Advocacy, Leadership & Education for Maine’s Energy Marketers
Fuel Your www.maineenergymarketers.com LOVE 1 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 Page 16 2 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 Contents spring 2020 • volume 3 issue 1 MEMA Member Info 5 MEMA Team Members & Officers of the Board 14 6 Police, Fire, & the Oil Man Who you gonna call? 7 MEMA staff message Thank you everyone 8 MEMA Committees & Trusts Join a committee 11 The Future is Now Maine Standard Biofuels 13 Favorite moments of 2019 6 An eventful year for MEMA 14 Eastern Propane & Oil Good deeds done 16 Fuel Your Love 22 5th Annual event huge success 20 Certified Employee Training MTEC’s new training program 21 Tech Corner Proper tank setting 22 The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly Three sides of the Transportation Initiative 28 16 24 Insurance Corner A health insurance check-up MEMA MAG is a quarterly magazine designed to engage and communicate with members with useful, timely, and member related content. MEMA MAG 26 New Members will be published four times each year by MARS Marketing LLC. Welcome to the family Do you have a suggestion for MEMA MAG? Would you like to ADVERTISE OR SUBSCRIBE? Contact Hannah Estes, Business Manager at MEMA. Email 28 Q&A with Charlie Burnham her at [email protected] or call 207-729-5298. The state of the industry Copyright ©2020 MARS Marketing LLC & Maine Energy Marketers Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, 30 MTEC 2020 Class Schedule electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval Top-notch classes for the HVAC industry system, without permission, in writing, from the publisher. Printed in Lewiston, ME, USA.
www.maineenergymarketers.com 3 4 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 Our Team
Jamie Py Hannah Estes Sarah Nadeau Robin Manson Matt Morrison Bryan Champagne Dan Weber Jennifer Grace President & CEO Business Manager Administrative Insurance Vice President MTEC Senior MTEC Instructor Director of Marketing & Assistant Administrator Instructor Communication
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike McCormack Charlie Burnham Claudette Townsend Downeast Energy Burnham Energy Dead River Company Chairman of the Board Vice Chair Treasurer
Executive Board Mark St. Germain ~ St. Germain Tom Schwarm ~ Gould Technologies Rob Cort ~ Maine Energy Inc. Robert Luce ~ Valley Gas & Oil Company William Beck ~ Gulf Oil, LP Michael McCormack ~ Downeast Energy Saunya Urban ~ H.A. Mapes Inc. - Alt Claudette Townsend ~ Dead River Company Tim Heutz ~ Heutz Commercial Enterprise Marc LaCasse ~ Augusta Fuel Company Association Board Carrie Tomforde ~ Irving Oil Jamie Robinson ~ A.E. Robinson Oil Co. Katrina Waite ~ C.N. Brown Co., Inc. Steve Flewelling ~ Irving Oil - Alt David Babcock ~ Adams & Fogg Oil Equip. Charlie Burnham ~ Charlie Burnham Energy Jim Carroll ~ J.P. Carroll Fuel Co. Robert Shibley ~ Bob’s Cash Fuel LLC Matt Poole ~ Colby & Gale Steve Ness ~ Ness Oil Company Peter Buotte ~ Community Energy Company Roger Arsenault ~ Community Energy Robert Tracy ~ R.H. Foster Energy, LLC Carter Vaillancourt ~ Daigle Oil Company Michael Estes ~ Estes Oil & Propane Jeff Murdy ~ Renewable Energy Group Deanna Sherman ~ Dead River Max Marston ~ Fabian Oil Elwin Scott ~ Simard & Sons, Inc. Greg Krise ~ Eastern Propane & Oil, Inc. Jonathan Mapes ~ H.A. Mapes Inc. Marc Dorsey ~ Sprague Energy Jim Pike ~ Energy Kinetics Charlie Page ~ Maritime Energy Michael Tammaro ~ V.L. Tammaro Oil Co. Judy Delaney ~ Global Petroleum Corp Mark Gagnon ~ P. Gagnon & Sons Inc.
