Natural Gas Pipeline Project Shelved
Kinder Morgan abandons plans
 Facing stiff consumer and political opposition, along with failing to sign up enough utility customers, forced energy giant Kinder Morgan to pull the plug last week on trying to build a $3 billion natural gas pipeline through parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and into Maine
The pipeline, scheduled to run through three New England states (MA, NH & ME) has been abandoned bynt Kinder Morgan due to a failure to lure sufficient utility customers and strong political pressure.
The Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline, estimated to cost 3.3 billion dollars, was to bring natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania through New York state into New England.
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Why premium heating oil should sell itself
As an oil heat dealer, it's hardly in your purview to educate customers on the importance of home maintenance and you certainly don't need to tell them about the enormous amount of time, energy and money that go into it; but you can tell them about an often overlooked element that can help them save on all three of those things.
I'm talking about their heating oil.
Typically, when a heating oil customer sees the oil delivery truck pull up to their house, the first thing they think about is the bill they'll be receiving later in the week. The last thing they think about, I would wager, is the expansive petroleum supply chain down which the oil traveled to get there. Little do they know about the water, microbial life and sediment that inevitably found its way into the product as it was being transported and stored, repeatedly off loaded and on loaded, on its way from the refinery to their home. And later, when their heating system malfunctions, or their service technician is prematurely having to replace filters, hoses, gaskets, or other components, or they're burning through oil before their pre-scheduled delivery, little will they realize that it's those very contaminants to blame.
Even if contamination weren't the problem-even if their oil were hand-delivered from the refinery in an airtight sterile drum-there are a number of other operability issues inherent in
heating oil, particularly with the emergence of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil (
ULSHO).
B
ecause sulfur acts as a natural lubricant, for example, ULSHO is "dryer" than traditional heating oil, meaning that it's lower in lubricity, more prone to holding water and more susceptible to microbial contamination. The refining process used to remove sulfur also removes oxygen, nitrogen, and other functional elements, yielding a fuel that is waxier, to the detriment of its cold flow operability and less stable in storage. Salts that are commonly found in diesel are less soluble in ULSHO, and can be abrasive to engine components and deadly to fuel injectors. ULSHO is also more solvent, or liable to loosen filter-plugging deposits in tanks. Lastly, just because ULSHO is "cleaner" than traditional heating oil, it is not any less corrosive to tanks, pipes, and system components if left untreated.
Today's advanced additive technology can eliminate such problems and optimize performance to create a premium product tailored to meet the needs of your customers. Cold flow additives prevent fuel gelling to keep heating systems running smoothly through the winter. Detergents keep tanks and injector systems clean. Combustion catalysts increase efficiency and decrease emissions. Corrosion inhibitors protect tank linings. Biocides control microbial contamination. Water control treatments prevent fuel degradation and other water-related issues. Biodiesel (though not an additive) is a cleaner burning, renewable fuel that can be blended with traditional heating oil at rates that beat natural gas on environmental benefits. For a comparable cost per gallon, your customers can have a far cleaner, more efficient and higher performing product that will quickly pay for itself in the form of fewer service calls, longer delivery intervals, and less down time.
Offering a premium fuel can only serve as a differentiator if consumers are educated on the subject: Raising consumer awareness via website, social media, marketing brochures, traditional advertising, customer newsletters and through personal interaction are all good ways to market fuel quality. But the most effective marketing strategy is to provide evidence that the enhanced fuel actually works. Showing customers their fuel filters, tracking efficiency measures, and recording drops in maintenance issues goes a long way towards strengthening your value proposition and building loyalty to your brand.
While efficiency may not be a customer's foremost concern with oil prices where they currently are, when the price of oil rebounds-and you can be sure it will-the return on their investment will only grow, reducing their oil and maintenance costs when they need to find savings most.
For more information on fuel quality, additives and premium treatment solutions, contact Paul Nazzaro at 978-258-8360 x301 or [email protected].
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NORA Liquid Fuels Research Center Opens
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Kevin Rooney, John Huber, Dr. Thomas Butcher, Rocco Lacertosa |
The National Oilheat Research Alliance and two New York State associations this week celebrated the opening of a new research and training facility designed specifically for the Oilheat and Bioheat® fuel industry.
Located in Plainview, NY, on Long Island, the 3,500-square-foor facility is operated by NORA in cooperation with the New York Oil Heating Association (NYOHA) and the Oil Heat Comfort Corp. (OHCC). It is known as both the NORA Liquid Fuels Research and Development Laboratory and the NYOHA/OHCC Technical Training Institute.
