| TSA Allows States to Extend Expiring HME Endorsements for CDL Drivers Through 12/31/20
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has granted an extension of the exemption that allows state motor vehicle licensing agencies to extend expiring CDL driver hazardous material endorsements through December 31, 2020. The current HME extension was set to expire on October 30, 2020. The TSA action is important to petroleum marketers and heating fuel dealers because it ensures CDL drivers with expiring HMEs can maintain their licensure without interruption during the coronavirus emergency.
Click here to view the full Regulatory Alert.
ARA Releases Study Examining the Effect Banning the Internal Combustion Engine Would Have on Biofuels
Earlier this week, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), a member of the Transportation Fairness Alliance (as is Energy Marketers of America), released a new study indicating that a ban on internal combustion engines (ICE) would have a disproportionate effect on biofuels consumption and the U.S. economy. The study focuses on three scenarios for electric vehicle (EV) market penetration through 2050 and their impact on the biofuels market and economy.
The three scenarios are:
1. Base Case: EV market penetration increases to 13 percent of light-duty vehicle sales by 2050, following the Annual Energy Outlook 2020 Reference Case projections;
2. ICE Ban by 2050: EV market share reaches 100 percent of light-duty and freight vehicle sales by 2050 due to a ban on internal combustion engines (“ICE”); and
3. ICE Ban by 2035: EV market share reaches 100 percent of light-duty vehicle sales by 2035 and 100 percent of freight vehicle sales by 2040 due to a ban on internal combustion engines.
Importantly, the study found that “U.S. light-duty and freight vehicle consumption of ethanol and biodiesel could decline up to 90 percent to 1.1 billion gallons and up to 61 percent to 0.8 billion gallons,” depending on the different scenarios. The study also found that in addition to the harmful effects on the biofuels market, there would be a significant number of job losses. Further, “the economic losses throughout the biofuels value chain range from $105 billion to $185 billion, and cumulative federal, state, and local tax revenues losses range from $39 billion to $69 billion through 2050.” The study makes clear that a ban on ICE’s would negatively affect the biofuels industry, farming community and the overall U.S. economy.
Click here to view the full study.
SBA Announces Simplified PPP Forgiveness Application
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers of $50,000 or less. The new streamlined application is 2 pages, making it much easier on small businesses. While applicants still need to be approved to receive loan forgiveness, borrowers of $50,000 or less now have less paperwork to be approved for loan forgiveness.
Click here to view the SBA Press Release which also provides the new application.
Legislation Introduced to Create National Disaster Safety Board (NDSB)
Representatives Garrett Graves (R-LA) and Katie Porter (D-CA), and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have introduced legislation that would create a National Disaster Safety Board (NDSB). The NDSB would be modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the bill is designed to protect infrastructure by establishing an independent, non-partisan agency to examine the causes of natural disasters and to help increase preparedness and emergency response.
A NDSB would apply the best principles of the NTSB to natural disasters. The Board would seek to understand underlying causes of disaster fatalities and property damage across the country and make recommendations to all levels of government to inform smarter resilience policies. Key elements of the Board would include: that it act collaboratively as a team, that it allow affected state and local governments to participate in providing information and reviews; that it require at least two of the Board’s seven members would come from state and local contexts; and provide affected government federal, state, and local departments and agencies the opportunity to comment on reports and recommendations before publication.
Several independent scholars and journalists have called for a similar concept, including in this years’ recommendation for improved learning from past incidents by the National Academies of Science, and support from former FEMA Administrators.
Some Automakers Are Now Focused on Developing Hydrogen-Fueled Semitrucks
After years of trying to develop hydrogen-fueled cars, many automakers have now shifted their focus to developing hydrogen-fueled semitrucks. One of those automakers, Hyundai, recently projected there will be 12,000 hydrogen semitrucks on the road in the U.S. by 2030. Another automaker, Toyota, recently struck a deal with truck maker Hino, to jointly develop hydrogen fuel cell semitrucks for the U.S. market.
Click here to view the full article from USA Today.
Federated Insurance Risk Management Academy Webinar
Making mySHIELD Yours: Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 1:00 p.m. CT
mySHIELD is your personalized online destination for resources to help support your business. Learn to use this intuitive portal to enhance your company’s loss-prevention strategy and access tools to:
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Order, send, and manage certificates of insurance
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Manage vehicle and driver lists
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Grant employees mySHIELD access
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Report claims online
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View and pay invoices
Advanced registration is required for this 30-minute webinar.
For additional information or to discuss this in further detail, please contact your Federatedregional representative or PMAA’s National Account Executive Jon Medo at 800.533.0472. Federated is a EMA Corporate Platinum Partner.
NACS Crack the Code Experience: November 2 - December 4, 2020
As part of our push for this new Experience, we are also building excitement with two elements:
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“Sizzle reel”: Here’s a short (under one minute), high-energy video to communicate the new offer (you can watch it and share it across your network using this link and is also posted to the official Experience site).
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 Social media: We have a hashtag (#CTCexperience) and graphics. Help us share the word across your networks by crafting your own post or using one from the Word document for inspiration.
Our industry is about to do something great together. And there is a lot more to come.
EMA Corporate Platinum Partner Spotlight Featuring: Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Renewable Energy Group Announces Planned Expansion of Geismar Renewable Diesel Plant to 340 Million Gallons Per Year
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) announced today that it plans to undertake a capacity expansion of its Geismar, Louisiana biorefinery by 250 million gallons annually to 340 million gallons per year.
This announcement follows a thorough review and site selection process. Construction should begin in mid to late 2021 with target mechanical completion date in late 2023.
REG Geismar was the first renewable diesel plant built in the US and was acquired by REG in 2014. REG made additional improvements to the plant, taking its initial 75-million gallon nameplate facility up to 90-million gallons per year of demonstrated capacity.
Renewable diesel is a 100 percent renewable, drop-in fuel alternative to diesel fuel. Renewable diesel has seen strong demand particularly in regions focused on lowering carbon emissions in transportation fuels.
For additional information about Renewable Energy Group, Inc., please visit or contact Steve Klein. Renewable Energy Group is a EMA Corporate Platinum Partner.
EMA Corporate Gold Partner Spotlight Featuring: Sound Payments Petro Solutions
How a Retrofit Solution can Help Stations Easily Enable EMV at the Pump Webinar: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 2:00pm ET
 The recent EMV forecourt deadline extension (to April 2021) gives a little more time for stations that need to upgrade pumps to support EMV, but it will be here before we know it. Now is the time to evaluate options and make an informed decision. Join us for our upcoming webinar -- How a Semi-integrated, Retrofit Solution can Easily and Cost-effectively Enable EMV at the Pump—November 4 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Join us as we share installation examples, field case studies and how it could be the solution for you.
A retrofit, semi-integrated payment solution is cost-effective and helps eliminate touch points at the pump with contactless capabilities. The lower price is much more manageable for stations even during this time.
Unable to attend the webinar or prefer a one-on-one to learn about retrofit solutions? We would love to set up a call! Reach out here or call 844-319-5635. Stay connected with us through social media and visit us here. Sound Payments is a EMA Corporate Gold Partner.
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