Get Your Business Noticed! ADVERTISE IN MEMA MAG v Be part of the industry’s leading authority on today’s energy market
v Directly mailed to ALL members quarterly
v State-of-the-art training facility for current employees and future employees Join us Today! FMI: Contact Jennifer Grace at 207-729-5298 or email: [email protected]
www.maineenergymarketers.com 5 POLICE, FIRE, & THE OIL MAN By Barry Aruda
he question, “Who you gonna call?” was popularized in the that they’ve lost their heat and have an added expense, and the dealer 1980’s with the success of the Ghostbusters movie franchise. isn’t thrilled they’ve got to play the liability game with someone on the TEach of us were told to make the call if there was “something road. Never mind the technician that needs to get out of bed and into a strange in the neighborhood,” and Drs. Spengler, Stantz, and Venkman cold truck with his tools. would show up minutes later, all in the name of busting ghouls. Service on demand, just the way we like it. The advice I typically provide dealers begins with a question: What if I could minimize that pain for you? Of course, they answer, “I’d love it.” Fortunately for us, things like spirits and specters aren’t a reality. What is reality, however, is that emergencies can strike at any moment, in any For more than two-decades, Advanced Fuel Solutions has had the of our lives. When issues arise in the middle of the night or on week- privilege and unique experience of assisting fuel dealers 24/7 with fuel ends, there really are only three groups of dedicated people that we can quality and storage related issues that precede those anxiety riddled no- source: Police, Fire, and the local heating oil dealer. heat service calls. Our market-leading fuel conditioner for heating oil is a non-stop workhorse that protects fuel and keeps it fresh—stabilizing Really! Think about it. Who else is going to trek out in the freezing today’s ULSHO/biodiesel blends and the highly anticipated higher twilight to help the homeowner? The police will thwart an attempted blends of tomorrow. burglary. The fire department will respond to a blaze. And the oil man will come when you call, providing you with heat when you’ve run out, “It’s preemptive maintenance,” one of my customers told me. “It’s peace or when the burner won’t kick on. That’s it. No electricians or plumbers of mind, knowing I’m ensuring customer satisfaction, while improving need apply! work/life balance for my technicians.”
Do me a favor, next time you meet one of your association members That’s what makes my day. One, we’re helping to protect the integrity of check on technician availability. I believe you will see a pattern. What the fuel we service. Better fuel makes for happier customers, and happier I notice is job openings are at a premium. Could be a signal of company customers are more likely to use today’s better, safer and cleaner fuel as growth but could also be a red flag. Talking to dealers all the time, I hear a heating source for years to come. Second, we are protecting the health it. The industry is speaking—complaining about the same thing—from and safety of the technicians that dealers lean upon to get the job done. New England to the Mid-Atlantic and everywhere in between! The less they are dispatched in terrible weather or the dark of night, the greater the impact on potential OSHA mishaps. We can all agree that heating oil dealers are an integral part of our communities—someone our families can rely on—but we also agree Technicians can’t be there all the time to fight against issues like mois- that fewer and fewer men and women are going into the business of ture and bacterial contamination in tanks. But preventative mainte- becoming technicians. Trade school attendance may be up over the last nance and proper storage protocols can, and will work. half-decade, but the fact is fact. The job market is hungry for able-bod- ied people to service oil burner equipment. It’s a battle that many Think about what goes into your fuel. If the answer is “nothing,” it dealers are fighting. Good help is hard to find. might be time to think about preventative maintenance strategies and a stabilization package. The ghostly job market is affecting us all, you’re QUESTION: How does a fuel dealer comple- not alone. Together we can shore up your fuel quality defenses! ment the technical skills offered the customer? Are you ready to believe?
As fuel quality professionals, the Advanced Fuel Solutions (AFS) team Barry Aruda is the Northeast Regional Manager for Advanced Fuel Solu- offers our expertise to those dealers in a handful of ways, including stor- tions. As an admitted “fuel quality fanatic,” he spends a great deal of his age and tank housekeeping protocols, fuel enhancement programs and, full-time job testing fuel for analysis, recommending preventative defensive bankable field proven marketing strategies. Sure, if I know someone is strategies, and working with dealers to overcome the challenges of housekeep- looking for a rewarding and secure job, I’ll send them your way, but more ing and changing technology. often, I have to try and help my customers overcome the challenges of, first, finding someone qualified, and willing to go out in the middle of the night on overtime pay.
