Energy Marketers of America Weekly Review - October 4, 2024
Energy Marketers of America Weekly Review - October 4, 2024
Energy Marketers of America weekly update on important national industry news
October 4, 2024
New EMA Member Service Benefit: You Need Drivers. EMA Can Help
The Energy Marketers of America has partnered with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) to provide a new member benefit to help your company get drivers on the road. The ACE (Administrative Compliance Experts) Services Program guides individuals through the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
What does ACE do?
Serving as the FMCSA Registered Training Provider, ACE handles:
- FMCSA paperwork and filings
- FMCS audits
- Training materials and training equipment guidance to meet FMCSA requirements
ACE will save you thousands of dollars – up to $3,000 per driver – AND help you cut through all the red tape.
Learn more about how ACE works, how much it costs, and how you can enroll your company by joining our webinar on Thursday, October 24th at 11am EST below.
To begin enrollment, please click here or go to www.npga.org/ace or contact ACE at 202-466-7203 or eldt@npga.org.
“Our company has had many drivers go through the program… ACE keeps all of the records for you and allows you to keep it in house. Simple, easy, cost effective. An absolute unbelievable program. To me, signing up for ELDT and utilizing the ACE program is a no-brainer” – Damon Gibson, CHS
With less than 35 days to go before the election and members of Congress hot on the campaign trail, this was a slow week in official Washington. But before Congress left town last week, Reps. Adrian Smith, (R-NE), Angie Craig, (D-MN) and more than 30 of their colleagues introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. The bill aims to enable year-round sales of E15 nationwide. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to gasoline blends containing up to 15 percent ethanol. The regulatory change would allow E15 to be sold year-round across the country. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced companion legislation in July 2023.
Meanwhile, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to the USDA requesting more funding for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). Specifically, the Senators urged the USDA to extend HBIIP funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to assist retail store owners to purchase the infrastructure necessary to provide e10 and b20 plus blends at the pump and b20 plus blends for heating fuel distribution facilities.
“Since its inception in 2020, HBIIP has been vital in expanding access to higher blends of biofuels like E15, E85, and B20 for customers. Through a cost-share approach, HBIIP has helped fuel retailers invest over $77.8 million in biofuel-related infrastructure projects, leading to an estimated 1.2-billion-gallon increase in annual biofuel sales,” wrote the senators. “However, access to these higher blends of renewable fuel can only occur if the proper infrastructure is in place at our gas stations, truck stops, and heating fuel facilities, a gap HBIIP has and will continue to help bridge. As the final quarter ends on September 30, 2024, we strongly encourage the USDA to allocate CCC funds to sustain this essential program.”
Meanwhile, due to severe damage caused by Hurricane Helene and escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, President Biden briefly considered asking Congress to return to pass a broad bill on disaster relief. While the impetus was the storm, there are many measures that could be included in any bill considered, including funding for the replacement of the I-695 bridge that collapsed in Maryland earlier this year. Still, most believe the $20 billion in disaster relief funds currently available to the White House and FEMA negate the need for immediate action from Congress, though they will still need to act at some point. In other words, we’re ok for now—no need to rush back. That said, the damage that has been done throughout the South and in Appalachia is catastrophic, and while the Administration is working with Governors in the affected states to determine how best to provide assistance, EMA members have been doing so on the front lines, and for that we’re all incredibly grateful.
A separate matter that took up oxygen this week was a strike at ports along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico that began October 1. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) union, which represents about 45,000, was entangled in a pay dispute with the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the interests of the operators of the main ports involved with the dispute. Although the strike could have led to issues like increased traffic congestion at ports, and likely fuel price increases, overall, the strike was unlikely to directly impact the petroleum industry because the industry does not typically rely on dock workers for marine operations. Generally, there was a concern a strike could reignite inflation and create significant supply chain bottlenecks for goods nationwide. Fortunately, the dockworkers’ union reached a tentative agreement on wages and are extending an expired contract through Jan. 15, 2025. “Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease, and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume,” the union said yesterday evening.
While we’re not typically focused on Middle Eastern affairs, but following an Iranian missile attack directed at Israel, Israel is expected to retaliate, and President Biden acknowledged one of the possible targets include Iranian oil facilities. Obviously, a strike on Iranian oil could increase the price of oil which is unwelcome news for anyone who purchases gas in any quantity. Regardless, we will report more as we learn more about the activities unfolding in Israel.
Separately, in an interview with Politico, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) used a few choice words to describe Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is implementing policies to “destroy the car industry.” Congressman Burlison noted in the interview that he wanted to claw back the $7.5 billion designated for EV charging stations provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and rescind a broad scope of emissions standards. We’ll continue to flag as many of these Congressional insights as possible as they can provide interesting color to the otherwise monotonous drone of Congress.
IRS Issues Dyed Fuel Waiver in Response to Hurricane Helene
EMA Contact: Mark S. Morgan, EMA Regulatory Counsel: markmorgan@verizon.net
The Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday evening that it will not impose a penalty when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on the highway in the States of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and in the following counties in Florida, Tennessee and Virginia:
Florida: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.
Tennessee: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.
Virginia: City of Galax, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties.
This relief is retroactive to September 26, 2024, and will remain in effect through October 15, 2024. This penalty relief is available to any person that sells or uses dyed diesel fuel for highway use. In the case of the operator of the vehicle in which the dyed diesel fuel is used, the relief is available only if the operator or the person selling such fuel pays the tax of 24.4 cents per gallon that is normally applied to diesel fuel for highway use.
