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The New York State Assembly overwhelmingly approved legislation that would force refiners to meet low-sulfur fuel standards faster than federal requirements.
The bill (A. 11027) would require the introduction of 15-ppm diesel fuel and heating oil beginning Dec. 31, 2005, about one year ahead of federal rules.
For gasoline, the New York proposal would require the introduction of 30-ppm gasoline beginning Oct. 1, 2005. Federal low-sulfur gasoline requirements call for 30-ppm sulfur levels in 2006.
The bill, which was passed late last month by a 124-24 margin, is currently in the Senate Rules Committee and could receive a floor vote as early as this summer.
However, there are no refineries in New York, so the state would have to import the low-sulfur fuels it's looking to introduce.
If the legislation, which still needs Senate approval, receives Gov. George Pataki's (R) approval, and refiners outside of New York have yet to introduce the federally required fuels, the state could find itself facing a fuel shortage.
National Petrochemical & Refiners Association President Bob Slaughter said yesterday he is concerned about the measure from a supply and boutique fuels perspective.
"The federal fuel requirements are already ambitious," he said. "To accelerate the deadlines and move to additional products (heating oil) is very difficult to do for an industry that's already facing several other requirements."
Slaughter said he will be asking NPRA member companies how they want the refiner group to respond.
It was unclear as of presstime if Pataki would support, and ulitimately authorize, such legislation.
The bill (A. 11027) would require the introduction of 15-ppm diesel fuel and heating oil beginning Dec. 31, 2005, about one year ahead of federal rules.
For gasoline, the New York proposal would require the introduction of 30-ppm gasoline beginning Oct. 1, 2005. Federal low-sulfur gasoline requirements call for 30-ppm sulfur levels in 2006.
The bill, which was passed late last month by a 124-24 margin, is currently in the Senate Rules Committee and could receive a floor vote as early as this summer.
However, there are no refineries in New York, so the state would have to import the low-sulfur fuels it's looking to introduce.
If the legislation, which still needs Senate approval, receives Gov. George Pataki's (R) approval, and refiners outside of New York have yet to introduce the federally required fuels, the state could find itself facing a fuel shortage.
National Petrochemical & Refiners Association President Bob Slaughter said yesterday he is concerned about the measure from a supply and boutique fuels perspective.
"The federal fuel requirements are already ambitious," he said. "To accelerate the deadlines and move to additional products (heating oil) is very difficult to do for an industry that's already facing several other requirements."
Slaughter said he will be asking NPRA member companies how they want the refiner group to respond.
It was unclear as of presstime if Pataki would support, and ulitimately authorize, such legislation.