Most recently I received a call from a customer who lost a technician because the overtime pay didn’t balance with the intrusion of lost family time. And on the other side of the equation, the customer isn’t happy
6 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 MEMA Staff Message
Message From the Staff: effort to keep MEMA strong into the future. Before you delve into the first issue of 2020, a big thank you to certain individuals who stepped in to help create unique content for Lastly, as you know this edition of the MEMA Mag. Thank you to Sean from NEFI for we love the MEMA writing a featured article for us about the TCI Tax. This is a topic Mag and we hope that is important to many of our members right now and we felt that it offers valuable strongly that it needed to be addressed. Thank you to all the com- and unique content panies who put in their time and dollars to help make FUEL YOUR to make it worth LOVE a huge success. Lastly, to Advanced Fuel Solutions and the investment. We Maine Standard Biofuels for contributing articles as well as Eastern would love to have Propane & Oil for taking the time to participate in our community your feedback on this engagement piece for this issue. edition and what you would like to see in future editions too. Visit - MaineEnergyMarketers.com/MyMag Since technically this is the FUEL YOUR LOVE issue, we think it’s quite appropriate to say how much we heart our membership. The MEMA Staff What’s unique about MEMA is that our association truly would not be what it is without all of you who take the time, dollars, and
www.maineenergymarketers.com 7 Every member of MEMA is eligible to sit on one or more of the Association’s Committees. All of MEMA’s operations are based on the “one compa- ny, one vote” principle. Each & every member company counts as each has one single vote. The largest member has one vote – the smallest member has one vote. We believe every company’s opinion is important and is weighed equally. Whether your opinion is brought to the table and voiced, however, is up to YOU!
OUR 2020 COMMITTEES & TRUSTS
Advertising Committee Membership Committee This committee is responsible for advising and assisting MEMA staff with This committee is responsible for establishing policies that will grow the advertising and communication campaigns and management of federally organization by attracting new members and retaining existing members provided NORA advertising funding. through clear focus on ensuring and delivering superior value to members.
Chair: Claudette Townsend, Dead River Company Chair: Mark St. Germain, St. Germain
Convenience Retailing & Transportation Education Committee This Committee is responsible for setting association policy on motor fuel This committee is responsible for establishing policies, providing advice, and convenience store issues. and aiding staff that guides planning and oversight of technical training and management level seminars for MTEC and the association. Chair: Katrina Waite, C.N. Brown Chair: Roger Arsenault, Community Energy
Governance Committee Heating Fuels Committee This committee is responsible for creating a model organization within the This Committee is responsible for setting association policy on heating fuels boundaries of its founding and operating documents (By-laws and policies) issues including: Propane, Heating Oil, and Liquid Biofuels. for the purposes outlined in these documents and for the full potential of board members. Chair: Charlie Page, Maritime Energy
Health Trust Workers’ Comp Trusts This trust is responsible for the planning and management of the Self-In- This trust is responsible for the planning and management of the Self-In- sured MEMA group health, life, dental & vision insurance programs. sured Workers Compensation Trust.
Chair: Tim Freeman, Daigle Oil Co. Chair: David Thompson, Waldo-Thompson Brothers
Convention Committee Golf Committee This committee assists the MEMA and EMANH staff in the planning and This committee is responsible for the planning, fundraising, and execution execution of the Annual Northern New England Energy Conference. of the Association’s annual golf events.
Chair: Jeff Murdy, Renewable Energy Group
8 MEMA MAGMAG || SpringSpring 2020 2020 A Cold Weather Solution Compatible In Any Winter Application what is cold flow? what is cLOUD POINT? All liquid fuels — including both petroleum Cloud Point is the temperature at which diesel and biodiesel — must be managed to small solid crystals are first observed as a ensure proper cold weather performance. fuel is cooled. Once these crystals become The temperatures at which issues occur are large enough, they can cause temporary represented in terms of “Cold Flow” issues in storage tanks and engines. properties, such as “Cloud Point.”
