NEWS & TRENDS
has done a good job of marketing as a clean, efficient fuel, and they have drawn attention away from the fact that natural gas combustion produces CO2 the same as oil.”
He cited National Grid’s Floe the Polar Bear campaign and the $200 million campaign by America’s Natural Gas Alliance as examples of the aggressive marketing by the gas industry. “We certainly need money to fight that,” Tubman said. “We need help from oil dealers, tank suppliers, software suppliers…everyone who has a stake in oil heat.”
He strongly recommends that oil heat dealers communicate effectively with homeowners. “Companies can use the materials that we have put together to send a strong message out to their customers. They can use our website to educate themselves. We can also provide training. We want
Thomas Tubman
to make sure that when people contact an oil heat company and ask questions that they get the correct answers.”
The AEC has three bill inserts or leave behinds avail- able that correct the record about natural gas. The coalition also produced advertisements, including a television commer- cial than ran recently in Rhode Island and which can be seen on the coalition’s website, www. AmericanEnergyCoalition.org. The AEC site also contains a wealth of comparative informa- tion about oil heat and natural gas that will benefit anyone who advocates for oil heat. “Everyone who has contact with customers – including installers and tech- nicians – should know the facts and what to say to customers,” Tubman said.
The AEC will have a booth at the oil heat tradeshows this year, and Tubman is making the rounds now to talk with asso- ciation groups. “We’re trying to raise our visibility and let people know about all the good work we’ve done already,” he said. “When I talk to groups about getting everyone pulling in the same direction, they get it. They understand that we’re at a critical point and that we need to do this as a team.”
CARE TO RIDE EVENT TAKES A NEW TURN
The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers’ foundation, Oil Heat Cares, gains the bulk of their operating capital through the Care to Ride event that is held during their Annual Convention and Trade Show. This year’s Care to Ride event will take place on Monday, May 23 in Hershey, Pa., and participants will notice some exciting changes.
All are invited to walk, ride a motor- cycle, bicycle, or run at this event that raises funds to give heating equipment to those in need. Participants are encour- aged to secure sponsors, but a $100 fee is
12 MAY 2011 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com
