Some fuel marketers have ventured into the solar installation business over the years , but not many , or so it appears to this observer . That ’ s why it seems noteworthy that Sprague Operating Resources is teaming up with a solar panel installer to launch a business putting solar panels on petroleum storage tanks .

Sprague used itself as a guinea pig , conducting a pilot project at its terminal in South Portland , Maine . The thin , lightweight solar panels were installed last August by Picktricity , a company in

STEPHEN BENNETT

Massachusetts , and the two companies have now decided to launch a business putting the panels on the storage tanks of terminal operators throughout the U . S .

As a last note on this story , it was fun to be able to publish the bird ’ s eye-view images , taken from a drone by Firefly Aerial Solutions , on our cover and with the story , which begins on page 16 .

The National Oilheat Research Alliance released its Annual Report a little while ago . In this issue we have an excerpt from the section of the report covering state activities . For example , the Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association , aiming “ to educate the HVAC community about the benefits of oilheat and how to service furnace equipment ,” arranged for the donation of several oil furnaces to various community colleges throughout Kentucky for the purpose of education and training .

In the Northeast , the NORA report notes that the Empire State Energy Association ( ESEA ) website was re-developed and is now device-responsive for mobile and desktop accessibility . For more on activities in various states , turn to page 19 .

There is more news about ESEA , courtesy of columnist Shane Sweet , who writes on page 48 that the association ’ s new leaders are Joe Alonzo , president of Wever Petroleum , a multi-fuel marketer based in Mechanicville , and Eli Van Etten , vice president of multi-fuel marketer VEO Energy of Monticello .

Alonzo and Van Etten both told Sweet that the retail energy industry has historically been on the defensive against legislative and regulatory policies .

“ I ’ m tired of being on the defensive ,” said Van Etten , calling for the retail energy sector to take an offensive posture rather than “ reacting to what is being thrown at us .” Van Etten added , “ We ’ ve never had a greater need for all retailers to support what their trade associations are doing .”

For an example of supportive action , one could look to the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association . Some 50 fuel marketers assembled last month in Hartford , the capitol , to be briefed before they went to appointments to lobby their legislative representatives , touting the benefits of ultra-low sulfur heating oil and Bioheat , and praising a proposal to establish a “ thermal renewable energy credit program ” designed to incentivize the use of home heating oil . ( Chris Herb , president of CEMA , said that a renewable energy credit program would create “ a new profit center ” for fuel marketers .) For more on the issues in Connecticut , many of which are similar to those in other states , turn to page 23 .

Finally , this is the month of the National Propane Gas Association Southeastern Convention & International Expo . And next month is the month of the Eastern Energy Expo . Our Spring Show Guide to both events begins on page 25 . l FON

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