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about biodiesel’s cold flow properties, DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE! specifically the cloud point of different blend levels. Here are some cold, hard facts…
B5 = 2.3˚F B20 = 3˚-10˚F B5 A fuel containing 5% biodiesel B20 A fuel containing 20% (or B5) has a cloud point just biodiesel (or B20) has a cloud 2.3º higher than that of 100% point 3º-10º higher than that petroleum diesel. of 100% petroleum diesel.
BIODIESEL “TREATMENTS” NYC USES B20 YEAR-ROUND HELP ENSURE PERFORMANCE New York City requires city vehicles to use B20 biodiesel from April Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel through November, and B5 from blends are treated with additives December through March. Biodiesel during the winter to enhance their has performed so successfully that many agencies use B20 all cold weather capabilities and year long. Even NYC snowplows run on B20 in the winter! In fact, prevent performance issues. NYC vehicles used more than 2 million gallons of B20 during the winters of 2017 and 2018 without any cold weather issues.
what is ? B20 BIOHEAT IS 100% WINTER COMPATIBLE Biodiesel isn't just for vehicles. It is also Field surveys from heating oil dealers and industry blended with home heating oil to create leaders report that Bioheat blends up to B20 perform as Bioheat®. Bioheat is the economical, expected in heating systems, with no biodiesel related environmentally sustainable choice for technical difficulties and no need for equipment millions of homeowners in the Northeast, modifications. Furthermore, according to that survey, one of our nation's coldest regions. more than 35,000 homes in the Northeast use B10-B40, and nearly 400 use B80-B100.
Sources: Cold Flow Properties of Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blends—A Review of Data, Kenneth Bickel, University of Minnesota Center for Diesel Research, December 3, 2004 | DCAS: Use of Winter Biodiesel in City Fleet Trucks, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, ABOUT BIODIESEL AND BIOHEAT September 4, 2018 | B20 to B100 Blends as Heating Fuels, Dr. Thomas A. Butcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory, November, 2018.
Today’s solution for heavy-duty Made from plant-based oils, used Can be used in any oil Commercially trucking, emergency vehicles, bus cooking oils, and animal fats Clean-burning equipment without modification available nationwide fleets, and farm equipment
nbb.org 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW | Suite 505 605 Clark Avenue | PO Box 104898 biodiesel.org Washington, DC 20004 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4898 mybioheat.com DC 888-246-3437 MO 800-841-5849
www.maineenergymarketers.com 9 Specializing in Tank Truck & Trailer Sales, General Repairs, Parts, WaterJet Cutting, and Fabrication
W.B. Hill, Inc. 305 Shaker Rd, East Longmeadow, MA 01028 413-525-6665 • www.wbhill.com
10 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 THE FUTURE IS NOW By Jason Versey Director of Fuel Sales and Acquisitions, Maine Standard Biofuels
ince its humble inception in 2006, Maine Standard Biofuels has been single minded in its vision and purpose. With our founder’s Sleadership we’ve been driven by the foresight, resolve and passion- ate belief that producing biodiesel, bioheat and other biobased products produced through the process of recycling and refining used cooking oil would, one day, be a major contributing factor in reducing Maine’s future greenhouse gases and carbon footprint. For the last 13 years, Maine Standard Biofuels has been steadfast in its conscious environ- mental position as well as tireless in its physical production of biobased fuels and products. This unwavering focus has strategically positioned us as a viable industry leader for Maine’s ever growing clean, reliable and renewable energy needs.
As many MEMA members know, back in November 2019, over 45 industry leaders from across the Northeast gathered for a two-day meeting in Boston to discuss the historic “Providence Resolution” that was passed earlier in September that focused on consciously reducing industry greenhouse gas emissions. What came out of the resolution was a commitment by the Northeast heating oil industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2023, 40% by 2030, and to achieve “net-zero” emissions by 2050. This resolution was overwhelmingly supported by the Northeast Association executives and chairs, major fuel whole- saler representatives and biofuel producers, along with other industry stakeholders who attended this important meeting. Furthermore, it was a monumental consensus of the major energy players in the Northeast that conveyed their solidarity on the importance of biobased energy and the positive environmental role it will play in New England’s future goals to be carbon neutral, utiliz- ing recycled renewable fuels.
