January 2015
Submitted to:
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02114
Attn: Stephen Russell
Prepared by
ICF International
100 Cambridgepark Drive, Suite 500
Cambridge, MA 02140
Study of the Transportation of Alternative Fuels in and around Massachusetts
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Supply of Alternative Fuels to the Region 2
2.1. Ethanol 2
2.2. Biodiesel 2
2.3. Propane 4
2.4. Natural Gas 5
2.5. Hydrogen 7
2.6. Electricity 8
3. Review of Barriers to the Supply of Alternative Fuels in the Region 10
3.1. Ethanol 10
3.2. Biodiesel 11
3.3. Propane 12
3.4. Natural Gas 13
3.5. Hydrogen 14
3.6. Electricity 15
4. Review Options for Supply of Alternative Fuel in an Emergency 17
5. Recommendations to Overcome Barriers to the Supply of Alternative Fuels in the Region 20
5.1. Overarching Recommendations 20
5.2. Ethanol 21
5.3. Biodiesel 21
5.4. Propane 22
5.5. Natural Gas 22
5.6. Hydrogen 23
5.7. Electricity 23
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 25
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1. Biodiesel Production in the Study Region (2013) 4
Exhibit 2. New England Natural Gas Pipelines 7
Exhibit 3. Alternative Fuel Assessment for Use in an Emergency 18
ICF International 25 January 2015
Study of the Transportation of Alternative Fuels in and around Massachusetts
1. Introduction
This report is the result of a larger grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities program entitled Removing Barriers, Implementing Policies and Advancing Alternative Fuels Markets in New England. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MassDOER), specifically the Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition, partnered with five Clean Cities coalitions in the New England area, including Maine Clean Communities, State of Vermont Clean Cities, Granite State Clean Cities, and Ocean State Clean Cities. MassDOER was responsible for coordinating multiple efforts under this grant. ICF International (ICF) supported MassDOER’s efforts by investigating the barriers related to alternative fuel supply, consumption, and use in the region. For the purposes of this scope, the study region includes Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The alternative transportation fuels of focus are ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas (compressed and liquefied), propane, hydrogen, and electricity.
The following sections in the report reflect ICF’s research and analysis in several areas:
n Section 2: Supply of Alternative Fuels to the Region. This section provides estimates of alternative fuel consumption in the study region, distinguished by a) state and b) fuel type. ICF’s estimates were developed using available information on fuel supply, alternative fuel vehicles, stations, and fuel imports. Furthermore, for each fuel type, ICF provided a brief overview of the supply chain in the study region.
n Section 3: Review of Barriers to the Supply of Alternative Fuels to the Region: For each fuel, ICF reviewed regulatory, technical, and economic barriers. In some cases, ICF highlighted attitudinal barriers (i.e., barriers that arise from the perception of stakeholders e.g., fleets and other end users). Where appropriate, ICF identified recent constraints that limited the supply (or consumption) of a particular transportation fuel.
n Section 4: Review of Options for Supply of Alternative Fuels in an Emergency. Given regional concerns related to emergency preparedness during disasters (e.g., Hurricane Sandy, Northeast blackout of 2003, polar vortex of 2014), ICF reviewed the pros and cons of each alternative transportation fuel based on a supply chain assessment. ICF then identified the tradeoffs of relying on each type of alternative fuel in the event of emergency.
n Section 5: Recommendations to Overcome Barriers to the Supply of Alternative Fuels in the Region. ICF developed recommendations to help overcome barriers to the supply of alternative fuels in the region based on research and stakeholder outreach. ICF identified what are characterized as overarching recommendations which represent high level solutions to major barriers identified in Section 3. These recommendations represent ICF’s best effort to distill recommendations by fuels and by state. This section also includes more specific recommendations to overcome existing barriers by fuel type.
2. Supply of Alternative Fuels to the Region
This section provides an overview of how alternative fuels are supplied to the region, and includes estimates of alternative fuel consumption in the study region, on a state-level basis to the extent possible. ICF’s estimates were developed using available information on fuel supply, alternative fuel vehicles, stations, and fuel imports.
2.1. Ethanol
Ethanol is typically consumed as a low level blend in gasoline (10 percent by volume, E10) or as a high level blend with gasoline (85 percent by volume, E85) for use in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).
