FEATURED NEWS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
� INDUSTRY ASSAILS FED FUNDING FOR HEAT PUMPS
The Biden Administration has invoked the 1950 Defense Production Act ( DPA ) to expedite funding toward increasing the domestic production of heat pumps . The Administration cited the use of these wartime powers in order to meet the emergency crisis confronting the nation due to climate change . The release of $ 169 million will be directed to nine projects to accelerate electric heat pump manufacturing at 15 sites across the country .
“ NEFI and other energy related organizations are looking into the legality of using the DPA in this manner , as well as the administration ’ s broader attack on consumer choice ,” the New York State Energy Coalition said in its member newsletter , NYSEC Voice . “ There is a strong possibility that this use of the DPA may be litigated .”
“ This is yet another example of the administration promoting one energy source over another , and , once again , ignoring the immediate contributions that renewable liquid heating fuels offer to the mission to reduce carbon emissions . The Defense Production Act should be used , as written , to protect the country from external threats . Our fuels are not an external threat , but rather a valuable portion of the solution . It is ironic that the administration ’ s push to electrified heat will only increase GHG emissions ,” said NEFI President Sean Cota .
In March 2022 , following Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine , NEFI sent a letter to President Biden outlining steps that could be taken to enhance energy security and reduce fuel prices . The first of those recommendations was to utilize the DPA to boost conventional and advanced biofuel production , followed closely by the suggestion to ramp-up production of biodiesel with the Renewable Fuels Standard , among several others . The suggestions were ignored , the New York State Energy Coalition said in its Nov . 22 Member Letter .
The NYSEC Member Letter also cited a New York Times article noting that the pace of installation has slowed recently ,
FEATURED NEWS
NEWS
• Industry Assails Fed Funding for Heat Pumps
• Supply Chain Coalition Calls for Modernization of Security Screening
• Connecticut Withdraws EV Plan
• Obituary : Joe Pauk
FUELS NEWS – pg 10
• Obstacles Hamper SPR Replenishment
BUSINESS NEWS – pg 18
• Dead River Acquires Rockingham Oil , Roby ’ s Propane
• Sail Energy Acquires Blanchard ’ s Cash Fuel
• Tremcar USA Plant Is Up and Running
• ETP Acquires C & S Scientific
• Nicolas Pintabona Joins Angus Energy
• Tim Tagman Joins Riello North America
• Griffin Sharp Joins Cetane Associates
• Ashley Campbell Joins Warm Thoughts Communications
HVAC / HYDRONICS – pg 23
• Energy Kinetics Announces UL B100 Listing
• Carlin Launches UL-Listed B100 Burners
• Beckett CleanCut Pumps UL-Listed for B100
• Firedragon to Close Teaching Operations
• Taco Expands Line of Circulators
• Weil-McLain Program Aims to Optimize HVAC Businesses
despite incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act ( IRA ). “ Rising interest rates and inflation combined with a slow and confusing rollout of federal government incentives for the purchase of heat pumps are largely responsible for the recent drop in sales ,” the Times reported . The incentives are not enough to defray the cost of installation , the article continued , stating , “ installations have slowed recently because the cost of installing a new heat pump is significant enough that many homeowners need to borrow
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 /
money to buy one . That is not something many people are eager to do , given that mortgage and other lending rates are at or near their highest levels in decades .”
� COALITION CALLS FOR MODERNIZATION OF SECURITY SCREENING
The American Trucking Associations led more than 150 organizations representing trucking , rail , energy , organized labor , agriculture , third-party logistics providers , and other key supply chain stakeholders to urge Congress to pass the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act . The bill — which was introduced by Representatives Garret Graves ( R-LA ) and Adam Smith ( D-WA ) along with Representatives Mark Green ( R-TN ), Michael Guest ( R-MS ), Salud Carbajal ( D-CA ), and Dina Titus ( D-NV )— would eliminate redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers . The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act cuts through red tape to allow workers to apply existing valid background checks to multiple TSA-managed credentialing programs , such as the Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and Hazardous Materials Endorsements , ATA said in a Dec . 6 statement . By eliminating duplicative screenings and harmonizing programs , the bill would codify formal recommendations by the Government Accountability Office dating back to
6 JANUARY 2024 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com