“Biodiesel is the one thing that can put heating oil on par with natural gas here in Maine. Maine, as a state, is quite dependent on oil but using just a B20 blend will reduce the emissions to that of natural gas. Just imagine what amazing reduction benefits we could reap by using B30, B40 or even B50 blends that are already being successfully marketed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.” —Jarmin Kaltsas, Found- er & President, Maine Standard Biofuels.
Maine Standard Biofuels produces clean renewable Biodiesel for heating homes as a drop-in replacement fuel, meaning no conversions are necessary. It is safe to use in furnaces or boilers and offers less sulfur content than traditional home heating oil, which means less maintenance and cleaner burning.
Maine Standard Biofuels is the only used cooking oil biorefinery in the state of Maine. We are the only company in Maine that collects, refines and creates clean, renewable fuels, for heating Maine homes, fueling Maine vehicles and boats and producing 100% biodegradable Wicked Strong cleaning products to be utilized, right here, in our great state of Maine; all while reducing greenhouse gases and contributing to Maine’s economy. Whatever Maine’s future renewable energy needs might be, Maine Standard Biofuels is ready to be a part of it, today. The future is now.
www.maineenergymarketers.com 11 JUNE 14-16, 2020 Northern New England Omni Mount Washington ENERGY CONFERENCE Resort - Bretton Woods New Hampshire
Register at nneenergyconference.com
12 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 Favorite Moments of 2019 2019 was an eventful year for MEMA! Although it would take up this entire magazine to share everything we did, here are a few of our favorite moments. Here’s to a successful 2019 and to making 2020 even better!
Fuel Your Love - February Carbon Tax Hearing- Jamie 1 14th 6 interviews with multiple Matt Morrison hosts “Fuel news stations at the Carbon Your Love”. This photo was Tax Hearing. A big day for taken right after he revealed the entire industry. why we were there with a film crew. One of the most heartfelt moments of the year.
Propane Summit - The In the Lab – MTEC Instruc- 2 Lewiston Fire Department 7 tor Dan Weber shows his Oil demonstrates and practices students how to “properly” their routine when extin- light the firebox. guishing a propane fire.
Northern New England MEMA Goes North – 3 Energy Conference – Mike 8 MEMA visits the Dover McCormack addresses the Foxcroft YMCA to do a com- room after being announced munity engagement piece on as the new MEMA Chair- AE Robinson for the MEMA man of the Board at the MAG. Northern New England Energy Conference.
J. Garrie Murray Golf – Golf MTEC Participates in the 4 carts lined up and ready to 9 Hire a Vet Job Fair – This GO at MTEC’s annual fund- has got to be one of the most raising event last August. well attended job fairs in the State. Look at all the people!
Legislative Holiday Open Oxford Plains Speedway – 5 House - Senator Chris Kes- 10 Military Talent Source grills sler sings “Blue Moon” with burgers and dogs at the Married with Chitlins. Oxford Plains Speedway with the MTEC Grill Truck.
www.maineenergymarketers.com 13 Eastern Propane & Oil Growing in Maine and Bringing Their Good Deeds with Them!
