NYC Schools Still Using Dirtiest Grades of Heating Oil

Posted by Quinn Wonderling on July 19, 2011 at 2:13 pm

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council member Gale Brewer at a cogenerational power facility last year, pursuing cleaner and cheaper energy sources for New Yorkers. (image: distributedenergy.com)

Despite strong encouragement from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a city-wide pledge to ban the two dirtiest types of heating oil by 2030, hundreds of New York City schools are cementing plans to continue using the controversial fuel for some time to come, New York 1 reported.

In April, the mayor announced the PlaNYC initiative would be upping its game to reduce city greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. The PlaNYC sustainability plan includes a Clean Heat campaign to eliminate use of #4 and #6 heating oil, the dirtiest grades available, also known as residual oil, by 2030. Most homes heated with oil use #2 heating oil, a far cleaner substitute, but many larger buildings are still using the crummy stuff – including New York City schools.

According to NY1’s report, the Department of Education is currently working on a $70 million deal with an oil provider that will keep cheap residual oil burning in schools. Despite a fierce backlash from concerned parents and environmental activists, the DOE is going ahead with the plan.

“Air pollution affects children more than adults,” commented Richard Kassel, a spokesperson for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Their lungs are still developing. They breathe more than we do.”

“Soot pollution contributes to the city’s sky-high asthma rates, contributes to heart and lung conditions, and it actually shortens the life spans for thousands and thousands of New Yorkers,” he added.

If the schools have to switch eventually anyway, what’s causing the holdup? Unsurprisingly, it boils down to money. Upgrading and converting heating equipment requires money and time, a process that DOE spokespersons said “won’t happen overnight.” However, activists are hopeful new pressure from the City Council could speed things along.

“I don’t understand why it takes so long,” said Council member Gale Brewer. “Health is number one. It does need to be done quickly.”