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N O R A U p d at e OMA Aims to Renew NORA The Oilheat Manufacturers Association is also lobbying for tax credits or rebates for customers that buy high-efficiency equipment By Stephen Bennett T he current priorities of the O ilheat M anufacturers ing the efficiency and safety of existing systems. The bill also provides Association (OMA) are passage of legislation to re-authorize funds for oilheat consumer education and employee training. the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) and the "NORA brings tangible benefits to Oilheat consumers," Shaheen establishment of tax credits or rebates for customers who said in a statement. "NORA gives a direct path for responsible, domespurchase high-efficiency equipment, association leaders said. tically-produced and efficient energy consumption. This bill is smart, "Obviously right now our number bipartisan policy that helps consumers, one issue is getting NORA renewed," said American businesses and the environment Bob Hedden, executive director of OMA. and will be a value to the country for many "We're getting there this time around," years to come." Hedden said. Collins said NORA "directly benefits The main challenge is "the do-nothing oilheat consumers in Maine. I support Congress," Hedden observed, but he added, efforts to improve equipment efficiency, "We haven't got any enemies in the Senate increase safety, and conserve fuel, and I or the House. We have a lot of friends that am pleased to be part of the bipartisan are trying to help us move forward. We're effort to renew NORA's authorization and slowly building, we're getting more and strengthen the program." more co-sponsors, and getting more and OMA's effort to establish tax credits or more enthusiasm built up" for reauthorizarebates for the purchase of high efficiency tion. "We're guardedly optimistic. There's equipment, as well as its aims to increase a lot more work to be done, but we're defithe use of ultra-low sulfur fuel and biofuel nitely hoping to get it [re-authorized] in this have become more focused on the states, Congress" – meaning this year or next. Hedden said. The federal law authorizing NORA "I think most of the action and legexpired on February 6, 2010. Since then, islation and regulation has moved to industry advocates and a bipartisan group the states because the states are realizing of supporters in Congress have been workthat the federal government is just totally Roger Marran, president of Energy Kinetics, Lebanon, N.J., vice ing to renew or "reauthorize" NORA. paralyzed at this point," Hedden said, chair of OMA Efforts stalled in the last Congress due "and the only way to get anything done is in large part to objections from thenat the state level." Chairman of the Energy Committee Jeff Environmentalists, natural gas comBingaman (D-N.M.), but Bingaman has panies and the utilities have come to the since retired, and proponents of NORA same realization, Hedden noted, "so we're are "very optimistic" about prospects for very busy at the state level. That's where we reauthorization in the current Congress, spend an awful lot of our time and effort Hedden told OMA members at a meeting – working with the state associations" to back in May. That same month, Senators support oilheat as well as bills that would Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan provide rebates or tax credits on highCollins (R-Me.) introduced new legislation efficiency equipment. (S.913) that would renew NORA through Hedden highlighted Vermont as 2019 and allow the industry to resume a state where noteworthy progress has collection of the two-tenths of a cent per Peter J. Cullen, chief operating officer, Wohler USA, Inc., Danvers, been made. gallon check-off which funds the program, Mass., and chairman of OMA "The oil dealers and the home perforHedden noted. mance contractors are actually starting to The bill also requires NORA to increase investments into research work as partners to upgrade houses instead of working against each and development and sets aside 15 percent of funds to directly assist other," in Vermont, Hedden said. consumers in upgrading to more efficient heating systems or improvOMA works with Efficiency Vermont, an organization that pro- 22 OCTOBER 2013 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com