Fuel Consumption, Vehicles, Stations and Imports
The table below includes ICF’s estimates of E85 fuel consumption in 2013. The values are presented as a range, reflecting ICF’s best estimates based on research and analysis of publicly available data and interviews with stakeholders. The table also includes ethanol imports to ports in the study region for 2011-2014 (through September); it is more likely that this ethanol is consumed as E10 rather than E85 given that more than 98% of the study region’s motor gasoline is dispensed as E10.
State / E85 Consumption Estimates (2013) / E85 Stations / Ethanol Imports (million gallons)2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014
Maine / § 81,600-240,000 gallons of E85 / 1 / - / - / - / -
Massachusetts / § 730,000-1,800,000 gallons of E85 / 9 / 15.7 / 25.1 / 3.6 / -
New Hampshire / § 81,600-240,000 gallons of E85 / 1 / - / - / - / -
Rhode Island / none / 0 / 10.4 / 65.6 / 35.1 / -
Vermont / § 81,600-240,000 gallons of E85 / 1 / - / - / - / -
Notes: ICF assumed an average throughput of 6,800-20,000 gallons per month of E85. This is based on ICF research and data provided through Clean Cities Annual reports. For instance, Dennis K Burke retail station and Gulf Oil/Cumberland Farms stations report 82,000 gallons and 89,154 gallons of E85 dispensed in 2013, respectively. In most cases, ICF believes that E85 consumption in the last several years has been on the lower end of these estimates.
Fuel Supply
Ethanol is not produced in the study region. As a result, ethanol arrives via a combination of railcar, barge, and truck from both domestic and international producers. Ethanol typically is shipped to a storage and blending terminal via railcar from the Midwest or barge from the Gulf. After blending with gasoline, the finished fuel is typically distributed to local retail outlets on trucks.
2.2. Biodiesel
Fuel Consumption, Vehicles, and Imports
The table below includes ICF’s estimates of B20 fuel consumption in 2013. The values are presented as a range, reflecting ICF’s best estimates based on research and analysis of publicly available data and interviews with stakeholders. The table also includes biodiesel imports to ports in the study region for 2011-2014 (through September). Finally, the table also includes notes, where appropriate, on publicly available data on biodiesel consumption e.g., fleets that use biodiesel.
State / Biodiesel Consumption Estimates (2013) / B20 Stations / Imports (million gallons)2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014
Maine / § 75,000-600,000 gallons of B20 / 3 / - / - / - / 12.6
Massachusetts / § 1.71-2.60 million gallons of B20 / 13 / 2.8 / - / - / 17.7
New Hampshire / § 100,000-800,000 gallons of B20
§ Public transit fleet in Nashua uses B20 / 4 / - / 2.4 / - / 10.3
Rhode Island / § 125,000-1,200,000 gallons of B20
§ Over 500 vehicles used a total of ~875,000 gallons of fuel, with blends ranging from B5-B99 / 6 / - / - / - / -
Vermont / § 25,000-2000,000 gallons of B20 / 1 / - / - / 0.2 / -
Notes: ICF estimated B20 consumption assuming a station throughput of 25,000 gallons to 200,000 gallons annually. These values are based on ICF research and data provided in the state-level Clean Cities Annual reports. Biodiesel is consumed as B5, B10, B20, and B100 throughout the study region. ICF normalized the consumption estimates to B20 for the sake of simplicity. ICF believes that biodiesel consumption in the last several years has been on the lower end of these estimates.
There was a drastic increase in biodiesel imports through September of 2014: Nearly 40 million gallons of biodiesel have landed at ports in the study region, with Irving Oil accounting for about 90% of these imports. While this activity demonstrates the ability of the supply chain to deliver significant volumes of biodiesel to the study region, it is unclear how much of this biodiesel is used as a transportation fuel. Irving Oil is a large distributor of biofuel and petroleum products in the study region, for both transportation fuels and for home heating.
Fuel Supply
Biodiesel is supplied locally from one major biodiesel producers in the New England area, White Mountain Biodiesel, along with a number of smaller biodiesel facilities as shown in the exhibit below. Biodiesel is also railed and trucked into New England from the Midwest and Ontario or brought in by barge. The normal modes of biodiesel transport are by rail from major production regions (for example the Midwest) into distribution terminals, and from there by barge or truck into smaller terminals. Customers typically receive biodiesel blends by truck delivery from terminals. Based on information gathered from stakeholders, imported biodiesel is likely blended into heating oil or in blend levels under 5% for on-road diesel. Regional producers also sell product to end-users and distributors for use in heating oil and on-road and off-road diesel applications.
