Author: consumerfocus

President Biden delivered an address on climate change and signed a series of ambitious executive orders on the matter.

The President called climate change the “maximum threat” facing America and said the nation has waited too long to address the issue. He pointed to a Defense Department report that says climate change is a national security threat to two-thirds of U.S. operational strategic forces. He called for a unified national response but acknowledged the U.S. can’t stop global warming alone, and promised to put pressure on foreign countries to do their part. The President announced he will host an International Climate Summit of world leaders on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.

Biden then signed executive actions he said will “supercharge” the administration’s climate change agenda. These orders build upon climate actions taken immediately after his inauguration, which included rejoining the Paris Accords, suspending the Keystone XL pipeline permit, implementing a social cost of carbon in federal rulemakings, and halting 100+ Trump-era regulatory actions on energy and the environment.

Today’s actions include:

• Commitments to double offshore wind by 2030 and achieve 100% carbon free electricity nationwide by 2035.
• Orders the Department of Interior to suspend new oil and natural gas leasing on public lands, begin a “rigorous review” of existing permitting and leasing programs, and lay the groundwork for federal protection of 30% of all U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
• “Plug” one million abandoned oil and natural gas wells across the country.
• Orders federal fleets, including the U.S. Postal Service, to utilize zero-emission vehicles made in America.
• To the extent allowed by law, end federal funding for fossil fuels and press Congress to eliminate oil and gas-related tax breaks.
• Creation of a “Civilian Climate Corps” to enhance climate resilience, conduct reforestation, increase carbon sequestration in the agriculture, protect biodiversity, and help the nation adapt to climate change and be more resilient to storms, fires, and floods.
• Instructs Defense, Homeland Security, and Intelligence agencies to prepare reports on the security implications of climate change.
• Shifts U.S. domestic and international finance policies towards an anti-fossil fuel posture.

The President has also created a new White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, led by former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, to oversee the administration’s overall climate efforts. He also created White House advisory and interagency councils on environmental justice to mitigate the impacts of pollution on low-income communities and communities of color, and will require 40% of federal climate change investments to flow to these communities. Also a new interagency task force will be created to coordinate the transition of coal, oil, and natural gas workers to the new “clean energy economy” and help local communities that serve these industries adapt to this change.

John Kerry of Massachusetts and Gina McCarthy of Connecticut – the new White House “Czars” on foreign and domestic climate policy, respectively – spoke at a White House press conference immediately before the President’s address. They outlined plans for a “whole of government approach” to climate change, which includes ensuring a climate office is created in nearly every single federal department, agency, and commission. McCarthy will lead a National Climate Task Force comprised of representatives from 21 federal departments and agencies to coordinate federal climate policy.

Biden has thus far resisted calls from Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer and other party leaders to issue a national emergency declaration for climate change. You will recall that President Trump issued a similar declaration on immigration. If taken, this action would expand the powers of the President to address the stated emergency without legislative action, which includes the repurposing of federal funds (as Trump did for border security). Honestly, I feel like this is still a possibility, perhaps on or around Earth Day. The White House also promised to submit its Nationally Determined Contribution Plan, which his required of all Paris Climate Accord nations, before the Earth Day Climate Summit.

The President also reiterated his belief that Congress needs to act on climate. As previously mentioned, he plans to send a climate-focused infrastructure and workforce development package to Congress next month, and it will probably be the focus of his State of the Union Address. Biden also promised that his departments and agencies will pursue an aggressive regulatory agenda the next four years, which will include tougher CAFE standards, reducing emissions from oil and gas production, and stronger restrictions on fugitive methane emissions.

In related news, the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to examine the nomination of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve as U.S. Energy Secretary. Granholm said repeatedly that lower emission energy sources and technologies provide the U.S. a “massive opportunity” to address climate change while also supporting American businesses and creating jobs. Senator Angus King, a member of the committee, invited the former Governor to visit Maine and tour off-shore wind projects (which she promised to do so).

 

Jim Collura, Vice President & Director of Government Affairs, NEFI

Indoor Comfort Marketing – July/August 2020

“A properly installed and maintained storage tank is an extremely safe and efficient way to store power. A full 275-gallon tank holds over 34 million BTUs of potential heat in the fuel itself. This is equivalent to more than 11,000 kilowatts of electricity. All this energy is at the customer’s ready disposal day and night..”

 

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Due to COVID-19 and the CDC’s recommendations the Angus Energy Seminars will be postponed to future dates. We take the safety and health of our attendees and presenters seriously. With the facts as we know them today, we will move the seminars to the future when we know more and can have a greater sense of the health risk.

Ken Hagman who started working at E. O. Habhegger in 1967 and became president in 1976 passed away in January after a brief battle with Bulbar ALS.  He is survived by Caroline, his wife of 52 years, his daughter Kimberly Duke (Scott), his son Chris (Theresa) and his five grandchildren, Alexa, Andrew, Kylie, Madelyn and Matthew.

Greater Philadelphia Community of Hope: Kenneth T. Hagman – The ALS Association

Updated Management and Executive Courses Address Leading Companies to a Successful Net-Zero Carbon Future

(SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., January 21, 2020) After a successful launch in 2019, NEFI Advanced Education is pleased to announce that it will again offer the Management Development and Energy Leaders programs for 2020. These sessions have been updated to reflect current market conditions and help industry leaders steer their companies to a successful “Net-Zero Carbon by 2050” future — a goal the Northeast heating fuel industry embraced with the September 16, 2019 Providence Resolution. NEFI Advanced Education programs are open to all heating and energy professionals in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

 

The L.E.A.D. Management Development Program was created to take key management staff to the next level, with self-paced coursework on leadership, productivity, communication, culture and motivation. Led by Quinnipiac University’s Corporate Training Division, the Management Development Program launches April 28 and combines distance learning, self-paced assignments and in-person group sessions. These in person application sessions will be held at centralized locations in April, May, September and October, ensuring top managers are in-house during busy winter months. Quinnipiac interviewed business owners to discover the skills their managers needed, and developed the program to meet those needs. Companies have reported marked improvement in goal setting, conflict resolution and team building from last year’s participants. Registration is available at nefi.com/education/quinnipiac, and must be completed by April 13.

Also open for registration, the Energy Leaders Program at Dartmouth is a five-day immersive workshop for company owners, presidents and senior executives, running April 19-23. Developed and directed by the world-renowned Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and described by participants as “intense” and “transformative,” the MBA-caliber program aims to give participants the tools and framework they need to transform organizations, inspire teams, and drive results. To apply, visit nefi.com/education/dartmouth. Please note: the application deadline for the Dartmouth program is Friday, February 28.

 

About NEFI

NEFI is a trade association representing independent dealers of heating oil, propane, biofuel and motor fuels, as well as businesses that support the deliverable energy industry through a range of products and services.  NEFI is the industry’s center for national legislative and regulatory advocacy, representing Main Street family businesses before regional and federal policy makers, the media, and the public.  NEFI’s Education Foundation provides member companies with business and leadership training, educational conferences, guidance in complying with federal rules and regulations, trade shows and networking events. For more information, please visit www.nefi.com of call 617-804-1111.