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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DA T E L INE ucts, has reduced the requirement to ship products up from the Gulf. As a result, more products produced in the Gulf are available for export or delivery to the East Coast. NYSEIA APPLAUDS GOV. CUOMO AND LEGISLATORS ON SOLAR LAWS New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) praised New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his signing of a package of bills aimed at growing the state's solar energy industry. "These new laws are important steps that will continue to move New York toward achieving its solar energy goals under the Governor's NY-Sun program," said NYSEIA President Ron Kamen. "These measures will make it more affordable for residential homeowners and businesses to install solar systems and help our industry remain competitive and vibrant." The association also applauded Senator George Maziarz, Senator Michael Ranzenhofer and Senator Andrew Lanza, as well as Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, Assemblyman Herman Farrell, Jr. and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi for their bipartisan work to get the bills approved. The bills signed by Cuomo help the indus- try by providing tax credits for the lease of solar energy system equipment; providing real property tax abatement for solar generating systems in cities of 1 million or more; and exempting the sale and installation of com- mercial solar energy systems from state sales. Also signed were legislation to create a temporary state commission on alterna- tive energy cost savings for schools in New York State; and developing a renewable energy credit certification and tracking system by the New York state energy research and development authority. THERMOSTAT RECYCLING CORPORATION ANNOUNCES RECOVERY OF NEARLY SIX TONS OF MERCURY DURING PAST DECADE The Thermostat Recycling Corporation (Arlington, Va.) released its 2011/2012 progress report, showing that it has recov- ered nearly six tons of mercury since it began national operations in 2002. TRC, an industry-funded non-profit orga- nization committed to recovering and properly disposing of as many mercury thermostats as possible, has established a successful and voluntary nationwide recycling program despite the fact that the majority of states do not have mercury thermostat disposal bans in place. The 2011 report shows TRC's new assessment tool to track its mercury collec- tion, called the Mercury Recovery Index, so that TRC and others can see a snapshot of the program's performance at national, regional, and state levels. TRC expanded its outreach to HVAC distributors, resulting in the greatest annual increase in thermo- stat collection locations to date. TRC also implemented a highly effective social media campaign to raise awareness of the program among HVAC contractors and consumers, driving significant amounts of traffic to TRC's website during the campaign. The TRC 2011 Progress Report is available at: www.thermostat-recycle.org/media/index. The Thermostat Recycling Program (www.thermostat-recycle.org) is an indus- try-funded non-profit corporation supported by 31 manufacturers who historically branded and sold mercury thermostats in the United States. MIDWESTERN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION URGES AUTOMAKERS TO SUPPORT B20 The Midwestern Governors Association has formally asked every major diesel engine and vehicle manufacturer to support the use of biodiesel blends of at least 20 percent (B20) in all diesel-powered equipment. The Iowa Biodiesel Board praised the move as clearing the road for greater con- sumer access to cleaner burning biodiesel nationwide. The effort was championed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who serves as Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association. CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER Weil-McLain's Training on Hydronics Sept. 19, 8:30 am to 4 pm, Mt. Laurel, NJ RSVP: 856.866.7400 F.W. Webb's Maine State Expo Sept 25, 3-7 pm Call: Nick Pelletier, 207.623.2521 or njp@fwwebb.com OCTOBER PPM/CSA/ESPA Convention & Trade Show October 1-3 Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA www.ppmcsa.org The Granite Group's 2012 CT Trade Show, October 4, 4-8 pm Mystic Marriott, Groton, CT 1-800.258.3690 or www.thegranitegroup.com Women In Energy Summit October 29, 2012 Manchester, NH www.womensenergysummit.com Other reasons for the governors' urging of B20 support outlined in the letter include: More than 13 states, including the MGA states of Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, are encouraging use of higher biodiesel blends from B2–B20 through a variety of state policies. As biodiesel use grows in the marketplace, there are significant advantages to ensuring all diesel vehicles are compat- ible with higher blends. The use of biodiesel blends in today's clean diesel engines provides signifi- cant benefits to the environment, while also reducing our nation's dependence on foreign oil. The federal Renewable Fuels Standard- 2 requires the use of higher levels of advanced biofuels over the next 10 years, and could eventually provide a market for biodiesel as high as 5 bil- lion gallons per year. Biodiesel is the nation's first commercial scale fuel produced across the U.S. to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's definition as an advanced biofuel, and universal acceptance of B20 would help fulfill that RFS-2 requirement. • • • FUEL OIL NEWS (ISSN 0016-2396), Canada Publication Mail Agreement #1588621, is published monthly by Bev-Al Communications, Inc. 1030 W. Higgins Road, Suite 230, Park Ridge, Il 60068. Circulated free of charge to qualified individuals in the oil heating industry in the United States. Additional and/or personal copies are available on a paid subscription basis only. 1-year subscription rates: $28.00 USA. $40.00 Canada and Mexico via service postage. $90.00 other foreign countries via air-mail postage. Single copies: $8.00 U.S. via first-class postage. $12.00 other Canada/Mexico/Foreign via airmail postage. Payable in US currency. Periodicals postage paid at Park Ridge, IL and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2012 by Bev-Al Communications, Inc. Reproduction of any portion or portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written consent. Postmaster: Send address changes to FUEL OIL NEWS, PO Box 4290, Port Jervis, NY 12771. 4 SEPTEMBER 2012 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com