Fuel Oil News

Fuel Oil News January 2015

The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding

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API: PresIdent ObAmA's POlItIcAl GAmesmAnshIP Over KXl needs tO end API President and CEO Jack Gerard told the White House that despite the ongo- ing years of delay, industry will not give up on the Keystone XL pipeline. "Six years of review and five posi- tive environmental assessments from the State Department are enough," said Gerard." "We are calling on President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. There is more than enough evi- dence to move forward immediately— without waiting for Congress to vote again in the New Year when congressio- nal support for Keystone XL will be even stronger. President Obama can end the delay today and give America's construc- tion workers a Christmas gift they've been waiting six years for. "When America's construction sec- tor goes to work building Keystone XL, they'll be building not just a pipeline, but energy security. We're within 10 years of the ability to supply 100% of our liquid fuel needs from right here in North America, but we won't get there through presidential dithering on infra- structure projects that are obviously in our national interest. "President Obama's approach to Keystone XL has been to delay a decision until after the next election, then the next. With no more elections left, it's time for the president to look beyond the next election cycle to the next generation and do what's right for America's future." API is the only national trade associa- tion representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry. FrOm Aec: much OF cAPe cOd shut Out FrOm new nAturAl GAs hOOKuP The American Energy Coalition noted it will be at least five years before custom- ers in some Massachusetts communities can switch to natural gas heat, according to an article on Boston.com. National Grid recently announced a five year moratorium on new natu- ral gas hookups in a number of Cape Cod towns, the site reports. New hook- ups are off limits in Brewster, Dennis, Eastham, Harwich, Chatham, and parts of Yarmouth and Barnstable. "The rea- son: National Grid is lowering the pres- sure in a stretch of pipeline after finding that the equipment was not up to snuff," the article states. "We want to resume connecting new customers as soon as possible, but enhanc- ing our infrastructure will definitely be an extensive, multi-year project. To read more about this story and for a link to the original Boston.com story, visit americanenergycoalition.org. lAw PrOPOses bIPArtIsAn, cOmmOn sense sOlutIOn AddressInG the Perc restrIctIOn On Nov. 13, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) and Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced legislation to rein- state the propane industry's ability to use its own resources to educate consumers. The Propane Education and Research Enhancement Act of 2014 amends the Propane Education and Research Act to update the data that must be used to calculate a critical price comparison. Under PERA, the Department of Commerce must calculate annually the price for "consumer grade propane" and compare it with an index of prices of specified competing fuels. If the price of propane exceeds a certain threshold, the industry is restricted from conduct- ing most educational outreach activi- ties. In 2009, due to a misinterpretation of the law by the DOC, the restriction was triggered and all educational out- reach ceased. Richard Roldan, NPGA's president and CEO, explained, "Last winter, dur- ing the hardest winter our nation has faced in more than 25 years, the propane industry could not educate consumers on the steps necessary to prepare their propane-heated homes for the winter. The restriction is senseless and it's harm- ing consumers." www.fueloilnews.com | Fuel OIl news | JAnuAry 2015 3 DATELINE • API: President Obama's Political Gamesmanship over KXL Needs to End • From AEC: Much of Cape Cod Shut Out from New Natural Gas Hook Up • Law Proposes Bipartisan, Common Sense Solution Addressing the PERC Restriction • New Ozone Standards Facing Push Back • From AEC: New Study Claims U.S. Shale Gas Quantities Grossly Exaggerated STATES - pg 10 • From OHCNH: Keeping a Community Warm • From UNYEA: Governor Cuomo Vetoes Propane Container Legislation, Again • Please Help the Michael J. Manning Scholarship Fund • PPA In the News: EIA Reports Heating Oil, Propane Prices Drop More than Natural Gas Electric FUELS/EIA - pg 11 • Open Road Press Releases E-book on Hedging • Crude Oil Prices Down 20% since June • EIA: Short-Term Energy Outlook, Dec. 9, 2014 • EIA: After Hitting a Record Low before Thanksgiving, Midwest Distillate Inventories are Increasing BUSINESS OpErATIONS - pg 20 • EIA: Number of Natural Gas Customers Participating in Customer Choice Programs Is Increasing NPGA Scholarship • Customer Engagement: The Next Step in the Customer Service Evolution • Commercial Insurance Prices Increase 3% in the Third Quarter • Why Employees Leave Their Jobs HVAC/HyDrONICS - pg 26 • AHRI Releases July, August and September 2014 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data • EIA: Solar Photovoltaic Output Depends on Orientation, Tilt and Tracking Featured News DateliNe BREAKING NEWS While the law requires DOC to recalculate the price comparison every six months, it has only been completed three times in the last five years.

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