Recent News
admin March 04, 2024
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued an alert for motor carriers to be wary of phishing scams....
admin January 09, 2024
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that its random testing rates for drug and alcohol tests will remain unchanged for 2024. Throughout the year, motor carriers must test 50% of their CDL drivers in their random testing pool for use of controlled substances and test 10% of their CDL drivers in their random testing pool for illegal alcohol use....
admin December 19, 2023
The Unified Carrier Registration Board of Directors has issued a reminder that motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and truck leasing companies must register and pay their UCR fees by January 1, 2024, for the 2024 registration year. Roadside inspections of UCR registration will begin as of the first of the year....
admin December 19, 2023
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its long-awaited update to the tax form that will be used by homeowners to claim residential energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)....
admin October 17, 2023
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule that limits the duration and the scope of regulatory relief provided in emergency declarations under 49 CFR §390.23....
admin October 12, 2023
NEFI has learned that some states are proposing to require that the existing heating system be removed - or otherwise made inoperable – in order for a home to qualify for an IRA heat pump rebate....
admin October 12, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency has released its Climate Enforcement and Compliance Strategy to address climate change via increased enforcement activities. This means that the agency's enforcement office will (1) prioritize enforcement and compliance actions to mitigate climate change; (2) include climate adaptation and resilience in case conclusions whenever appropriate; and (3) provide technical assistance to achieve climate-related solutions and build climate change capacity among EPA staff and our state and local partners....
admin October 12, 2023
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced the most restrictive offshore oil and gas leasing plan ever last week. It proposes only three lease sales through 2029, the bare minimum under federal law. This sparked pointed criticism from the energy sector and members of Congress, including from within the President's own party. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Chair Joe Manchin said "it makes no sense at all to actively be limiting our energy production while our adversaries are weaponizing energy around the world." He called it a "failure of leadership" and promised "to do everything in my power to hold this Administration accountable."...
admin October 12, 2023
Governors from 25 states have collectively pledged to install at least 20 million heat pumps by 2030, with the aim of "ensuring at least 40% of benefits flow to disadvantaged communities." If carried out, the pledge would effectively quadruple the number of heat pumps in use throughout constituent states....
admin October 12, 2023
The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a notice that it is adopting the Department of Energy's categorical exclusion of electric vehicle charging stations under the National Environmental Policy Act to use in DOT programs and funding opportunities administered by DOT. This means that a project involving EV charging stations will not be subject to an environmental impact statement, an environmental assessment, or other environmental review under NEPA....
admin October 12, 2023
Last week, NEFI attended two important hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives on home energy and consumer choice. These hearings were held as the Biden Administration is advancing numerous policies through several agencies that aim to restrict access to non-electric home appliances, including furnaces and boilers....
admin October 12, 2023
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Sets Forth Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements for Federal Tax Deductions for Commercial Building Efficiency Improvements and Certain Other IRA Tax Incentives...
admin October 12, 2023
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has published guidance for contractors and homeowners with respect to the new federal tax credit for a qualified home energy audit. The amount of the credit is 30% of the cost of the audit, up to a maximum of $150. This new credit is part of a broader list of home efficiency tax credits offered under Section 25C of the Internal Revenue Code, as modified by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022....
admin October 12, 2023
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions on the agency's hazardous materials incident reporting regulations in 49 CFR §171.15 and §171.16....
admin October 12, 2023
NEFI's Jim Collura was recently asked to join a panel of industry regulator experts for a pre-meeting event at the 2023 Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) legislative conference....