Exhibit 1. Biodiesel Production in the Study Region (2013)
State / City / Company / Production Capacity (MMgal/yr) b / Type of Feedstock aME / Portland / Maine Standard Biofuel / 0.50 / Multi feedstock
MA / Bridgewater / MPB Bioenergy LLC / 0.50 / Yellow Grease
Sandwich / Cape Cod BioFuels / 0.50 / Yellow Grease
Billerica / Baker Commodities Billerica / --
NH / North Haverhill / White Mountain Biodiesel, LLC / 5.50 / Yellow Grease
Nashua / Batchelder Biodiesel Refineries / 0.25 / Yellow/Brown grease
Grafton / Outpost Biodiesel, LLC / Yellow Grease
RI / Westerly / Mason Biodiesel LLC / 1.20 / Multi feedstock
Newport / Newport Biodiesel, LLC / 0.50 / Yellow Grease
Total / 8.95
a Multi feedstock refers to any combination of yellow/brown grease, animal fats, and virgin vegetable oils, such as soy.
b These production capacities were updated based on phone interviews conducted in 2013.
Sources: National Biodiesel Board, 2013; Biodiesel Magazine, 2013; company websites, 2013.
2.3. Propane
Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is used as a transportation fuel, typically after conversion kits have been installed in medium-duty (e.g., shuttles) and heavy-duty applications (e.g., buses). Propane is typically delivered to refueling stations via truck. Propane can be sourced from refineries or natural gas wells (including from wells using unconventional methods of extraction (e.g., hydraulic fracturing).
Fuel Consumption, Vehicles, and Fueling Stations
The table below includes ICF’s estimates of LPG fuel consumption in 2013. The values are presented as a range, reflecting ICF’s best estimates based on research and analysis of publicly available data and interviews with stakeholders. The table also includes some notes, where appropriate, on publicly available data on LPG consumption e.g., fleet information.
State / Propane Fuel Consumption and Vehicle Information / Propane StationsMaine / § 98,000-280,000 gasoline gallon equivalents (gge) of LPG
§ 35 Island Explorer shuttle buses in Bar Harbor
§ 10 Maine School Administrative District No. 6 school buses in Portland / 14
Massachusetts / § 140,000-400,000 gge of LPG
§ Identified 10 vehicles using LPG 100% of the time / 20
New Hampshire / § 98,000-280,000 gasoline gallon equivalents (gge) of LPG / 14
Rhode Island / § 35,000-100,000 gge of LPG
§ Buckley Heating and Cooling’s two vehicle fleet used 5,200 gallons of fuel / 5
Vermont / § 14,000-40,000 gge of LPG / 2
Notes: ICF estimated propane consumption assuming a station throughput of 7,000 gallons to 20,000 gallons monthly. These values are based on ICF research and data provided in the state-level Clean Cities Annual reports. In most cases, ICF believes LPG annual consumption in the study region is on the low- to mid-points of the ranges shown above.
Fuel Supply
No propane fuel supply constraints were identified in New England. Approximately 75% of propane is transported by rail, 10% by ship, and 15% by truck (from New York).[1] This average may change slightly from state-to-state. For example, Maine may have 90% of deliveries by rail. Two states, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, also receive propane deliveries by ship and the fuel is delivered from the port by truck to individual distributors.
There is no propane pipeline in New England. The closest location is in upstate New York where the TEPPCO Pipeline ends. The TEPPCO Pipeline passes through the Marcellus and Utica production regions, and is interconnected with many of the gas processing facilities in this region. As a result, there has been a significant increase in propane available on the Northeastern end of the pipeline. The increase in regional propane production has allowed the TEPPCO system to replace much of the propane that used to come from Mont Belvieu, Texas with local supply.
2.4. Natural Gas
Natural gas is used as a transportation fuel when it is compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG). Compression typically occurs on-site at a retail station after being transported via pipeline. There is a growing demand for CNG in the region with about 40 public and private stations at the date of this report. Liquefaction requires a more significant investment, and while it can be liquefied on-site at a station, it is more likely to be liquefied at a large, centralized facility (with access to a pipeline) and delivered via truck. There is currently one LNG station planned for Massachusetts, and Clear Energy had pitched the concept of converting part of a former paper plant in Groveton, NH to a LNG production facility.[2]