s of last summer, Eastern Propane & Oil officially moved an of- “It’s nice to work for a company that cares so much about their commu- fice into Maine. Springvale, to be exact, and they brought their nity. Eastern is good.” Agood deeds with them. If you follow Eastern Propane & Oil on social media, then you know how active they are. They are out and Every year around the holidays, Eastern Propane & Oil runs a fun about attending events and serving the community at large and they’re internal campaign called “The Twelve Days of Giving.” The employ- having a great time doing it. ees are the ones fueling this campaign and nominate a customer they have come to know and want to do something special for. For each of Nestled comfortably (and proudly) in Springvale’s favorite pizza shop’s the twelve days leading up to December 25th, a nominated customer former building, Eastern’s new branch has already become great neigh- gets a nice holiday themed gift. One of these gifts happened to be 100 bors to their community. gallons of heating oil, explains Customer Service Rep Cheryl Seavy. “You can nominate anyone for the gift,” she says. “There was this elderly After following Eastern on social media, MEMA decided to take a little gentleman who came in. He was a little confused and asking about fuel visit to the Springvale office and talk to some of the staff about their assistance. He was a retired vet, too. My father was 23 years navy, so it community involvement. “Since 1932, Eastern Propane and Oil has was kind of close to me. I nominated him.” been committed to giving back to the communities we serve,” explains Josh Anderson, VP of Marketing & Business Development at Eastern When the driver went to deliver the oil, they discovered that there was Propane & Oil. “We are proud of the team at Eastern for supporting a problem with his tank and the oil could not be delivered. So, Cheryl their local communities while also continuing the Eastern mission of took this gift one step further and got together with Community Action being reliable, responsive, safe, and convenient for all of our customers.” to get the tank fixed and the delivery completed. She said it felt really good being able to give back to him with the support of the company. As an example of giving back to their community, Customer Service Rep Cathy Follen tells us about a project she headed at Another While we were there, it seemed like everyone at the Springvale office Chance Rescue. According to Cathy, Another Chance Rescue works had a story to tell. Like Amy Goodwin who created an advent calendar with the humane society and takes in cats that are abandoned and helps during the month of November to take donations for the food pantry as them find homes—a bigger problem in Maine than you might realize. a Thanksgiving donation. According to Amy, “By the week of Thanks- According to a 2018 study released by the Maine State Department of giving they had a lot of food, not just for Thanksgiving, but for every Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the amount of stray and aban- day, too. I am so proud to be a part of this team.” doned cats is well over 15,000 per year. Eastern likes to give back to the community and they like to be a part of With the company backing her up, Cathy and her co-workers worked to the community. It’s not just about the company serving the community, collect donations. The donations consisted of food, toys, kitty litter, and with them it’s about people serving people and that’s what makes them more. Helping an animal find a home is special, and as a non-profit, An- so unique. It’s also what makes what they do so special. We definitely other Chance Rescue needs all the help they can get, Cathy explains. love their feel-good image and can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2020.
14 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 www.maineenergymarketers.com 15 ♥ FUELING tHE LOVE ♥ Fuel Your Love Makes a HUGE Statement in Celebration of Year #5!
FUEL Dealers throughout the State of Maine have always been there to For our ride along this year, MEMA staff hit the road with Augusta Fuel support their customers. You don’t read about people freezing to death Company and Blake Hayes from Coast 93.1. As you can tell from the in their apartments even though it gets below freezing here in Maine. photos, it was a meaningful day filled with much love. If you want to That’s because our members are out servicing the community every see the movie, you can find it at maineenergyfacts.com or any of the single day. MEMA sites. After we released our promo video on Valentine’s Day in 2019, we had Thank you again to all who participated for making this day a huge customers commenting on how hard-working and accommodating their success. Stay tuned to maineenergymarketers.com/news for more drivers and technicians are. Songs of praise were communicated that detailed information about the campaigns, the outreach and the day at how in-tune fuel dealers are with their customer base. It is almost success of FUEL YOUR LOVE 2020! always the drivers who choose the customers that will receive a delivery for Fuel Your Love. It means a lot to us at Maine Energy Marketers As- sociation to show the community how much we care about them. For us this is as much a way to show the drivers and technicians of our member companies how important their role is in the community. For the driv- ers, it truly is a day of love and gratitude that they don’t always get to see from their customers. What better way to do that than a campaign such as Fuel Your Love? This event is also a great opportunity to educate the community and potential technicians of the services and job opportunities we provide for the State of Maine. A big thank you to the following companies who made year five of FUEL YOUR LOVE our best year yet!! Eastern Propane & Oil, Colby & Gale, Inc, Everett Propane, Augusta Fuel Company, V.L. Tammaro Oil Co, Waltz and Sons, Frederick Bros. Oil & Propane, Estes Oil & Propane, R.H. Foster, Murray-Heutz Oil and Propane, Dead River, and Maine Energy Inc.
