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{{advert|date=August 2010}}
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{{Infobox company|
{{Infobox company|
company_name = METRO Fuel Oil Corp. |
company_name = METRO Fuel Oil Corp. |

Revision as of 21:31, 31 August 2010

METRO Fuel Oil Corp.
Company typePrivate
IndustryOil and Gasoline
Founded1942
HeadquartersGreenpoint, Brooklyn, New York, United States
Websitemetroenergy.com

METRO Fuel Oil Corp

METRO Fuel Oil Corp. is a family owned energy company that supplies and delivers bioheat, biodiesel, heating oil, ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, and gasoline from its terminal in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. METRO is currently building one of the largest biodiesel plants in North America, with a capacity up to 110 million gallons per year, directly adjacent to METRO’s existing terminal. The biodiesel processing facility will be able to accept multiple feedstocks, including waste restaurant grease, animal fats, and soy and canola oil. METRO plans to process 100% renewable biodiesel which can be blended with heating oil or diesel fuel. The plant will employ unique technology that will enable METRO to capture and utilize waste generated by the process, maximizing its efficiency. Once this plant is fully running, METRO will operate one of the largest biodiesel processing facilities in the United States, which will be centrally located in the country’s leading heating oil and diesel fuel market. The plant is scheduled to open in First Quarter - Second Quarter 2011.[1]

History

METRO was founded in 1942 when Pauline Pullo recognized that home heating oil was a cleaner, more efficient alternative to coal in the heating fuel market. METRO remained a relatively modest retail operation until, in the late 1970s, when Paul J. and Gene V. Pullo, Pauline’s grandsons, took over the company and started to grow the family-owned business.[1]

In 1986, as the business expanded, the Pullo brothers decided to acquire the present Greenpoint terminal, which put them into the wholesale business. Today, the company also has a delivered-in and fleet-fueling motor fuel business as well as a natural gas business. METRO provides full service to its customers and handles just about any heating fuel except propane, which is restricted in New York City.[1]

Biofuels

Intro

In 2004, when a federal mandate[2] required gasoline to be produced with 10% ethanol, METRO quickly adapted its blending operation to include ethanol, and in the process, became interested in biofuels, particularly biodiesel. After touring a number of biofuel plants and talking to a number of biofuel producers, Paul and Gene decided to market biodiesel in the New York Metropolitan Area, which has the largest heating oil market in the country.[1]

In Early 2006, METRO received BQ-9000 certification, a quality control official recognition from the National Biodiesel Board. BQ9000 assures that biodiesel is being produced to acceptable quality standards. Shortly after receiving this certification, in Late 2006, METRO decided it would build a biodiesel processing facility adjacent to its terminal.[1]

METRO ran a pilot plant at the Rutgers University Eco Center in 2008, where they tested all the potential feedstocks and were very encouraged about the positive results with regard to quality, efficiency and emissions reductions.[1]

Products

METRO markets two distinct biodiesel-based products. GreenheatTM, METRO’s custom blended bioheat, was developed with the objective of helping home heating systems run cleaner and more efficiently, while reducing maintenance costs. GreenheatTM is proven to be better for the environment, and to also extend the life of heating systems.[3] BiomaxTM is METRO’s biodiesel-blended motor fuel. Its use in truck fleets is made to result in a cleaner burning, more efficient and more environmentally friendly fuel.[4]

All of the trucks in METRO’s Apollo fleet run on B20 BiomaxTM, METRO’s enhanced, custom blended biodiesel for eight months, and B5/B10 BiomaxTM for four months in the winter. All told, this saves 750,000 pounds of carbon reduction for the year.[4]

Legislations

On July 26, 2010 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other environmental leaders in the political and oil industries came to Metro’s biodiesel plant to hold a press conference announcing an agreement on Intro 194-A, a legislation that has been unanimously passed by the New York City Council which requires that a minimum of 2% biodiesel is blended into all grades of heating oil - #2, #4, and #6 beginning in October 2012. Intro 194-A also requires that the sulfur content in #4 heating oil be reduced from 3,000 parts per million to 1,500 parts per million also beginning in October 2012.[5]

Mayor Bloomberg visits METRO.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilman Jim Gennaro, and other public and health officials visited the Metro Fuel biodiesel plant, announcing an agreement on Intro 194-A, a legislation that will significantly reduce air pollution, promote the use of alternative fuels, create new “green jobs” and improve the overall air quality in New York City

.

Mayor Bloomberg signed Intro 194 on August 16, 2010, which Gene and Paul attended, after being invited for their efforts. By promoting the use of cleaner burning heating fuels, Intro 194 meets one of the Mayor’s fourteen air quality initiatives from PlaNYC.[6]

Long Island Development

METRO is currently building a biodiesel storage and office facility at Enterprise Park in Calverton, Long Island, in conjunction with The Calverton Rail Access Rehabilitation Project. Metro’s site will be located at the former fuel testing facility in the Grumman Naval Weapons Station at the industrial park, and will be using their existing fuel tanks as well. The creation of this facility will allow METRO to transport its fuel via rail spur reducing truck transport from their Brooklyn terminal. The groundbreaking of the rail spur took place on May 7, 2010.[7]

Industry and Business Memberships

As a member of the National Biodiesel Board, METRO subscribes to the principles and goals set forth by NBB’s Sustainability Task Force. NBB's membership is comprised of biodiesel producers, state, national, and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, fuel marketers and distributors, and technology providers. NBB has established a Sustainability Task Force to guide its membership in ongoing efforts to assess and improve environmentally, economically, and socially responsible biodiesel production.[8]

METRO is a member of NYOHA (New York Oil Heating Association), a tireless advocate, constantly monitoring and steering the policies, regulations and issues that affect their members and their customers. NYOHA works closely with government officials and allied associations to address any business problems that arise.[9]

