 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Your company can sponsor weekly NEON editions. Learn how. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Victory Within Sight: Congress May Finally Get Tough on Dark Markets As Economic Crisis Deepens Despite Bailout Attempts, Next Steps Questioned Shipping Paper Requirements for Biodiesel Blended Fuels How to List "BioHeat®" on Customer Delivery Tickets Miss the last SPCC Webinar? Catch the Encore and Updated Webinar in November NEFI Offers Free Drug/Alcohol Testing & EAP Seminar Nov. 13 Upcoming Courses HazMat Seminar/Certification Email school@nefi.com to register. |
STUDY COMPARES GREENHOUSE GAS IMPACT OF OILHEAT AND NATURAL GAS
NEFI CONTACT: Jim Collura, VP for Public Policy (jimcollura@nefi.com) Congress is in recess until after the November 4th election, at which time they may hold a special session to address the economic crisis. If not, they will remain adjourned until January 3rd. VICTORY WITHIN SIGHT: CONGRESS MAY FINALLY GET TOUGH ON DARK MARKETS This broader impact was the subject of the Senate hearing this week, entitled "The Role of Financial Derivatives in the Current Financial Crisis." View the full list of witnesses, testimony and video of the hearing. A similar hearing was held on Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives, and hearing information will be made available at http://agriculture.house.gov. The Chairmen of both committees are expected to introduce new legislation before the end of the year. It is not clear if Congress will act before next year, especially because President Bush has threatened to veto similar legislation (H.R.6604) that passed the House this fall. Any strong new legislation may have to wait until the new Presidential administration. The principal obstacles to passage of new legislation now appear to be non-existent. Wall Street has lost credibility both in the public eye and in the halls of Congress, which will no doubt significantly undermine their efforts to counter-lobby strong new legislation. The "broken back" of Wall Street and the threat of legislation to strengthen federal oversight of commodities trading have, we believe, helped return the market to fundamentals. Speculators are exiting the market in droves and as this issue of NEON went to print, oil is now half of what it was trading. We have come a very long way since NEFI "blew the whistle" a few years ago on excessive speculation and potentially abusive commodities trading, and the loopholes in federal law that make it possible. We are confident of where the fight is now headed, and that is eventual victory. But the road ahead still remains somewhat uncertain. NEFI will continue to stand firm with PMAA and our national coalition allies through to victory, whenever that may be. AS ECONOMIC CRISIS DEEPENS DESPITE BAILOUT ATTEMPTS, NEXT STEPS QUESTIONED Based on national polling and estimates by nearly all political analysts, Democrats will likely maintain control of Congress next year, if not expand their majorities in both chambers. Regardless, Democratic leaders are wasting no time in drawing up another "stimulus" package for consideration during a "lame duck" session after the Nov. 4th election. According to sources, while the details are still murky, the est. $300 billion proposal might include new spending on transportation infrastructure, extend unemployment benefits, and even another tax rebate. Several Congressional committees are currently examining the proposal. Republicans are expressing skepticism about another bailout or stimulus, and have expressed opposition to any additional spending.
Contact: Mark Morgan, NEFI Regulatory Counsel (mark@nefi.com) SHIPPING PAPER REQUIREMENTS FOR BIODIESEL BLENDED FUELS The following are authorized HAZMAT shipping information required by PHMSA when transporting biodiesel blends. Please note as well that the PHMSA requirements do not modify or replace shipping paper requirements for other regulators, such as the EPA's sulfur content descriptors. Commercial shipping names such as "B-2," "B-20," etc. may be placed following the basic descriptions listed above, but with enough space to the right of the description to clearly separate it. The use of permanent shipping papers for multiple deliveries is allowed.
HOW TO LIST "BIOHEAT®" ON CUSTOMER DELIVERY TICKETS
• Citizens Energy/CITGO Oil Program (www.citizensenergy.com) is shipping postcards this week to inform heating oil dealers on this year's program. According to the postcards, this year's program will be offered in 17 states and will introduce a "new and improved" online account management system that will allow for online access to electronic funds transfers. More details as they emerge. The program is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2009. • GAO releases study on Temp-Comp. The Government Accountability Office has released its study of automatic temperature compensation (ATC) this week. "The policy debate is playing out without good information about the potential costs and benefits," the GAO said.
