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SCHIP VETO SUSTAINED
On Oct. 18 the House of Representatives failed to override a veto by President Bush of legislation (H.R. 976) reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), setting the stage for a fight over the future of the program. The vote count was 273-156. Forty-four Republicans joined 229 Democrats to override the veto. All but two Democrats voted to override the veto, while 154 Republicans sided with the president. A veto override requires a yes vote of two-thirds of members voting. Democrats have said they likely will send numerous SCHIP bills to Bush this fall until a bill is enacted. The contentious issue in the bill is its funding mechanism—a 61 cents per pack tax increase on cigarettes. Bush vetoed the bill on Oct. 3. SCHIP funding expired Sept. 30, but funding continues through Nov. 16 via a stopgap funding measure approved by Congress.
EPA GREENHOUSE GAS PROPOSAL MAY FOLLOW CA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to propose limits on greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by the end of 2007. The limits are likely to follow the form of rules issued by California. The EPA proposal will probably be expressed as a percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, though the amount is still unclear. EPA still has yet to approve California's request for a waiver to implement its standards, which would require new cars and light trucks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2016, based on 2002 levels. Under the Clean Air Act, California must have its vehicle emissions rules reviewed and cleared by EPA before they become final. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson has pledged to rule on the California regulations by the end of 2007. EPA approval of the waiver would allow 10 other states that have adopted the California rules to implement them as well. EPA resisted making a decision on the California waiver until an April 2 Supreme Court decision, which said the Clean Air Act applies to greenhouse gases. EPA is undertaking the greenhouse gas rulemaking in cooperation with other federal agencies at President Bush's executive order.
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ENVIRONMENTALISTS OPPOSE ETHANOL MANDATE
Several environmental and advocacy groups urging Democratic leaders to oppose the Senate proposal for a significant increase in ethanol production included in pending energy legislation, citing the "substantial environmental damage" that it will cause. The groups said the potential conversion of large forests, wetlands, and native grasslands to farm crops, will not promote sustainable agriculture and will not lead to meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases. Also, there is no guarantee that sustainable family farm and rural communities will profit from the mandate. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the first U.S. ethanol mandate of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012. The energy bill (H.R. 6) passed by the Senate in June would increase that mandate five-fold to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The House passed an energy bill (H.R. 3221) in August but did not include a renewable fuel standard provision.
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ENERGY STORAGE MEASURE APPROVED
The House Science and Technology Committee approved The "Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007" (H.R. 3776) on Oct. 16. The measure would increase federal research and development of energy storage technologies. The bill would authorize another $400 million over five years for applied research in batteries, compressed air energy systems, and other energy storage technologies, as well as technologies for manufacturing such devices. H.R. 3776 also would authorize six large-scale demonstrations to meet specific energy storage goals for electricity delivery systems. It would authorize similar demonstrations for the transportation sector, such as advanced batteries that would allow hybrid vehicles to use less gasoline. An approved amendment added language on hydrogen fuel cell research and development.
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CAPAND TRADE MEASURE GAINS MOMENTUM
On Oct. 18, Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) introduced what is now considered the lead Senate proposal to place mandatory curbs on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with Barbara Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee largely endorsing the measure. The proposal already has three Republican co-sponsors in addition to Warner. The Lieberman-Warner bill calls for freezing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at 2005 levels in 2012 and then gradually cutting emissions to 70 percent below those levels by 2050. The bill initially would give away emissions allowances, or credits, to industry, but that free distribution would be gradually phased out over the next several decades in favor of an auction. Nonetheless, members of the Senate environment committee also made it clear that they expect changes in the Lieberman-Warner bill as it moves through the committee.
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PLEASE FILL OUT ANNUAL MEETING EVALUATION
Now that you are back in your office and things have settled down from your travel, SIGMA would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill out the survey for the 2007 Annual Meeting that was just held in Boston, Massachusetts. While your memories of the Annual Meeting are still fresh in your mind, please CLICK HERE and it will take you right to the first page of the online evaluation. The survey will become unavailable on Thursday, November 15, so please complete it as soon as possible! The time you take today to complete the survey will allow us to provide better programs for you in the future! Contact the SIGMA office if you have any questions.\
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2008 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Make plans to join your colleagues in Snowbird, Utah on February 10-13 for the 2008 Executive Leadership Conference! The conference will be held at the Cliff Lodge Hotel. Nestled in the heart of Snowbird, The Cliff Lodge is one of four slopeside lodging properties at the resort. With ski-in, ski-out accessibility, The Cliff Lodge is considered the flagship resort of the mountain! The Cliff Lodge completed a $5.6 million renovation project in 2006 and now offers everything you want in a resort! Amenities include: completely re-vamped rooms with new furnishings, flat-screen televisions, bathroom tile, fixtures, art and free wireless internet access. Additionally, the resort offers two heated pools, four hot tubs, steam rooms, dry saunas, the Cliff Spa, an exercise room, three restaurants, two lounges, a concierge service, an on-site ski shop and more! Please visit www.sigma.org for registration forms and hotel accommodation information. With education alliance partners National Petroleum News and OPIS, there will be several industry speakers proving great insight on how to make your business thrive! You won’t want to miss it! Kick off the year right by attending this ever-popular meeting! Call the SIGMA office with any questions: 703-709-7000.
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AUSTRALIAN STUDY TOUR 2008
SIGMA is delighted to announce our 2008 Study Tour to Australia. Our delegation of fuel marketers and fuel suppliers will meet in Australia, March 1-11, 2008. Motor Fuels marketers are most successful when they have access to the latest and most advanced ideas, ideas that can only be learned from others who are the best and the brightest in the world. Over eleven days, the tour will visit Australia and gain first-hand knowledge about business practices in Australia and in the US. The “Here & Now” rate for the tour is $7,950. This includes deluxe accommodations for 10 nights in Sydney and Port Douglas, all educational programming and ground transfers, some spectacular social events, most breakfasts and some lunches, dinners and tours. Registration is limited to 50 participants (including spouses and guests.) To ensure you are among the 50 marketers or fuel suppliers going on the tour, just send in your reservation form right away. Sign up for this incredible journey and experience the sights and sounds of the Outback with the flair and enthusiasm of an exclusive SIGMA event. Because visiting Australia SIGMA-style includes a "SIGMA study component", you'll be able to learn and have fun all at the same time! For more information, visit our special Australia Study Tour website at: http://www.sigmaevents.org/australia/ or call the SIGMA office at 703-709-7000.
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SIGMA SHARE GROUP
Mark your calendars for the Mobile Refueling/Fleet Fueling and Cardlock Share Group scheduled for December 5-6, 2007, in Kansas City, MO! The Share Group will be held at the Embassy Suites—Historic Plaza Area. Topics to be covered at the two-day meeting include: cardlock sales development; truck automation; dispatch/route optimization; site selection and development; site maintenance; telemarketing and team collaboration. Plus, there will plenty of time for peer to peer sharing. Go to www.sigma.org for more information or click on the “Share Group” link.
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SIGMA Weekly Report October 22, 2007 © Copyright SIGMA, 2007
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