Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts meeting
February 25, 2026, 1:00 PM
The Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts held an oversight hearing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable diesel, and heard Int 0554-2026 and Int 0555-2026, which would require the city to study the feasibility of using renewable diesel as a heating oil substitute and amend the city code to allow its use as fuel.
What was discussed
- Opening and affirmation of witnesses Chairperson James F. Gennaro gaveled in the oversight hearing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable diesel and introduced his two bills, Intro. 554 (a DCAS feasibility study of renewable diesel for building heat) and Intro. 555 (codifying renewable diesel for the city fleet). The
- DCAS on the city's renewable diesel fleet program Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) testified that the city fleet now runs on a 95% renewable diesel / 5% biodiesel blend, that DCAS has used over 43 million gallons of renewable diesel in what he called the largest such program east of the Rockies, and that the Staten Island Ferry and other
- DCAS on renewable diesel as an interim step for building heat Deputy Commissioner Sana Barakat (DCAS), the city's Chief Decarbonization Officer, testified that city government operations had cut emissions 31% (through FY2024) and said replacing heating oil with renewable diesel could yield up to a 6% additional reduction as an interim step toward
- What changes does DCAS want to the timeline and scope of the Intro. 554 study? Pressed by Chairperson Gennaro to put its concerns on the record, Deputy Commissioner Sana Barakat (DCAS) said one year is not enough to complete the study and that it should focus on municipal buildings rather than the private sector; Gennaro signaled the Council was inclined to keep the broader
- Is the city's renewable diesel feedstock sourced sustainably? Chairperson Gennaro asked whether the feedstock is produced sustainably. Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) said about 90% is used cooking oil and waste animal fat, that suppliers provide manifests tied to California Air Resources Board pathways and weekly feedstock tracking, and that more
- Should Intro. 555 allow biodiesel blends above 5 percent? Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) asked that Intro. 555 be amended to allow biodiesel blends up to 20% (RD80B20) rather than capping them at 5%, saying it is a viable and sometimes preferred, less-expensive transportation blend. Chairperson Gennaro welcomed the request and had Counsel note it.
- When will the city come into compliance with Local Law 97's 40% emissions mandate? Chairperson Gennaro pressed DCAS on being out of compliance with the 40% government-emissions reduction due in 2025 while co-op owners face their own Local Law 97 obligations. Deputy Commissioner Sana Barakat (DCAS) said the city stood at 31% as of FY2024, was reducing about 4-5% per year, was
- Does investing in renewable diesel conflict with electrifying the fleet? Asked by Council Member Harvey Epstein whether renewable diesel competes with electrification, Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) said no—DCAS buys electric whenever a viable option exists (about 20% of the fleet is electric or plug-in hybrid), but vehicles like plow trucks have no viable
- What is the timeline to fully electrify the city fleet? Council Member Harvey Epstein asked how long full electrification would take. Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) said Local Law 140 requires light- and medium-duty vehicles to be electrified by 2035, a target he called aggressive but achievable, with heavy-duty plow trucks and some police
- Can the city start acting now rather than waiting on another feasibility study? Council Member Justin Sanchez said he dislikes feasibility studies for things the city could start doing and asked about accelerating work. Chairperson Gennaro explained the state bioheat mandate currently allows only biodiesel (not renewable diesel), and Deputy Commissioner Sana Barakat (DCAS) said
- Has DEP approved renewable diesel for use in heating systems? Chairperson Gennaro asked whether DEP had approved renewable fuels other than biodiesel for heating. Carleen McLaughlin (DEP) said DEP had received and approved three applications for renewable diesel in heating systems—two blended and one for 100% renewable diesel—based on Fuel Oil Grade 2 and 40
- Are there compatibility issues using renewable diesel in existing boilers? Chairperson Gennaro asked about compatibility. Assistant Commissioner Tarek Khalil (DOB) said 100% renewable diesel (R100) is not yet cited in the Mechanical Code and is an emerging area, so a study would be needed to assess impacts on materials, filtration, and combustion; existing burners would
- What greenhouse gas reductions has the city achieved with biodiesel and renewable diesel? Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) said the city's published FY2024 report showed a 46% greenhouse gas reduction for city transportation (fleet, vessels, and aviation) and that, with more renewable diesel and reduced gasoline use in FY2025, DCAS expects to exceed 50%—likely around 55%—once the
- How much more does renewable diesel cost than regular diesel? Asked by Council Member Harvey Epstein about cost, Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman (DCAS) said renewable diesel costs about 46 cents more per gallon in New York (which lacks a low-carbon fuel standard), but that the fleet program's overall fuel costs did not rise because electrification and hybrids
- Rich Kassel (AJW) on renewable diesel as a pragmatic bridge fuel Rich Kassel (AJW) testified in support, arguing renewable diesel does not compete with electrification but decarbonizes existing vehicles and buildings that cannot yet electrify, delivering health benefits now; he said federal rollbacks of tax credits make it more important and that codifying DCAS's
- Joy Gardner (Empire Clean Cities) supporting renewable diesel as a bridge Joy Gardner (Empire Clean Cities) testified in support, calling renewable diesel a drop-in bridge fuel that cuts lifecycle and harmful emissions today for heavy-duty and marine vehicles that cannot electrify quickly, while the city continues investing in charging and electric vehicles; she praised
- Stephen Dodge (Clean Fuels Alliance America) backs both bills and a 20% blend limit Stephen Dodge (Clean Fuels Alliance America) supported Intros. 554 and 555, calling the study a 'no-brainer' and citing average 70% greenhouse gas reductions; he echoed the request that Intro. 555 allow biodiesel blends up to 20% rather than 5% to give DCAS cost and flexibility.
- NYC Environmental Justice Alliance opposes renewable diesel for buildings and fleet Daniel Chu (NYC Environmental Justice Alliance) opposed Intro. 554, arguing renewable diesel for buildings does not address localized NOx and indoor air pollution and could sustain polluting boilers in environmental-justice communities. Kevin Garcia (NYC Environmental Justice Alliance) opposed
- Alia Soomro (NY League of Conservation Voters) supports Intro. 555 with guardrails Alia Soomro (New York League of Conservation Voters) supported Intro. 555, saying that with appropriate guardrails to ensure real emissions reductions, renewable diesel can serve as a short- to medium-term bridge fuel for hard-to-electrify vehicles while the city continues onboarding hybrids and EVs
- Thomas Butcher (NORA) on lab and field testing of renewable diesel in heating equipment Thomas Butcher (National Oilheat Research Alliance) testified that renewable diesel meets the No. 2 heating oil spec, that lab testing found no concerns in unmodified equipment (with a modern flame-safety control resolving occasional issues), and that NORA is running field trials in 133 Northeast
Agenda
3 items
- T2026-1029 Oversight - GHG Reduction Through Renewable Diesel. Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0554-2026 A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of citywide administrative services to study the feasibility of using renewable diesel as heating oil Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0555-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the use of renewable diesel fuel Hearing Held by Committee