Chevron, NORA Partner for 100 Percent Renewable Heating Oil Study

The results could influence lawmakers’ next steps toward liquid heating oil incentives

Chevron has a long-standing history of providing high-quality lower carbon fuel solutions within the fleet and multimodal sectors. To continue this legacy, Chevron is participating in a first-of-its-kind study currently underway in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to test the use of renewable diesel and biodiesel blends in traditional heating oil businesses and homes.

Jason Lawrence, Senior Business Development and Team Lead Fuel Sales for Chevron, has been instrumental in aligning the pieces for the study between the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) and Chevron. Back in 2024, Lawrence, along with Michael Devine, President of NORA, met to discuss their mutual interest in bringing renewable liquid heating oil to the Northeast. From there, they worked through respective lines of stakeholders and partners to ensure there was a network of viable platforms and distributors to make this a reality.

“We partnered with Broco Oil in Massachusetts and Rhoads Energy in Pennsylvania, both of whom we’ve worked with for a long time,” Lawrence said. “Broco has a terminal facility where they receive and store renewable diesel (RD) and biodiesel (BD), so we sent the renewable fuels, neat, by railcar and then Broco blended it in an RD80/BD20 (80 percent renewable diesel, 20 percent biodiesel) or RD50/BD50 (50 percent renewable diesel, 50 percent biodiesel) blend. From there, it was delivered out to homes, businesses, and even university heating accounts.”

Lawrence went on to explain that in Pennsylvania, pre-blended RD80/BD20 was sent from the Chevron Geismar, LA facility to Lancaster (PA), where Rhoads is located, and distributed to tanks and bulk facilities for heating accounts. In total, there are 177 residential and commercial sites participating in the study: 60 percent of the sites are in PA and 40 percent are in MA; 72 percent are in residential homes and 28 percent are in commercial/institutional buildings; all are indoor tanks.

All sites were visited prior to the beginning of the study to ensure there was access for fuel sampling, inspection and the tanks were in good working order. Other than that, no changes were made to the equipment at any of the sites.

NORA researchers then divided the 177 sites into two groups. Level One sites consist of 33 detailed study sites that are visited regularly, where things like combustion efficiency is measured, burner heads are inspected and fuel samples are analyzed. At Level Two sites, evaluation is based on the service records and feedback.

“It’s been encouraging to see the positive results so far,” Lawrence said. “As we move into the next round of delivery for the upcoming heating season, we’ll collect the last set of data from sites and wrap up the study in late 2025 or early 2026.”

While Chevron provides the fuel for the study, they also have a vested interest in the outcome — and long-term outgrowth — of the results. A move to liquid renewable fuels in the heating oil industry can be a game changer for customers.

“We’ve seen a lot of talk about a move to electrification, but that’s not reasonable or feasible for customers when they bear the brunt of the cost of replacing their entire heating system,” Lawrence said. “Liquid renewable fuels are a direct replacement solution that lowers carbon emissions and, overall, provides an alternative fuel choice for thousands of people. It’s far cheaper and typically doesn’t require any change to their system and is better for the environment. As we move toward higher blend percentages, such as 100 percent renewable diesel, studies like this will give policy makers information to move liquid heating oil adoption forward.”

When NORA wraps up the study, Lawrence said they plan to use the results to write a comprehensive report to share with trade publications, scientific journals and policy makers to develop next steps for liquid heating oil incentives.

With a number of legislative efforts in place in California and along the West Coast that incentivize use of renewable fuels within industry, there is a strong desire on the part of Chevron and NORA to replicate that along the East Coast.

“There are a lot of conversations happening, as well as legislation pending, in several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states regarding adoption of lower carbon fuel standards or reduced carbon intensity heat standards, to include incentives and credits for both biodiesel and renewable biodiesel,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence recognizes — and appreciates — the valuable work being done by multiple partners as part of this study.

“Chevron wants to continue to be the leader in the marketplace and preferred source for high-quality liquid heating oil,” he said. “We saw a space to step forward and be that leader with the right fuel, partners and timing all coming together for this study. Leading is never easy, but this work is extremely beneficial to all that are involved.”

Jason Lawrence is Senior Business Development Executive at Chevron Renewable Energy Group. He can be reached at (717) 989-1313 or jason.lawrence@chevron.com.

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