Connecticut on Tuesday significantly reduced the maximum level of sulfur pollutants in the fuel the majority of the state uses for heat.
The law calling for an 84 percent reduction in sulfur content of heating oil went into effect on Tuesday. This is the beginning of a 99.5 percent reduction from the current 3,000 sulfur parts per million in heating oil, set to be implemented by July 1, 2018.
The organization representing the heating oil dealers, the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, pushed for this change in order to facilitate the cleanliness of fuel imported into the state.
CEMA claims the change will save businesses and residents over the long run, as the lower sulfur content will cause fewer maintenance problems on heating equipment. A 99.5 percent reduction in sulfur makes heating oil a cleaner fuel than natural gas, according to CEMA.
