Welcome to the Fuel Matters Blog

On Tuesday the United Kingdom’s government announced a ban on the sale of Internal Combustion Engines starting in 2035 (five years earlier than previously planned). Meaning it will eventually be illegal to sell new gas, diesel, and even hybrid powered cars to adhere to this standard. Many governments across the world have plans of internal combustion engine bans in the coming decades. Germany is cracking down on older diesel cars. France wants to ban diesel and gasoline cars by 2040.Norway wants only electric or plug-in hybrid cars to be available by 2025. California's state government has stopped buying gasoline sedans for fleets, and the state itself seems to be flirting with an eventual ban too.

 It’s a new year and a new decade, time to establish your fuel budget for the new year! Is your business the type that relies on a set budget for distillates or gasoline? Do you look to protect your costs in a volatile market? Around this time last year, we experienced a significant drop followed by a quick recovery on distillate prices. What will happen in 2020?

So far this fall has brought us near record highs in parts of the Northeast, with some areas breaking through 90 degrees. Leaving many to feel that we may continue to have a warmer fall and maybe even a milder winter. However, if you take a look at the forecast we could start to see a drop rather quickly. With next week’s forecast showing evening temperature drops to the low 40’s, we could see the need for winterized fuel approach sooner rather than later.

Next week Pittsburgh Pennsylvania welcomes the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC).  The competition is each year by the American Trucking Association (ATA) and is slated to take place 8/14-8/17 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.  As stated by the ATA, this long standing competition “has a long history – dating back to 1937 when it was known as the National Truck Roadeo”.

Alternative energy is certainly an interesting concept in many aspects. Often referred to as “Clean Energy,” alternatives can also include solar, wind and water based production. As our current world tries to push for a change on how power is sourced, there has been an effort and an investment to change from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gasses towards alternatives to create sustainable and inexpensive options for energy production.