• NEFI Government Affairs Committee (GAC) Chairman Tom Devine hosted a conference call on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to discuss an array of priority industry issues, including the credit crunch now facing many dealers, the Citizens energy program, key legislative and regulatory initiatives, potential supply and market conditions for this winter, and the industry's public policy agenda going into the new year and a new federal government in Washington. • Last weekend, NEFI President & CEO Shane Sweet and VP Jim Collura attended the PMAA Board of Directors meeting in Chicago, IL. The meeting included several workgroups and committee meetings on key industry issues. The PMAA Northeast Region Meeting was held on that Saturday with Representatives from all the Northeast states. The entire hour and a half long discussion centered on a NEFI proposal to PMAA regarding Legislative & Regulatory resources. • Shane Sweet and NEFI staffer Dave Huffman attended the Independent Oil Marketers Association of New England (IOMANE) conference and trade show in Burlington, Mass., on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. • Sweet, Huffman and Collura also plan to attend the Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE) Conference in Framingham, Mass., on Thursday and Friday, October 16-17, in Framingham, Mass. • The next NEFI Executive Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2008, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at the ICPA Office, 10 Alcap Ridge, Cromwell, Conn. This is a closed meeting. • Following the Executive Committee Meeting will be the NEFI (Open) Board of Directors' Meeting from 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Lunch will be prior to the meeting 12:15–1:15 p.m. Contact Betty Kelley for details at betty@nefi.com or (617) 923-5013.
• View the latest edition of Oil & Energy online.
For maximum exposure, your company logo and link should be on the front page of this newsletter next month. View sponsorship info and enrollment form. Call Tracy at 617-923-5015 or email tracy@nefi.com for more information.
NEFI Member Benefit Spotlight MISS THE LAST SPCC WEBINAR? CATCH THE ENCORE AND UPDATED WEBINAR IN NOVEMBER! GOT NEON? DRUG/ALCOHOL TESTING & EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OFFER • Company Policy/Certificate of Compliance In addition to the Drug/Alcohol Testing Program offered there is an optional Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to provide your staff with a 24-hour, 7 days a week counseling and referral service to help employees deal with personal issues before they become work performance issues. Counselors are available to deal with substance abuse, marital and family issues, personal crises, etc. The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is REQUIRED when any employee tests positive for drugs and/or alcohol. An SAP is a licensed physician or a licensed/certified psychologist, social worker, employee assistance professional, or addiction counselor with knowledge of and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and controlled substance related disorders. An evaluation by an SAP is included with the Employee Assistance Program. If chosen as an option, the EAP will be available to your employees, their dependents, and to your management and supervisory staff to assist in job performance concerns. The NEFI-Newport Alliance Consortium is the only NEFI-endorsed Drug /Alcohol Testing and Employee Assistance Program. To compare your current costs or obtain further information on the program please contact Donna Carcerano, NEFI Benefits Administrator at (617) 923-5020 direct line, (617) 924-1000 ext. 220 or donna@nefi.com. NEW ENGLAND FUEL INSTITUTE OFFERS FREE DRUG/ALCOHOL TESTING & EAP SEMINAR Location: New England Fuel Institute, 20 Summer Street, Watertown, MA 02472 • Who Do The Rules Apply To Please contact Donna Carcerano, Benefits Administrator at New England Fuel Institute (617) 923-5020 or email donna@nefi.com to register for the free Drug/Alcohol Testing & Employee Assistance Program Seminar. Drug/Alcohol Testing and/or Employee Assistance Program New Enrollments: NEFI welcomes TMC Services, Inc. to the NEFI Group Rated Drug/Alcohol Testing Program. Join or renew membership with NEFI today! Click here, or contact Joanne Sharkey, NEFI Membership Coordinator at (617) 924-1000 or joanne@nefi.com.
For information on NORA please contact Traci Ross at tlross@nora-oilheat.org See the latest NORA news at www.nora-oilheat.org. -TOP-
-TOP-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Thank you to these sponsors
Exhibitor Package, Click Here PLEASE NOTE: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