The IRS will not impose penalties for failure to make semimonthly deposits of tax for dyed diesel fuel sold for use or used in diesel powered vehicles on the highway in these areas during the relief period. IRS Publication 510, Excise Taxes has information on the proper method for reporting and paying the tax. Ordinarily, dyed diesel fuel is not taxed, because it is sold for uses exempt from excise tax, such as to farmers for farming purposes, for home heating use and to local governments.
The IRS is closely monitoring the situation and will provide additional relief as needed.
September 2024 Energy Marketers of America Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC Contributions
PAC Co-Chairs Mike Downs and Tim Keigher are grateful for the Energy Marketers of America Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC contributions from the following individuals during September 1-30, 2024 time frame:
Arizona: Lenora Bateman, Brad Bell, Nicklaus Christofferson, Todd Flores, Amanda Gray, John Kennedy, Jess Miller, Patrick Miller, Mariah Munds, Justin Ricketts, Edwin Vandegrift, Grant Vangilder, Thomas Walker, George Williams, Erik Younger
Connecticut: David Chu
Indiana: Jonathan Smith
Iowa: John Maynes
Michigan: James Linton
Nebraska: Jennifer Assmann, Jared Baker, John Dilsaver, Alexis Kringen, Eric Lawson, Matt Lippincott, Luke Moser, Jacob Otte, Brent Sinsel, Chad Wollan
NECSEMA: Fouad El-Nemr, Thomas Healey, Alex Weatherall
New Jersey: Eric DeGesero, Edward Duffy, Steven Foulk, Shelley Fredericks, John Stem
New Mexico: Leland Gould
North Carolina: Thomas Berry, Pat Buede, Brian Campbell, Dallas Campbell Jr, Jay Cherry Jr, Harry Foy Jr, Michael Harrell, Larry Jordan, Christopher Oliver, E. Judson Pope III, Michael Rice, Jerry Sparks Sr, Anthony Waddell, John Waddell
South Carolina: Sam Bell, Michael Fields, Matthew Greene
Virginia: Jim Emmart, Mike O’Connor
Wisconsin: John Wagner
September 2024 Contributors to EMA MDF
Energy Marketers of America’s Marketer Defense Fund (MDF) wants to thank the following individuals for their MDF contributions during the September 1-30 timeframe:
California:
Stephen Lopes, Western States Oil Company
Indiana:
Indiana Food & Fuel Association
Iowa:
FUELIowa
Michigan:
Dennis McCarthy, Blarney Castle Oil Company
Minnesota:
Brent Staples, Best Oil Cooperative
Brent Staples, Staples Oil Company, Inc.
North Carolina:
Frank McNeil, McNeil Oil & Propane
Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania Petroleum Association
Tennessee:
Zachary Lee
Corporate donations are acceptable. MDF funds have been used to create a COVID-19 Situational Update & Resources webpage, to hire experts to cover important regulatory agencies and disaster relief dedicated to strengthening our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Click here to donate to the EMA MDF.
California Assembly Votes Up Bill for Spare Fuel Reserves | Rigzone
Saudi Minister Warns of $50 Oil as OPEC+ Members Flout Production Curbs
Kwik Trip adding electric vehicle charging stations
Federated Insurance: It’s Your Life
Life Insurance Awareness Month
As a business owner, the importance of life insurance is something to keep in mind. Life Insurance Awareness Month is held during the month of September, and this is a great time to see how life insurance can meet both personal and business planning needs.
Please click here to read about Federated’s personal and business life insurance uses. Life insurance has many benefits for both you and your business.
Please always feel free to contact your Federated regional representative or EMA’s National Account Executive Patrick Cunningham at 507.455.8935 for any additional information or risk management questions. Federated is a Partner in EMA’s Board of Directors Council.
This article is for general information and risk prevention only and should not be considered legal or other expert advice. The recommendations herein may help reduce, but are not guaranteed to eliminate, any or all risk of loss. The information herein may be subject to, and is not a substitute for, any laws or regulations that may apply. Qualified counsel should be sought with questions specific to your circumstances. © 2024 Federated Mutual Insurance Company
EMA Member Services Spotlight Featuring: Verizon Wireless
Find Deals on Phone Lines and Accessories
NPP is a member benefit provider of Energy Marketers of America. Through our partnership with NPP, eligible members can save 22 percent off Verizon monthly access fees* and up to 35 percent off the latest accessories. To get started, just visit here to sign up with NPP for free.
What is NPP?
NPP has a catalog of various offers for businesses and employees that can save you money and help you discover new goods and services to move your business forward. Membership is free and there is no obligation to purchase.
Restrictions may apply.
*Corporate liable lines only. $34.99 or higher, 2 corporate lines required.
Industry eligibility requirements apply.
Unlimited plans are not eligible for corporate and employee line discounts. All Verizon Wireless offers are for a limited time only and are subject to equipment availability. Verizon Wireless reserves the right to change or modify all offers at any time without notice. All terms and conditions are subject to and governed by Verizon Wireless’ Agreement with Customer including, but not limited to, customer eligibility requirements. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the Verizon Wireless offers; however, Verizon Wireless is not responsible for any errors or omissions.
NPP does not guarantee supplier offers or their website performance. Suppliers are solely responsible for all supplier products and services offered through NPP. Offers may be suspended or terminated at any time and may be subject to product restrictions, exclusions and eligibility requirements.