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The Connecticut Energy Marketers
Association (CEMA) is asking members to
reach out to local officials and advocate for
new local ordinances requiring utilities to
perform more paving work after installing
new natural gas lines.
Some Connecticut municipalities have
“curb to curb paving” or “architectural
integrity” ordinances that place restrictions
on roadway excavations that can discourage
gas conversions. NBC Connecticut recently
reported on a homeowner in Southington,
Conn., whose conversion was nearly halted
because her street was freshly paved. The
utility eventually connected the home to
the gas main but had to repave the street
from curb to curb for 100 feet.
CEMA has prepared a sample paving
ordinance for members to use with their
local town officials and is working with
members on how to approach their local
officials. “Our goal is to introduce this ordi-
nance in all 169 municipalities, but we need
your help,” CEMA President Chris Herb
wrote to members.
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gbac Inc., which operates the CEMA
Health & Employee Benefits Marketplace
for the Connecticut Energy Marketers
Association, recently chose bswift, a leader
in software and services for employee
benefits administration, to provide the
exchange technology platform for the
private marketplace. The marketplace is
designed to manage costs for employers
and offer competitive benefit options for
employees by leveraging the robust tech-
nology bswift has developed over the last
13 years, including the following functions
and capabilities:
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employers and employees
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enrollment for employees
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dashboards, and alerts
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files and transmissions to carriers and
payroll
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billing
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A bill to mandate Bioheat
®
at a 3 percent
blend ratio is making its way through the
New Jersey Legislature, according to the
Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey.
Both the State Senate and the State Assem-
bly’s Telecommunications and Utilities
Committee have approved the bill. With
approval by the full Assembly, New Jersey
dealers would be required to deliver Bioheat
as of July 1 of this year.
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New York City recently expanded its
commitment to heating with renewable
energy by requiring all City-owned build-
ings that heat with oil to use a blended
fuel containing at least 5 percent biodiesel.
Pictured at last month’s bill signing at New
York City Hall are: City Councilman James
F. Gennaro; Scott Hedderich, Director of
Corporate Affairs, REG Inc.; New York
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; and Danny
Falcone, REG Northeast Sales Manager.
City buildings were previously required to
use a blend of B2 or greater.
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Fuel dealers and energy efficiency
contractors are working together to help
Vermonters save money. The Efficiency
Excellence Network (EEN) is a new
partnership between Efficiency Vermont
and the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association
(VFDA). The EEN is designed to make it
easier for Vermonters to reduce consump-
tion of heating oil and propane.
Vermont Deputy Public Service Com-
missioner Darren Springer recently joined
representatives of both organizations at
a home in Shelburne, Vt., along with fuel
dealers and energy efficiency contractors,
to mark the official launch of the ground-
breaking partnership. So far, nearly a dozen
fuel dealers across Vermont have signed on
to participate in the EEN.
“Fuel dealers have a longstanding rela-
tionship with their customers and can help
identify opportunities to save,” said Matt
Cota, Executive Director of VFDA. “The
Efficiency Excellence Network provides
the customer with a whole home approach,
focusing on improving both the building
shell and the heating equipment.”
“The Department appreciates and sup-
ports this innovative partnership between
fuel dealers and Efficiency Vermont, which
recognizes the value of energy efficiency
for fuel dealers and their customers,” said
Springer. “Energy efficiency investments
save consumers money on their fuel bills,
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and keep
Vermont dollars in the local economy. We
will look to build on this effort in order to
reach Vermont’s statutory goal of improving
efficiency in 80,000 homes by 2020.”
All EEN fuel dealers receive training in
home efficiency, which will enable them to
conduct home energy checkups and provide
advice to customers looking for ways to
reduce their heating bills. Additionally, full
service fuel dealers collaborate with energy
efficiency contractors, who are qualified to
provide more in-depth guidance on energy
usage, and complete comprehensive home
energy projects.