16 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 ♥ FUELING tHE LOVE ♥
www.maineenergymarketers.com 17 ♥ FUELING tHE LOVE ♥
18 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 ♥ FUELING tHE LOVE ♥
www.maineenergymarketers.com 19 MTEC Approved to Create non-Certified Employee Training Program
By Bryan Champagne MTEC Senior Instructor
s of January 1st, 2020, the State of Maine has implemented 4.7.2 Qualification for Licensure via CETP a requirement that all propane licensing will require taking a AState test as well as the certification from the Certified Employ- To qualify for licensure by successfully completing CETP as set forth in ee Training Program (CETP). This means a test in addition to the test- 32 MRSA §18135(2)(A), an applicant must submit the wall certifi- ing we do here at MEMA Technical Education Center (MTEC). The cate issued by National Propane Gas Association to the Board as proof State will be charging an additional fee for their test as well. There will of completion. The wall certificate submitted must be specific to the be tests for Appliance Installation and Service, Tank Setter and Outside license authority requested. Piping, Delivery Technician, Large Equipment and Plant Operator. 4.7.3 Qualification for Licensure by Examination
To qualify for licensure by examination as set forth in 32 MRSA §18135(2)(B), an applicant must submit proof of successful completion of the requisite education to the Board
Professional qualifications. Each applicant for a propane and natural gas technician license must pass an examina- tion approved by the board and meet one of the following qualifications:
A. Successful completion of the certified employee train- ing program of a national propane gas association; OR
B. Successful completion of a board-approved propane or natural gas course at a Maine community college, career and technical education center or career and technical education region or a comparable institute of this State or another state and passage of an examination approved by the board. MTEC has been approved by the Maine Fuel Board to create its own non-CETP Propane Training curriculum in the future. This class will You can read the full article as well as find a link to the Maine State cover the specific training and code knowledge necessary to prepare website that will provide access to candidate information at maineener- students for the Maine State Exam. We are also looking into being able gymarketers.com/news to administer the State test here at MTEC.
Below are requirements for apply- ing for licensure:
4.7 Propane and Natural Gas Technician
4.7.1 Application
Applications for licensure as a propane and natural gas technician under 32 MRSA §18135 must be submitted on a form provided by the Board and must be accompa- nied by the license fee set forth in Chapter 10, Section 5(17-A) of the rules of the Office of Profes- sional and Occupational Regula- tion, entitled “Establishment of License Fees.” 20 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 www.maineenergymarketers.com 21 The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Three sides of the Transportation and Climate Initiative
By Sean Cota, President & CEO, NEFI
There are three sides of every story. For example...
regional cap-and-invest program called the Transportation and The Good Climate Initiative (TCI) would significantly slash greenhouse A gas emissions from the transportation sector and could facilitate According to the TCI framework, “The proposed program market conditions whereby renewable liquid heating fuels are a cheaper would cap emissions of carbon dioxide from the combus- option than natural gas. However, by limiting the amount of diesel fuel tion of the fossil component of finished motor gasoline and allowed into the market, the TCI could severely limit suppliers’ ongoing on-road diesel fuel in the region. The TCI jurisdictions are efforts to reduce emissions using low-carbon fuels such as biodiesel and evaluating whether and how to include and treat biofuels in renewable diesel. Worse, TCI pricing could add as much as 17 cents to the program.” the at-pump cost of a gallon of gasoline — a nightmare for consumers. Heating oil dealers across the Northeast have committed to All three of the above sentences could be true at once. significant emission-reduction goals under the Providence Resolution, specifically 15% reductions by 2023, 40% reductions by So far the TCI only exists as a proposed framework (released October 1, 2030 and a “net-zero” fuel by 2050. Renewable liquid heating fuels 2019) and a draft agreement (released December 17, 2019), which has containing higher blends of biodiesel and other advanced biofuels such been signed by several but not all Northeast governors. Since the draft’s as Maine-made ethyl levulinate will empower us to achieve these goals release, policymakers in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine have and to do so faster than electrification. all expressed skepticism, in some cases outright withdrawing support. Several of NEFI’s industry allies filed comments on the proposed frame- If the TCI were to exclude biofuels then these low-carbon fuels could work, including the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association (VFDA), which become much more affordable than competing energy sources such as opposed the initiative “as outlined,” and the National Biodiesel Board natural gas and electricity. If biofuel-blended diesel were also excluded, (NBB), which was “both encouraged and concerned by word choices it would create significant market opportunities for industry stakeholders within” the framework. while enabling us to continue helping the region meet its emission-re- duction goals. First, however, TCI policymakers must stop and exam- For a clearer view of the TCI, let’s take a closer look at three possible ine the facts. In its comments, VFDA asked them “to slow down this components or outcomes, which, in a nod to Sergio Leone’s classic Spa- process, consider taking diesel fuel out of TCI, and ensure that renew- ghetti Western, we’ll call “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” able liquid fuels such as biodiesel are not taxed in the same manner as petroleum fuel.”
