New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a major piece of legislation Oct. 18 that will significantly increase the volume of biodiesel in heating oil sold in within the city over the next two decades. The bill, led by Councilmember Costa Constantinides, passed in a 47-to-3 vote Sept. 28.

The new law will push the biodiesel content in the city’s heating oil from the current 2 percent to 5 percent next October. In 2025, this will double to 10 percent, and finally in 2034 the concentration of biodiesel in New York City’s heating oil will reach 20 percent.

“Congratulations to New York City for this tremendous move to clean heating with sustainable biodiesel,” said Donnell Rehagen, the chief operating officer of the National Biodiesel Board. “We applaud Mayor de Blasio for signing this bill that will reduce emissions and improve air quality for all New Yorkers. More biodiesel in the city also supports green jobs, local businesses, and American energy independence.”

The NBB says the estimated reduction in emissions from increasing the city’s biodiesel content in heating oil from 2 to 5 percent is equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road. For 20 percent biodiesel, this is equivalent to removing more than a quarter of a million cars.