FEATURED NEWS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEATURED NEWS
NEWS
• NEFI and State Energy Marketers Associations Sign on to LIHEAP Action Day
• PPA Opposes Move to Decrease LIHEAP Funding
STATE BY STATE — pg . 9
• Court ’ s Decision Has Implications for Oil- and Propane-Fueled Equipment
• Vermont Requires Fuel Dealers to Register
FUELS NEWS – pg 10
• Actor Donnie Wahlberg and Clean Fuels Alliance Promote Bioheat Fuel
• Alliance Hails Growth of Biodiesel Production
• EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook
BUSINESS NEWS – pg 18
• Top Technology Trends in Fuel Delivery : A Cargas Benchmarking Report
HVAC / HYDRONICS – pg 23
• NEFI : EPA Suspends Phase Out of Furnaces , Boilers from Energy Star
• Research : Smart Thermostat Ownership Reaches 16 % of US Internet Households
� LIHEAP ACTION DAY
State energy marketers ’ associations and NEFI joined the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition ( NEUAC ) in advocating for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program ( LIHEAP ).
LIHEAP Action Day , Feb . 6-7 in Washington D . C ., involves a coalition of groups that support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program , including NEFI and the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition ( NEUAC ).
LIHEAP supports vulnerable people , including military families , disabled veterans , and seniors , helping them afford home heating and cooling bills , noted the National Energy & Fuels Institute .
“ NEFI is aware that some members are frustrated with how LIHEAP is administered in their state , particularly due to government price controls ( e . g ., discountoff-retail or margin-over-rack programs ), or with program management by local agencies ,” NEFI said in a ‘ Call to Action ’ to its members . “ We share these concerns and support our state association partners as they work with program administrators and local community action agencies to resolve industry concerns . These state issues aside , federal LIHEAP funding remains crucial .”
The Institute in January urged its members to sign a coalition letter in support of fuel assistance . The coalition aimed for signatures of more than 1,000 businesses and organizations on the letter advocating FY25 funding . Once finalized , the letter will be shared with Congress , highlighting signatories from each member ’ s state or district , NEFI said .
Here is the text of the open letter to Congressional Appropriations Committees in Support of LIHEAP :
Dear Appropriators , The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program ( LIHEAP ) is a critical , life-saving program that serves eligible households in all 50 states plus U . S . territories and tribes ; including those persons most susceptible to illness or death resulting from unsafe indoor air temperatures . The National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition ( NEUAC ), along with our dedicated partners signing this letter , strongly urge Congress to provide adequate funding for LIHEAP in Federal Fiscal Year ( FY ) 2025 in order to protect access to energy and fuel for families struggling with kitchen table budgets that are increasingly difficult to balance .
Many LIHEAP recipients survive on their Social Security benefits or other fixed incomes that do not increase when the costs of heating and cooling their homes rises . No one should be forced to choose between food and electricity , medicine or utilities .
Below are some important reasons to support LIHEAP : 1 . Energy remains unaffordable for many Americans
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEBRUARY 2024
Clean Fuels Conference Feb . 5-8 Ft . Worth , TX Web : CleanFuelsConference . org
National Propane Education & Training Conference Feb . 21-23 Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel Orlando , FL Web : www .// propane . com / 2024-national-propane-education-training-conference /
APRIL
PPA Clay Shoot Fundraiser April 11 Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays Coplay , PA Web : https :// shootforscholarships . org /
NEFI Visions ‘ 24 April 30 – May 1 Envue Hotel Weehawken , NJ
Web : https :// visionsconference . com /
MAY 2024
Eastern Energy Expo May 19-22 Mohegan Sun Uncasville , CT Web : www . EasternEnergyExpo . com
The average limited-income household ’ s energy burden is three times that of other households .
26 % of Americans reduced or forwent basic expenses such as food and medicine so they could pay their energy bill in the last 12 months .
16 % of adults report having kept their home at a temperature that felt unsafe or unhealthy in the past year due to rising energy costs .
One in six people have been unable to pay the full amount of their energy bill at least once in the past year .
LIHEAP restored power or prevented disconnection 3,226,500 times in FY 2022 .
6 FEBRUARY 2024 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com