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4 SEPTEMBER 2016 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com DATELINE BREAKING NEWS API: LEGISLATION TARGETING OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IS MISGUIDED Legislation introduced by Democratic senators that would increase liability for oil and natural gas companies is "unnec- essary and out of step" with voters' energy priorities, American Petroleum Institute Executive Vice President Louis Finkel said. "Congress should be focused on strengthening the U.S. energy resur- gence, which has lowered consumer costs, boosted manufacturing and enhanced national security," Finkel said in a state- ment. "This legislation is just the latest evidence that a handful of policymakers are out of step with consumers, who over- whelmingly support increasing domestic oil and natural gas production. "The oil and natural gas industry has worked closely with regulators to make off- shore energy exploration safer than ever," Finkel said. "Existing laws have been effec- tive for funding recovery in the rare event of an accident." API is a trade association representing the oil and natural gas industry. NBB SUPPORTS SENATE BIODIESEL TAX LEGISLATION "Biodiesel and renewable diesel producers around the country are yet again facing what effectively amounts to a tax increase in less than six months," National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel said, calling for support of legislation introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., to extend the biodiesel tax incentive through 2019 and reform it as a domestic production credit. Steckel said in a statement that the bill "will give producers the certainty they need to hire and grow in the coming years. It will continue our success in diversifying the diesel market and reducing our depen- dence on petroleum. And it will help clean the air by cutting carbon emissions and other pollution. "It also will appropriately reform this incentive by applying it only to domestic biodiesel production, ending a growing practice where foreign producers are tak- ing advantage of our tax system," Steckel said. "Our tax law should not be incen- tivizing foreign fuel, and this bill fixes that loophole so that we're stimulating jobs and economic development here at home." The bill mirrors House legislation (H.R. 5240) introduced by Reps. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., Steckel said. The $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax incen- tive was reinstated in late 2015 and is slated to expire again on Dec. 31, 2016. MAKERS OF CLEANING PRODUCTS OPPOSE USE OF ANIMAL FATS IN RFS PROGRAM The American Cleaning Institute urged the EPA to eliminate or minimize the use of ani- mal fats under its Renewable Fuel Standard program, as it threatens a key raw material used in the cleaning products industry. Animal fats are a key ingredient used by oleochemical producers, which help supply the production of soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, hard surface cleaners, dish detergents, and personal care products, as well as many other every- day consumer and industrial products. "ACI remains concerned with the RFS's serious and significant impact on ACI member companies' ability to source animal fats for use as an oleochemical feedstock," said ACI in written com- ments on EPA's proposed rule for 2017 RFS standards. "The proposed volumes would continue to divert large quantities of a finite inelastic supply of animal fats to the biofuels market, thereby critically disadvantaging the domestic oleochemi- cal industry." "EPA has a responsibility, if not duty, to equally protect all industries that rely on animal fats to produce goods. Agency mandates should not choose winners and losers," wrote Jacob Cassady, ACI associate director, government affairs. Among the key points raised by ACI: The price of animal fats has increased 95 % since 2006 under the combined poli- cies of the RFS and tax incentives for biofuels. Biofuel production consumes a sig- nificant amount of the total supply of animal fats and current policies threaten not only the price but the availability of animal fats for oleochemical production. Switching to foreign-sourced palm oil by the oleochemical industry threatens 25,000 U.S. jobs. l F O N CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER, 2016 Southern New England Energy Conference September 12-13 Hyatt Regency Newport Newport, R.I. Contact: David Chu Tel. 860-613-2041 Email: chu@cema.com Oil Heat Council of New Hampshire 51st Annual Convention September 13, 2016 Red Hook Brewery Portsmouth, NH Phone: 603-415-8330 Website: www.nhoilheat.com AltWheels Fleet Day September 19, 2016 Four Points by Sheraton Norwood 1125 Boston Providence Turnpike Norwood, MA Tel: 508-698-6810 Fax: 508-698-6811 Email: meg@Classic-Communications.com Website: www.Classic-Communications.com PPA 2016 Fall Energy Conference and Annual Meeting September 27-29 Nittany Lion Inn State College, PA Tel: 717-939-1781 Website: www.ppmcsa.org