More than 50 visitors turned out for a Grand Opening celebration and tour. The building features a classroom that accommodates up to 20 students; a working lab with live-firing boilers and electronic testing and analysis equipment; and offices and a boardroom. It will host industry training and consumer education programs, enabling trainers to teach at a dedicated facility rather than having to rent space for events.
Renowned energy researcher Dr. Thomas A. Butcher keeps an office at the facility, where he will oversee NORA's research and development projects while also conducting research on heating equipment and liquid fuels.
One door over from Butcher sits John Levey, who serves as director of education for each of the associations that share the facility. He is developing and directing a variety of education programs, including Oilheat technician training under the aegis of NORA and a variety of training programs for the New York associations, including air conditioning education for technicians and customer service training for office personnel.
NORA President John Huber said, "It is really exciting to have a bricks-and-mortar presence of our own that we can all use together. This gives us a great opportunity to connect with people working in the industry and help them serve heating oil customers more effectively."
NORA Chairperson Allison Heaney, who is President of New York City-based Skaggs-Walsh, said the center will benefit the industry tremendously. "It is very exciting to have a research facility where Dr. Tom Butcher can continue with his great testing of Bioheat and continue to assure that we are selling fuel of the highest quality," she said. "I also think it is amazing the both Long Island and New York City now have this space where we can bring our technicians together and train them to deliver even better service for our customers. It's a beautiful facility with boilers ready to fire that will allow students to work hands on with the equipment. I'm very excited to have it."
Dr. Butcher also expressed great enthusiasm about the opportunities that the new facility creates. "I think this is hugely important. Many groups can now come to this place and share their education and research," he said. "We will really help each other."
NYOHA CEO Rocco Lacertosa said the new facility give the industry great credibility with young technicians. "It a professional environment that reflects very well on our industry. Training is very important for technicians and companies, and now we have a great place to get together and learn."
OHCC CEO Kevin Rooney also sees tremendous benefits for heating oil companies and employees. "For the first time we have a research and development facility that is linked to a training facility. Technicians who come here not only will be able to work with the latest heating equipment in the field, they'll also have the benefit of working with the pre-eminent technical expert in out field in Dr. Thomas Butcher."
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AEC Launches "The Wildcatters Club"
The American Energy Coalition (AEC) is pleased to announce the creation of a new class of Supporters called the Wildcatters Club.
The Coalition has long enjoyed strong broad-based support from every segment of the Heating Oil Industry, and this construct attempts to spotlight and recognize the efforts of individual contributors, a large and fast-growing group, as a review of the AEC Contributors' List will attest.
To help put the AEC on a firm, long-term financial footing, the AEC through its Investment Committee, Co-Chaired by Brian Coyne and Kevin Beckett, is looking to encourage this group to make their contributions recurring by using the automatic monthly credit card donation feature provided on the AEC website. Suggested recurring contribution levels include:
- Bronze Level Sustaining Support $ 5 per Month
- Silver Level Sustaining Support $ 10 per Month
- Gold Level Sustaining Support $ 25 per Month
- Platinum Level Sustaining Support $ 50 per Month
- Any other dollar amount chosen
The creation of The Wildcatters Club does not replace the need for continued support from AEC's Corporate Donors, but it does demonstrate a personal commitment from the thousands of hardworking Heating Oil Professionals in support of an Industry that supports them and their families.
Joining is as easy as visiting the AEC website
http://www.americanenergycoalition.com, clicking the "Join the Wildcatters Club" button, completing the form and checking the box that says "Yes - I want to automatically make a recurring donation." Wildcatters are encouraged to talk with their coworkers about also joining and asking their employers if they are willing to match employee contributions.
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Slant/Fin
Slant/Fin is now offering their most popular gas boiler in pink, to show
support for breast cancer
research and a cure. Its most popular boiler, the Sentry, is a gas-fired hot water boiler which is suited to a variety of boiler requirements using propane or natural gas. It provides homeowners with years of
trouble-free, efficient operation, hassle-free maintenance with easy installation and set-up. The Sentry also comes with a 25-year Limited Lifetime Warranty. The S-90 and S-120 models are now available in Heating for a Cure pink, with a portion of the proceeds being donated by Slant/Fin to breast cancer support and research charities.