If they listen, it would be good for all of us.
22 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 The Bad of the average Maine home’s annual heating needs. In fact, with or without a subsidy, only the very wealthy are able to afford these luxuries. Unfortunately, as currently written, the TCI might not Therefore, one could argue that what the TCI really does is take money allow industry stakeholders to achieve their true poten- from the pockets of low- and middle-income taxpayers who are already tial. The policy calls for capping sales of gasoline and struggling to pay their bills, and place it in the hands of the extremely diesel fuel and requiring suppliers to purchase allowances wealthy taxpayers who need nothing less than a government handout. in order to sell motor fuel. These caps and allowances would create significant economic burdens that would That’s not just bad policy — it’s plain ugly. hinder motor fuel sellers’ ability to compete in the first place. Therefore, it would become more difficult for them to make some of the infrastructural investments needed to ensure a reliable supply of and smooth transition to low-carbon fuels.
The Ugly
As bad as the TCI would be for businesses, perhaps its most ugly aspect is the penalty imposed on everyday consumers simply for buying the fuels they need to put in a hard day’s work.
Estimates suggest that a plan to reduce carbon emis- sions from vehicles by 25% would add 17 cents to the price of a gallon of gasoline. If TCI states instead opted for 22.5% reductions, the added cost would be 9 cents per gallon. Even a 20% reduction goal would cost drivers an extra 5 cents per gallon. As written, these added costs would help subsidize purchases of electric vehicles and heat pumps.
However, even with subsidies, few can afford an electric vehicle or the multiple electric heat pumps that would be required to meet just some
www.maineenergymarketers.com 23 24 MEMA MAG | Spring 2020 INSURANCE CORNER
MEMA Self Insurance Health Trust maximizes the benefit to our members as well as manage costs so we can provide competitive health plan premiums. Robin at MEMA and our Health Broker at the Allumbaugh Agency are always avail- able to assist you with your questions and insurance needs.
Robin Manson
It’s a new year and what better time to review Big or small, here’s what you need to know about our programs: your health insurance and workers com- pensation coverage. For the next two is- Competitive hiring advantage sues we’ll focus on some of the benefits The MEMA medical/health plan is self-insured, offering fea- that our newer members might not be tures you cannot get from commercial health plans and thereby aware of. This issue we’ll step into giving you a competitive edge for attracting high-quality the Health Insurance and next employees. issue we’ll stay focused mainly on Workers Compensation. Cost management Your premium pays for actual expenses. As a result, in low Some of our newer members utilization years, premiums can go down, and, as a matter of might now be aware that our health insurance plan is one of fact, they have. We recently had a December Premium Holiday the premium benefits of belonging to the Association. If you are for participating members. Has your commercial carrier done not in this program, you owe it to yourself and your employees that for you? to take a closer look at it.
For one, it’s a great way to offer insurance to employees that Risk might not have it otherwise. Consider the hometown conve- The Trust protects members by purchasing insurance to limit nience stores, the small plumbing and heating HVAC compa- the overall risk and setting premiums that cover all liability - so nies with only one or two employees. This is an opportunity you don’t have to worry about assessments. small companies might not otherwise have. For more information about our Health Insurance Programs or Here’s what you might not know: MEMA offers one of the most to request a brochure, contact Robin Manson at 207-729-5298 competitive health, dental, vision and life benefit programs in or email [email protected] the State. In fact, MEMA’s self-insured medical plan rates have held steady, if not decreased, every year.