Page 42 - Oil & Energy - March 2013
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pipeline in 17 central Maine communi-
ties. Colorado-based Summit joins Maine
Natural Gas, which won the PUC’s approval
long ago and has already begun laying
pipeline in the ground in Augusta.
New York
BIODIESEL BOARD HONORS MANISCALCO
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB)
recently honored John Maniscalco, CEO
of the New York Oil Heating Association
(NYOHA), with an Eye on Biodiesel Award
for his efforts in bringing a Bioheat
®
man-
date to New York City and promoting the
alternative liquid fuel. In honoring him at
the recent National Biodiesel Conference
& Expo in Las Vegas, NBB said Maniscalco
provided leadership in securing passage of
the landmark mandate, which took effect in
October 2012, requiring that all heating oil
sold in the city contain at least 2 percent
biodiesel.
The NYOHA CEO continues to work
with NBB to run a Bioheat consumer
education campaign in the city. He is also
working to expand the Bioheat legislation
to cover the entire state of New York, as
well as increase the Bioheat biodiesel blend
of 2 percent to at least 5 percent.
Vermont
VERMONT REPRESENTATIVE
REJOINS ENERGY COMMITTEE
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch
recently rejoined the U.S. House of
Representatives’ Committee on Energy and
Commerce, a powerful panel with jurisdic-
tion over federal energy, health care, and
telecommunication policy. During a recent
tour of his home state, Welch highlighted
energy efficiency as one of the priorities
he will pursue during the 113th Congress.
“Energy efficiency is an issue that can
cut through the contentious debate in
Washington on energy policy and climate
change. We should all be able to agree that
using less energy is a good thing. So let’s start
there in this new Congress and build con-
sensus around energy efficiency which we
know will save money, put people to work,
and reduce harmful carbon emissions.”
Welch said he would introduce legisla-
tion to provide a rebate of up to $8,000
to homeowners who retrofit their homes
to make them more energy efficient. The
rebates will be scaled to provide greater
savings for those who save more energy.
A similar Welch-authored bill was passed
by the House in 2010 with bipartisan sup-
port. Welch is working on the legislation
with Rep. David McKinley (R-WV). He is
also working on legislation to increase a
tax deduction that encourages commercial
building owners to reduce energy con-
sumption and to increase the use of Energy
Saving Performance Contract (ESPCs) that
allow the federal government to partner
with the private sector to undertake energy
efficiency upgrades that save energy at no
cost to taxpayers.
VERMONT AVOIDS HEAT TAX
A plan to impose a hefty tax on heating
fuels has been defeated, at least temporarily,
according to the Vermont Fuel Dealers
Association (VFDA). The state’s Thermal
Efficiency Task Force had recommended the
state impose a carbon tax or a BTU tax on
heating oil and propane or impose the state
sales tax on heating fuels. The rate could
have been as high as 20 cents per gallon. The
taxes were intended to raise $276 million over
the next seven years in an effort to convince
more Vermonters to use less heating fuel.
In his recent annual budget address,
Gov. Peter Shumlin embraced the goals of
the Thermal Efficiency Program but not
the tax. The Governor instead proposed a
tax on instant lottery tickets sold in bars
and social clubs. The Governor intends to
use the anticipated $17 million in revenue
to fund the Thermal Efficiency Program
($6million), the Clean Energy Development
Fund ($5 million), and to supplement fuel
assistance ($6 million). VFDA campaigned
vigorously against the tax and has warned
members that the tax proposal could be
reintroduced later this year.
GAS TAX MULLED TO
SAVE HIGHWAY FUNDING
With gas tax revenue reduced by
improved vehicle fuel efficiency, the state is
lacking matching funds for road and bridge
repairs and could be forced to send back
more than $40 million in federal highway
money, according to VFDA. Gov. Shumlin
is considering lowering the excise tax on
gasoline from 19 cents to 14.3 cents while
adding a 4 percent assessment on the retail
price – adding about 8 cents per gallon to
the price at the pump.
State News