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The new K2 Firetube boiler is the newest addition to US Boiler Company's K2 high-efficiency series. Joining the K2 Watertube boiler, the 95% AFUE K2 Firetube features a stainless steel vertical firetube heat exchanger and is available in six sizes from 85-270 MBH. A combi version is also available (155 MBH). All models can be wall-hung and feature 5:1 modulation.
The new, easily-installed boiler features an ergonomically-angled touch screen display, which  interfaces with the proven Sage2.2™ boiler control system and wireless outdoor rest, while offering "out of the box" high performance. Additional contractor-friendly features include a 3-in-1 vent connection, top or bottom supply/return/gas connections, a split voltage junction box with fused connection boards, and a full-height side access panel.
The boiler's dimpled, firetube heat exchanger provides lower pressure drop when compared to water-tube heat exchangers of similar capacity. The unit comes with a free three-year parts and limited labor warranty, with registration within 90 days of installation.
As with the K2 Watertube, the K2 Firetube was developed in response to customer feedback. Installers preferring firetube designs now have a model designed with their input and preferences in mind. In all, US Boiler now offers stainless steel, condensing models from 80 to 800 MBH, with multiple heat exchanger options.
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AMERIgreen Energy Hosted the Fleet Footprint Event
AMERIgreen Energy
, in conjunction with Clean Cities of New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, hosted "The Fleet Footprint Event: Emissions Requirements and the New Energy Landscape" in Morristown, NJ. The event presented an honest assessment of all transportation fuels/energy so fuel dealers and their fleet customers can use the information to make smart, cost-effective decisions in order
to support new emissions goals.
With so much uncertainty facing the energy industry, change is the only constant. The event represented all alternative fuel technologies t
aking root in the diesel space.
Attendees learned from and interacted with industry experts
and experienced fleet managers.
They presented options and content to incorporate existing equipment to navigate the changes and avoid unexpected costs as they adapt in the face of impending emissions mandates. Plans are being made to extend the program reach to educating additional fleets in the region.
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Heating Oil ULS and biodiesel Specs for 2016
An update to the state-by-state chart of low sulfur and bio-blending requirements for heating oil in the Northeast states includes an update for Pennsylvania. Citing this year's unusually warm winter and, as a result, unexpectedly high stocks of high sulfur fuel, the DEP has just published a Regulatory Bulletin outlining a transition policy for the move to 500PPM low sulfur fuel on July 1. Three other states that move to new sulfur specifications on July 1 include: Delaware to 15PPM, New Jersey to 15PPM and Maryland to 500PPM.
Thank you to Jim Colura, New England Fuel Institute, for the update.
To access the full document for more information, please visit
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CEMA Golf Outing is on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at the Wallingford Country Club, Wallingford, CT
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Southern New England Energy Conference
Southern New England Energy Conference will be held on Monday, September 12 - Tuesday, September 13 at the Newport Hyatt in Newport, RI.
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Biofuels, Biodiesel and Bioheat®
These three terms are being heard from every quarter of the oilheating industry. Often they are used interchangeably---this is not correct. Each one has a specific meaning and knowing the difference matters. Here are very short definitions to help keep them straight. These are not meant to be technical definitions, but a usage guide.
Biofuel: a fuel derived directly from living matter. Often used as a generic term that may include various fuels such as biodiesel or ethanol. Usually considered renewable.
Biodiesel: a very specific product produced in a very specific way to meet very specific specifications. The feedstock to create biodiesel can vary and may include soy oil or tallow. Here is what the National Biodiesel Board has to say about it: "a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, designated B100,
and meeting the requirements of ASTM D6751." If not... it's not biodiesel.
Bioheat®: A registered trademarked name whose definition is a liquid fuel that is comprised of a blend of petroleum #2 distillate fuel (heating oil/diesel) and Biodiesel (see above). To meet the definition, the petroleum component must meet the ASTM D396 standard and the biodiesel component must meet the ASTM D6751 standard. If those two criteria are not met, it can not be called Bioheat®.
Remember, biodiesel is a biofuel but not all biofuels are biodiesel. Also, biodiesel is the only acceptable biofuel component in Bioheat®
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MEMA Offers Extensive Industry Training Programs
Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association (MEMA) through its affiliation with the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) is offering extensive technical and business owner/professional staff training programs. Because the courses are
subsidized by NORA they are offered to retailers and technicians at a modest fee, or they are free of charge.
Follow the lin
ks for complete details on the courses outlined below.
- Business Owners & Professional Staff
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Gas Appliance Service/Timmie McElwain
Upcoming Training Sessions
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