The requirement will take effect beginning with the 2012-2013 heating season. Governor Paterson said "Reducing the levels of sulfur in heating fuel oil will improve the health of New Yorkers and our environment, and will help consumers cut their energy bills through reduced fuel use and lower maintenance costs."

The bill amends the environmental conservation law to set an upper limit of fifteen parts per million for number two heating fuel oil for use in residential, commercial or industrial heating applications – the same standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for diesel fuel. Current levels of sulfur in heating fuel average two-thousand parts per million and can, under State regulations, be as high as ten thousand parts per million.

There are tremendous health impacts associated with particulate pollution which are a direct result of the high sulfur in this fuel. In New York City, high levels of particulates in certain neighborhoods are directly related to buildings that burn high sulfur fuel oil. Fine particle pollution is linked to premature death, cancer, and heart attacks and asthma attacks in those with preexisting disease. Sulfur also decreases the energy efficiency of heating units. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/072010GovernorSignsLegislation.html