Page 43 - Oil and Energy-February 2013
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February 2013 • 43
Connecticut
ICPA BECOMES CEMA
The trade association formerly known
as the Independent Connecticut Petroleum
Association has renamed itself the Connecticut
Energy Marketers Association (CEMA). The
association has its website at
com. (CEMA.com was not available.)
The newe-mail address of CEMAPresident
and CEO Gene Guilford is
Other staff e-mails are as follows: Chris Herb:
David Chu: chu@ctema.
com; Phyllis Stickler:
For
the time being, the organization will maintain
the name of its education arm, the ICPA
Technical Education Center or ITEC, with a
web address of
New York
NYSERDA ANNOUNCES ENERGY
EFFICIENCY FINANCING
The New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently
announced that small business owners and
nonprofits that make energy-efficiency
upgrades can receive up to $50,000 in low-in-
terest financing. The money will be repayable
on the company’s monthly utility bills. Small
businesses with 100 employees or fewer and
nonprofits that own their building are eligible
to apply for the financing. The interest rate for
the loan is currently 2.5 percent.
Vermont
VFDA GRAPPLES WITH FUEL TAX PROPOSAL
Matt Cota, Executive Director of the Vermont
Fuel Dealers Association (VFDA), recently shared
this report on the proposed Heat Tax in Vermont,
which would tax heating oil and propane.
More and more Vermonters are sounding
off about the proposed $30 million Heat Tax.
Editorial writers and commentators describe
the idea as a costly burden that is unneces-
sary. In 1970, the average Vermont home con-
sumed 1,531 gallons of heating oil. According
to the Energy Information Administration,
the average per-home consumption in
Vermont dropped 45% by 1990, 52% by 2000
and 61% by 2010. A mature and competitive
marketplace is no match for a costly taxpayer
funded government program when it comes
to delivering efficiency services.
So what is the real reason for an 11-cent
per gallon tax on heating oil and propane?
There is an influential group of Vermonters
that support higher fuel prices by whatever
means necessary as a way to make the fuel
we sell unaffordable, and thus force people to
use less. This political philosophy is written
by those that haven’t had the misfortune of
living from paycheck to paycheck – or the
responsibility of signing the front of one.
Who else wants higher prices for oilheat
and propane?
The renewable fuels lobby and
Gaz Métro, the Canadian energy conglomerate
that owns Vermont Gas Systems and Green
Mountain Power. The utility is aggressively
going after a larger market share by trying to
convert Vermont homes to natural gas and
electric heat pumps. Increasing the cost of
fuel oil and propane gives them a competitive
advantage.
The Heat Tax is a regressive tax.
It hurts
the poor, who will be paying to install solar
panels on the homes of the rich.
The bigger impact may be on Vermont
businesses, who will have to pay an even greater
burden topay for this newgovernment program.
Vermont businesses already pay a Sales Tax,
Gross Receipts Tax, and Petroleum Cleanup
Fee on every gallon of heating fuel. Once you
add a Heat Tax of up to 11-cents a gallon, you
have to ask … why would a business choose to
expand, locate, OR STAY in Vermont if forced
to pay these energy taxes in perpetuity? Simply
put, the Heat Tax is a job killer.
The more than 400,000 Vermonters
that depend on deliverable liquid fuels will
soon learn more about the Heat Tax.
You can help. Here is how:
Contact your local representative and state
senator.
Call, send an email or letter that lets
them know you are opposed to a Heat Tax.
Ask your customers to send one as well.
Let your customers know what is going on.
We have printed bill stuffers and leave
behinds. Contact VFDA, and we will drop
some off at your office
for free
.
Website Link.
VFDA will continue to post
updated information on the proposed tax on
our website at
html. Link this page to your website with the
line “STOP THE VERMONT HEAT TAX”
Speak Out.
Many of you belong to a local
Chamber of Commerce, Rotary group, or
other business organization. Let them know
what is going on. If you prefer, I can attend
the meeting and give the group an update on
this legislation. Just let me know when and
where you meet.
State News
