FEATURED NEWS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
� NEFI : EPA PROPOSES CHANGES TO ENERGY STAR
The EPA issued a proposal to limit the Energy Star certification to heat pumps exclusively , potentially excluding furnaces and boilers from the program , reported the National Energy & Fuels Institute . Central air conditioners would also be affected . An EPA memo was sent to Energy Star stakeholders on May 18 , and public comments were due by June 22 . The proposal is “ part of the administration ’ s broader plan to discourage continued use of liquid fuel and gas appliances and push consumers towards heat pumps ,” Jim Collura , NEFI ’ s vice president of governmental affairs , wrote in a June email to members .
Collura said NEFI had taken the following steps :
1 . Dialogue with like-minded national organizations has been initiated , contributing to the formation of a broad coalition united in opposition to the proposal . The coalition is collaborating on talking points , various communications , and overall strategy . It first met on [ June 2 ]. The new coalition includes NEFI , National Propane Gas Association ( NPGA ), American Gas Association ( AGA ), American Public Gas Association ( APGA ), National Association of Plumbing , Heating & Cooling Contractors ( PHCC ), Air Conditioning Contractors Assn . ( ACCA ), and Energy Marketers of America ( EMA ).
2 . Two meetings of NEFI ’ s Home Efficiency Subcommittee have been held … to discuss the Energy Star proposal , refine talking points , and develop a coherent response strategy . Special thanks to Subcommittee chair David Foster of Wilcox Fuels for his leadership , and to all subcommittee members for their invaluable contributions .
3 . The NEFI Home Efficiency Subcommittee has outlined a robust strategy which includes : a . Working with coalition partners to prepare an immediate communication to the EPA that outlines our concerns . We believe its proposal may violate the Administrative Procedures Act and current administration policies , and lacks sufficient supporting data . We will be requesting , at a minimum , an extension to the comment deadline . b . Preparing talking points and a grassroots “ call to action ” to facilitate responses from NEFI members and supporters to the EPA .
FEATURED NEWS
NEWS
• NEFI : EPA Proposes Changes to Energy Star
• LIHEAP In Connecticut
• Vermont Allots $ 6 Million for Electrification
• California , Truck Manufacturers Agree on Zero-Emission Transition
FUELS / EIA – pg 9
• USDA Offers Additional $ 450 Million for Biofuel Facilities
• Space Heating Consumed the Most Energy in Homes
BUSINESS NEWS – pg 13
• Irving Oil ’ s ‘ Strategic Review ’ Includes Possible Sale
• Southern New England Energy Conference in Newport , RI : Sept . 28-29
• Haffner ’ s Acquires Huhtala Oil & Propane , and Concord Oil
• ThompsonGas Acquires Propane Business of South Florida Gas
• ADD Systems Hosts 2023 User Conference
• Mary Hall Joins R . W . Beckett
• Correction : Pippy Ostrow is a territory manager with Energy Kinetics
HVAC / HYDRONICS – pg 35
• NORA Recognizes First Accredited Instructors
• NORA Releases Biodiesel Blends Quick Guide for Technicians
• R . W . Beckett Rolls Out B100 UL-Listed Burner
• Fieldpiece , SkillsUSA , Award $ 10,000 in Scholarships to HVACR Students
c . Drafting a technical comment letter for submission to EPA on behalf of the industry . d . Briefing allies on Capitol Hill … and enlisting their support .
NEFI is a non-profit , non-partisan trade association that has served Main Street energy providers since 1942 .
Note : The above news item has been edited slightly for space and clarity .
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AUGUST 2023
EMARI Board Meeting & Lobster Bake Aug . 22 Kempenaar ’ s Clambake Club Middletown , RI Phone : 401-619-4553 Email : lynn @ energymarketersri . com
SEPTEMBER 2023
Empire State Energy Conference Sept . 7-9 Thayer Hotel at West Point Website : www . eseany . org Phone : 518-280-6645
Women in Energy Annual Conference Sept . 20-22 Hershey Lodge and Convention Center Hershey , PA Website : www . wewomeninenergy . com /
Southern New England Energy Conference Sept . 28-29 Newport Marriott Hotel Newport , R . I . Website : www . sneec . weebly . com
OCTOBER 2023
20th AltWheels Fleet Day Oct . 2 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood , MA Website : www . altwheels . org / fleet-day
� LIHEAP IN CONNECTICUT
CEMA President Chris Herb is a voting member of Connecticut ’ s Low Income Energy Advisory Board ( LIEAB ) which advises the state ’ s Department of Social Services on issues related to LIHEAP . Herb recently volunteered to serve on a committee that is tasked with making recommendations on the program plan that dictates how it is designed , reports CEMA Pipeline , the newsletter of the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association . Here is the update , reprinted from the June 29 issue :
“ In that plan is the margin over rack ( MOR ) pricing that has plagued participating vendors for years . While the legislature failed to make the changes to the MOR that CEMA asked for , we were successful in getting the LIEAB committee to recommend that DSS ‘ shall ’ consider
6 JULY 2023 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com