NY A11639

Requires all number two heating oil sold for residential, commercial, or industrial heating in New York to contain no more than 500 parts per million of sulfur, effective July 1, 2014.

Directs the Environmental Conservation Commissioner, in consultation with the New York Energy Research and Development Authority, to study the need and cost-effectiveness of implementing additional sulfur content reductions in heating oil.

Study must examine environmental impacts, benefits of further reductions, sulfur levels enabling conversion to advanced heating technologies, conversion rates and emissions reductions, policies to accelerate conversions, supply chain capability, and a proposed implementation timeline for additional reductions.

Requires study completion between June 1, 2013 and January 1, 2014, with findings reported to the Governor, legislative leadership, and relevant standing committees.

Allows the Governor to temporarily suspend the sulfur reduction requirement by executive order if adequate fuel supply is unavailable.