Serving the Oilheat, Propane, Diesel Fuel and Biofuel Industries http://www.nefi.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:26:23 EDT Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:26:23 EDT FeedForAll Mac v2.1 (2.1.0.1); http://www.FeedForAll.com/ http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=63 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=63 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=65 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=65 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=68 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=68 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=69 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=69 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=72 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=72 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=73 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=73 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=74 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=74 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=75 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=75 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), an employer with a group health plan may provide a reward such as a premium discount as part of its wellness program, but the reward can only be based on a health factor, such as whether the employee is smoker or not or whether the employee receives passing numbers in a battery of biometric screenings. The employer can offer a premium differential of up to 20% of the cost of employee-only coverage. Like to know where to start? If so, please contact NEFI member Kevin Racine from USI Insurance of New England at 781-376-2725 to learn more. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=76 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=76 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=77 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=77 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST The New England Fuel Institute today announced it has selected Mr. Michael C. Trunzo as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective Monday, April 4, 2011. In addition to serving as President and CEO of NEFI and its Education Foundation, Michael will also serve on the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees.

“Michael Trunzo brings an exceptional skill set and a background uniquely qualified to meet the challenges and opportunities we currently face as a trade association and as an industry,” said NEFI Chairman of the Board Howard Peterson of Peterson Oil Service in Worcester, Massachusetts. “We are quite fortunate and we look forward to his leadership as we further advance our strategic plan and strengthen NEFI in service of its members and the industry,” Peterson said.

Michael comes to NEFI from the State University of New York (SUNY), where he was appointed Senior Associate Vice Chancellor in April 2002 and was promoted to Vice Chancellor for Government Relations in March 2008. SUNY is a 64-campus system of higher education. Trunzo served as SUNY’s chief lobbyist and managed the Office of Government Relations, overseeing the University’s federal, state and local lobbying, as well as the University’s external affairs and employee-union relationships. Trunzo developed and managed the University’s legislative and public policy agendas, advocacy efforts and the implementation of its strategic plan relative to government relations and external affairs. He also ran the New York Network, the state’s television station and production studio.

Mr. Trunzo comes to NEFI as no stranger to the retail petroleum industry. Prior to his time at SUNY, from 1995 until 2002 Michael served as CEO of the Empire State Petroleum Association (ESPA), which represents motor fuel and home heating oil dealers in the State of New York. Nor is he a stranger to politics. Trunzo served as Chief of Staff to the New York State Lieutenant Governor and Executive Assistant to New York State Senator Kemp Hannon. He has also held senior positions with the Town of Islip and the New York State Assembly.

“I am honored to accept the position of President and CEO of NEFI,” Trunzo said. “NEFI has a great history of serving the needs of home heating oil dealers and petroleum marketers regionally and nationally, and I will work diligently to continue that tradition.”

Trunzo continued, “I also look forward to working closely with the six state associations and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America and our sister state organizations from throughout the country, as together we strive to ensure a better business environment and consumer offerings for all oilheat and petroleum companies."

“I believe NEFI members will be pleased with the decision and I welcome them to meet with and personally get to know Michael by stopping in the Watertown office or our next Board meeting, or by attending our upcoming Expo,” NEFI Chairman Peterson said, referring to the upcoming 34th Biennial North American Heating & Energy EXPO to be held in Boston, June 7-8 (details at www.nefiexpo.com).

Effective Monday, April 4th, Mr. Trunzo can be reached at (617) 924-1000 or by email at michael.trunzo@nefi.com.
http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=78 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=78 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST The New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) has joined forces with other oilheat associations and industry advocates to develop a new website - www.SupportNORA.org - to raise public awareness and support for legislation currently pending in Congress that would renew and strengthen the National Oilheat Research Alliance program, or "NORA."

As NEFI members are aware, the NORA program is vital to the home heating oil industry and its consumers. Created in 2000 by the U.S. Congress and then-President Bill Clinton, NORA's mission is to conduct research, development and deployment of new technologies, such as ultra-efficient heating equipment and renewable alternatives. It also promotes consumer awareness of the benefits of oilheat and fuel conservation practices. NORA also manages the certification of home heating technicians in proper installation, safety and maintenance. NORA is funded at no cost to the government, as it was funded by a two-tenths of a cent ($.002) per gallon fee at the terminal/wholesale level.

However, the law that authorizes the NORA program expired on February 6, 2010. The industry has since joined with allies in the efficiency, environmental and alternative energy communities to launch a full-scale effort to renew the program. In doing its part, NEFI has designed and launched the SupportNORA.org website, wherein consumers, lawmakers and the press can get information on NORA, its mission, initiatives and accomplishments.

The site also provides information on the legislation, including bill summaries, a list of current Congressional co-sponsors, 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ), a talking points document, a list of supporting groups, and a "take action" page wherein visitors can contact their members of Congress by email or phone.

Oilheat dealers, environmental and efficiency advocates and other supporters can download a banner from the "resources" section at www.SupportNORA.org that can be placed on their own website or blog. The site has graphic links at the top, allowing visitors to post a link on popular social networking sites as well. "Support NORA" bill inserts and leave-behinds are also available to oilheat dealers.
http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=79 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=79 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST Jim Collura, NEFI Vice President for Government Affairs When the Congress returns from its annual August recess this fall, it will enjoy a brief reprieve from the debt ceiling negotiations. Congressional leaders have promised to make job creation and economic growth the focus this fall, with special emphasis on highway/infrastructure and energy legislation. Therefore, the August Congressional recess provides an important opportunity to advance the industry's priorities in these areas. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=80 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=80 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST Gene Guilford, Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association America has a $14 trillion economy and to run that economy takes a great deal of energy from many resources. Oil, coal, nuclear, natural gas and renewables all play key roles in making sure that, whether at home or on the job, America has the energy resources it needs to keep the world's largest economy running. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=81 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=81 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST Jim Collura, NEFI Vice President for Government Affairs The United States Congress returns next week amidst growing concern over the state of the economy, persistent unemployment and diminished confidence in the Federal Government. The Congress is seeing its lowest job approval ratings in history - only 13 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. President Obama is fairing only a little better, with an average approval rating of 40 percent, the lowest in his two and a half years on the job. With the 2012 Presidential election really starting to heat up, both Parties and the President are eager to show that their vision for America is the right one. However, it is this conflict in vision that is driving the partisan stalemate on in Washington. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=82 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=82 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST Federal regulators at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are currently writing a final rule to that would implement new restrictions on the size of positions speculators can take in commodities markets, also known as speculative position limits or "speculation limits." The position limits rule will effect futures and swaps in all the 28 listed commodities, including crude oil, gasoline and home heating oil. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=83 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=83 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST Gary Gensler, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), announced this week yet another delay in finalizing new limits on financial speculation in the commodities markets. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=84 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=84 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) President & CEO Michael C. Trunzo this week sent a letter to the Obama administration in support of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline, which would introduce more than 700,000 barrels of North American oil into the market per day, has been held up at the Department of State. We urge NEFI members to join us in this effort. http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=86 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=86 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST TestTestTestTestTestTestTestTest8 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=102 http://www.primediany.com/nefi/new/dealers_allnews.php?xarticleid=102 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST