy and Environmental Protections'
185-contemporaneous projection of renewable energy utilized.
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157+threat to the health and safety of the citizens of this state posed by the 115
158+inadequate supply of low-sulfur distillate products, [biodiesel] low-116
159+carbon fuel blending stocks or operational problems that affect the 117
160+supply of [biodiesel] low-carbon fuel blending stocks, as applicable, (B) 118
161+the cause and nature of such inadequate supply or operational problem, 119
162+as applicable, (C) the expected duration of such inadequate supply or 120
163+operational problem, and (D) as applicable, a description of any 121
164+alternative distillate supply that temporarily is needed to take the place 122
165+of the applicable distillate supply described in subsection (b) or (c) of 123
166+this section. Not later than three business days after receipt of any such 124
167+petition, the commissioner shall issue a waiver of the requirements of 125
168+subsection (b) or (c) of this section, as applicable. 126
169+[(g)] (f) Not later than February 1, [2012] 2022, and each year 127
170+thereafter, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation 128
171+with the [Distillate] Bioheat Advisory Board, shall submit a report, in 129
172+accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 130
173+committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 131
174+relating to energy and the environment on (1) the status and progress in 132
175+meeting the requirements of this section, [and on] (2) any effect that such 133
176+requirements may have on the price or supply of heating oil in this state, 134
177+and (3) opportunities for, or barriers to, increasing the low-carbon fuel 135
178+blend requirements of this section. 136
179+(g) Not later than July 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Consumer 137
180+Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, 138
181+concerning the requirement of retailers of heating oil to disclose the 139
182+percentage of low-carbon fuel blend contained in the home heating oil 140
183+delivered to consumers or an approximate range of such percentage. 141
184+Sec. 2. Section 16a-3d of the general statutes is amended by adding 142
185+subsection (e) as follows (Effective July 1, 2021): 143
186+(NEW) (e) For the Comprehensive Energy Strategy next approved 144
187+after October 1, 2021, and every Comprehensive Energy Strategy 145
188+prepared thereafter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 146 Substitute Bill No. 6412
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195+Protection shall consider (1) the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions 147
196+resulting from low-carbon fuel blends used in home heating oil on a life-148
197+cycle basis, (2) possible contributions to the state's greenhouse gas 149
198+emissions mandated levels, pursuant to section 22a-200a, in connection 150
199+with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a life-cycle basis, (3) 151
200+the ability of a thermal portfolio standard to further reductions in 152
201+greenhouse gas emissions on a life-cycle basis, and (4) the relative value 153
202+of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions on a life-cycle basis 154
203+achieved by biodiesel and other low-carbon fuel blends used currently 155
204+in the state compared with the value of future projected greenhouse gas 156
205+emissions reductions achieved by the retail heating oil industry on a life-157
206+cycle basis five, ten, and twenty years into the future using the 158
207+Department of Energy and Environmental Protections' 159
208+contemporaneous projection of renewable energy utilized. 160
209+This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
210+sections:
211+
212+Section 1 July 1, 2021 16a-21b
213+Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 16a-3d
214+
215+ET Joint Favorable Subst.
216+APP Joint Favorable
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