METRO is associated with ILTA (Independent Liquid Terminals Association), which represents 79 companies and partnerships that operate bulk liquid storage terminals in 47 countries. These facilities are located in ports and along rivers, canals and pipelines. They serve the vital economic purpose of transferring liquid products from one transportation mode to another. Products handled by our members include crude oil, petroleum products and a wide variety of chemicals, as well as ethanol, biodiesel, vegetable oils, molasses and fertilizers.[10]

ESPA (Empire State Petroleum Association), a trade association METRO is a member of, represents 300 petroleum marketers throughout the state of New York. ESPA's members are an important part of New York's economy and they support the state's network of businesses through the storage and distribution of gasoline, diesel, aviation, heating and industrial fuels, generating over $4.5 billion annually in New York State.[11]

METRO is associated with SIGMA (Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America), a non-profit, national trade association representing the most successful, progressive, and innovative independent motor fuel marketers and chain retailers in the US. SIGMA focuses on maintaining a free, fully competitive marketplace to help keep consumer fuel costs down.[12]

The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, is a non-profit METRO is united with, that works to influence the development and use of the waterfront, shoreline, and connected upland areas of northern New Jersey and New York City and other areas of the New York City metropolitan region. The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is a partnership of non-profit and community groups. Alliance partners and members are non-governmental organizations. METRO has worked closely with the MWA as a sponsor for its Annual City of Water Day and has fueled various vessels and water taxis with their BiomaxTM biodiesel during this event.

EWVIDCO honored METRO as the 2009 Business Leader of the Year for their work within the East Williamsburg community and dedication to environmental issues. The award also focuses on EWVIDCO’s goals of development and retention of production, manufacturing and industrial service businesses thus improving neighborhoods in North Brooklyn and surrounding communities.[13]

Other groups that METRO holds membership in include LICBDC (Long Island City Business Development Corporation) and the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

Environmental and Community Memberships and Partnerships

METRO was a sponsor for New York’s celebration of the 40th Annual Earth Day on April 22, 2010. METRO’s B100 biodiesel was used in the generators for the entire event, including a concert in Times Square.

METRO is listed by the website Greenopia as a recommended business in the Alternative Energy Contractor category. Greenopia provides a resource to help make choices to green their lives on a daily basis.[14] According to Greenopia’s requirements to be given this distinction a company must “be in a position to directly affect your carbon footprint and consumption of conventional energy by using alternative energy. However, to be included in the guide, at least 25 percent of their total annual number of projects must deal primarily with the installation, repair, servicing, or design of alternative energy systems. Greenopia also factors in how many years experience a business has in providing alternative energy products and services.”[15]

In March 2010, METRO announced that it was joining an Upper East Side coalition in an effort to improve the neighborhood’s air quality through wider use of bioheat in heating oil buildings and other green initiatives. METRO pledged to work with community leaders to promote the use of bioheat. The coalition, led by Council Member Jessica Lappin who represents parts of the Upper East Side, was formed in response to a recent New York City Department of Health air quality survey that listed the neighborhood as having among the City’s worst air quality.[16]

METRO's involvement in an Upper East Side Coalition.
METRO CFO & Vice President Tom Torre (left), New York City Council Member Jessica Lappin (center) and other environmental health advocates announce the forming of a coalition to combat air pollution on the Upper East Side.

In May 2010, METRO partnered up with The Doe Fund, specifically its RWA Resource Recovery program, in order to provide a direct and reliable feedstock source for the METRO processing facility. The METRO/Doe Fund partnership will harness New York City’s local renewable energy resource – waste restaurant cooking oil – into biodiesel.[17]

Community Initiatives

METRO CFO Tom Torre is President of the Brooklyn Council, Boy Scouts of America. By appointing Tom to this position, the Boy Scouts of America are recognizing Tom’s lifetime commitment to community, youth and citizenship. Tom has also served as chairman since 1998 for the Greenpoint & Williamsburg Communities Toast to Scouting and is presently on the Executive Board of Directors for the Brooklyn Council Scouts and the Greater New York Council.

Other local groups within the community that METRO is associated with, include the Governors Island Alliance, the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition, the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee, the Monitor Museum, the Greenpoint/Williamsburg Community Advisory Board, the Greenpoint Alliance, Community Board 1, the Greenpoint YMCA, North Brooklyn Development, Town Square Inc., and the Queens District 26 Little League team, which spans from Astoria to Bayside.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f http://industry-publications.com/digitalissues/ohmay10/
  2. ^ http://afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/emissions_e10.html
  3. ^ http://metroenergy.com/biofuels/biomax.cfm
  4. ^ a b http://metroenergy.com/biofuels/biomax.cfm
  5. ^ http://nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2010b%2Fpr326-10.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1
  6. ^ http://nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2010b%2Fpr358-10.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1
  7. ^ http://hamptons.com/News/For-The-Record/10767/Calverton-Rail-Access-Rehabilitation-Chugs-Along.html
  8. ^ http://biodiesel.org/resources/sustainability/
  9. ^ http://nyoha.org/index.mv?screen=about
  10. ^ http://ilta.org/
  11. ^ http://espa.net/index.mv?screen=aboutEspa
  12. ^ http://sigma.org/about-sigma.6.0.fs
  13. ^ http://ewvidco.com/about01.htm
  14. ^ http://greenopia.com/USA/leaf_awards.aspx?category=Alternative%20Energy%20Contractors&city=USA&ps=1
  15. ^ http://greenopia.com/USA/explore_meetgreenopians.aspx
  16. ^ http://domesticfuel.com/2010/03/31/metro-biofuels-to-promote-bioheat/
  17. ^ https://acrobat.com/#d=MxUZTqkhO1BGerMicQdrQg
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