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NORA is back!!!!

Tim McElwain
Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,642
in THE MAIN WALL
Timmie



<strong>We are pleased to inform you that Congress has approved legislation to renew the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) program for five years. </strong>



The "NORA reauthorization" measure can be found in the last 20 pages of the Farm Bill <a href="http://t.congressweb.com/l/?TMSXNZNCSVKAYTW">[u][color=#0066cc]conference report[/color][/u]</a>. The House of Representatives approved the conference report last week by a vote of 251-166. It cleared the Senate just moments ago by a vote of 68-32. President Obama has promised to sign the bill into law.



This victory is the result of more than six years of effort by the New England Fuel Institute (NEFI), the National Association for Oilheat Research & Education (NAORE), the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA), state and local home heating oil associations and numerous industry leaders. We would especially like to thank Don Allen of ET Lawson (Hampton, Virginia), Ed Noonan of Noonan Energy (Springfield, Mass.) and Jim Townsend of Townsend Oil & Propane (Danvers, Mass.) for their strong leadership of NORA and NAORE. These three heating oil dealers were instrumental in helping to make NORA reauthorization a reality.



We also appreciate the commitment of NORA’s lead champions in Congress, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congressmen Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Peter Welch (D-VT), as well as the dozens of bipartisan cosponsors in both the <a href="http://t.congressweb.com/l/?TMSXNZNCSVUNGFX">[u][color=#0066cc]House[/color][/u]</a> and <a href="http://t.congressweb.com/l/?TMSXNZNCSVREWZB">[u][color=#0066cc]Senate[/color][/u]</a>.



<em>Of interest to NEFI members and supporters, the bill will allow NORA to:</em> <ol><li>Restart consumer education programs on conservation best practices and the proper use and benefits of Oilheat and Bioheat®; </li><li>Revitalize NORA certification and workforce development programs for HVAC technicians; </li><li>Invest in research and  development  of new energy efficient technologies and renewable home heating fuels such as Bioheat®; and </li><li>Create a new program that aims to replace inefficient oil-fired heating systems and improve the safety and efficiency of existing systems. </li></ol>There will be detailed coverage of the NORA reauthorization measure and other Farm Bill energy provisions in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, <em>NEON</em>. Also stay tuned to future NEFI communications for details on when you can expect the collection of NORA assessments to resume.



In closing, we hope you will join us in celebrating this major victory for our industry. It is your dedication and support that helped make it possible.



<strong>As always, <em>thank you.</em></strong>



Sincerely,





<img src="https://www.congressplus.com/userfiles/752/Trunzo_Michael_Email.jpg" width="147" height="33" alt="" />

Michael C. Trunzo

NEFI President & CEO



<strong>New England Fuel Institute</strong>

Washington, DC Office:

1901 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22209-1609

New England Office:

238 Bedford Street, Suite Two, Lexington, MA, 02420-3436

Main: (617) 924-1000 / Fax: (617) 924-1022

<a href="http://t.congressweb.com/l/?TMSXNZNCSVPDPIE">[u][color=#0066cc]Website[/color][/u]</a> • <a href="http://t.congressweb.com/l/?TMSXNZNCSVUUKLH">[u][color=#0066cc]Facebook[/color][/u]</a> • <a href="http://t.congressweb.com/l/?TMSXNZNCSVDQELC">[u][color=#0066cc]Twitter[/color][/u]</a>



<strong>NEFI Public Policy Staff</strong>

Michael Trunzo, President & CEO michael.trunzo@nefi.com

Jim Collura, Vice President for Government Affairs jimcollura@nefi.com

Mark S. Morgan, Esq., Regulatory Counsel mark@nefi.com

Comments

  • CMadatMe
    CMadatMe Member Posts: 3,086
    Just Another Reason

    Why our political system is broken. This has to be buried in a bill that has nothing to do with NORA or the bills subject itself. So someone got another politician to vote for his bill as long as this was in it. Wonder who owes who the next favor? But NORA is back, that's what's important right? Glad for the renewal just not in favor of the process..

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
    Why would you want this renewed?

    I've never heard of this program before, but it seems like the money could be better spent elsewhere.
  • unclejohn
    unclejohn Member Posts: 1,833
    amen

    If the oil company's and manufactures want to spend their money for research let them do it. Why should the consumer pay for it.
  • CMadatMe
    CMadatMe Member Posts: 3,086
    Oak Ridge

    Is a tax payer funded institution, just about everything when it comes to energy is R&D'd and tested there. Where do you think the Heat Pump Water Heater came from? Yes, GE developed its first but it was fully developed at Oak Ridge with GE.. What came out of it, Amercian jobs not a Heat Pump Water Heater made in China and shipped here like the others.

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
    Chris

    You can't see it, but I just hit the "Like" button.
    Steve Minnich
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    Where were you?

    That's because you don't follow what is happening on a daily basis (the past) and only react to what you see in the present.

    NORA has probably been around for longer than you have been working in the heating field.

    NORA was one of the contrary voices when the electric utilities tried to get everyone to switch to their cheap, almost free electric power for home heating and lighting. The end result was an almost complete wipe out of fossil fuel use in new construction. When that didn't work out, it switched to Gas. And is now wiping out oil use. Its called "Consolidation" where the Wall Street Banksters work for a few, to extract cash from the rest.

    Incidentally, every member of congress that voted for or against this bill, was voted in to office by their constituency. You may not like the Senators or Congresspersons who represent me. But we might like them and vote for them. I have no say in yours. If you want term limits, vote them out or vote for the other guy. If you vote for on one, you vote for the winner by de facto. So don't complain.
  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,642
    What may be missed if not looked

    into is that NORA has been in years past before it lost its congressional support a big part of the educational and training side of the oil industry. Just like PERC on the Propane side is funded and provides CETP Propane course for that industry. This is a good thing for no other reason that the dying oil industry needs a shot in the arm and this may help somewhat. If we somehow see the oil industry go under what do you think would happen to Natural and Propane prices not to even include electricity costs.



    Before you jump to conclusions look into what NORA is all about.



    This is from someone who has been a part of the gas industry for over 50 years. I am however an honorary oil man by selection of Alan Mercurio and the Oiltechtalk folks.
  • unclejohn
    unclejohn Member Posts: 1,833
    I know this

    Is a heating fourm and not a political one BUT, The goverment has no business in our business. Unless of course your willing to hand it over to them. And Tim if the oil co. go under because they waited for a hand out from tax payers thats their fault.
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,611
    Balance

    There just needs to be a balance between regulation and free enterprise.

    If the government stays completely out, we go back to the days when the Rockefellers and Standard Oil secretly cornered the entire oil market. During the same time the unregulated heating industry was exploding boilers at an incredible rate.

    Too much regulation is stifling.

    I for one am glad to see Nora funded.

    Thank for the update Tim
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,642
    In case you have not noticed the

    government has been involved big time in the heating industry. Since I came into the gas industry back in the sixties we have had government regulation and local utility commissions controlling prices and rates. The oil and propane folks were late arrivals to government involvement. We also have DOT, DOE, EPA and the list goes on and all of it is either subsidized by tax payers, rate payers, or end users of the fuels. The government mandates efficiencies and other related requirements on all fuels and their equipment.



    I do not think that is going away even if we like it or not.
  • unclejohn
    unclejohn Member Posts: 1,833
    Balance is good

    I certainly don't want kids chained to sewing machines any more. I also don't like the fact the water heaters almost tripled in price due to gov. regs. Or the fact that dish washer don't get dishes clean any more because of gov. regs. Let consumers decide what features they want on their home appliances.

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