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SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES CAP AND TRADE
A Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee this week approved legislation that would establish an economy-wide emissions trading program to cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at 2005 levels by 2012 and cut them nearly 70 percent by 2050. The bill, drafted by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) to require greenhouse gas reductions in the transportation, manufacturing, and electric power industries, was approved as amended on a 4-3 vote by the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection. This was a revised version that included new provisions extending coverage to the natural gas industry. The cap-and-trade measure (S. 2191) now goes before the full Senate environment committee. Introduced in October, the Lieberman-Warner bill proposes cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions nearly 70 percent by 2050 and 15 percent by 2020, compared to 2005 levels.
ENERGY BILL TALKS CONTINUE
Democratic leaders are hoping to complete a final energy bill as one of the last acts before recessing Nov. 16 for the Thanksgiving holiday, making it a legislative priority. The closed-door negotiations between House and Senate Democrats -- who are in talks to reconcile two very different bills passed by the House and Senate (H.R. 3221 and H.R. 6) -- are now in their third week. This is in lieu of a formal conference. A big issue still being debated is vehicle fuel economy standards. The Senate bill includes provisions to significantly increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. The House energy bill has no such provision because of strong disagreements within the Democratic caucus. Additionally, House Republicans will conduct a series of "hearings" over the next couple of weeks to highlight provisions that would increase domestic energy supply and should be part of any new energy bill.
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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. Go to www.sigma.org for more information.
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SENATE APPROVES SCHIP WITHOUT VETO PROOF MARGIN
On Nov. 1, the Senate approved legislation reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 3963). The bill did not incorporate revisions aimed at garnering a veto-proof majority in the House. The Senate approved the bill by a 64-30 vote. A similar bill (H.R. 976) passed by a 67-29 margin in September. Talks to draft an amendment to the bill aimed to garner enough Republican votes to overcome another presidential veto have been unsuccessful. SCHIP funding expired Sept. 30, but is being continued under a stopgap funding bill that expires Nov. 16. The proposed bill is funded by a 61-cent a pack increase in the federal tobacco tax. Bush opposes raising the cigarette tax and is expected to veto the bill if this measure is included. As reported in last week’s Weekly Report, on Oct. 25, the House again failed to approve legislation reauthorizing SCHIP by a veto-proof margin, despite changes made by Democrats to get additional Republican support for the bill. The vote was 265-142.
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HAVE YOU MET WITH YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPS?
Have you met with your congressional representative to help further the legislative needs of our industry? Congressmen and Senators spend a good bit of time back home, playing golf, doing town hall meetings, and appearing at county fairs. SIGMA staff and counsel would like to hear from you if you have had the opportunity to speak with any members about SIGMA issues. If you would like to schedule an appointment, but don’t have the time or know how, we can help you. Please contact Eileen Moore at emoore@sigma.org or by calling (703)709-7000 or Jim Barnette at jbarnette@steptoe.com. Additionally, please let us know if you have any relationships with your representatives that may help further the legislative issues that are important to all SIGMA members
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE VIDEO
Visit http://www.sigma.org/education/handouts.html#ilta to view the ILTA Ethanol Emergency Response Video that was shown during the Renewable and Alternative Fuels Taskforce Meeting at the 2007 Summer Legislative Conference, held in Washington, DC.
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FOREIGN AUTOMAKERS URGE HIGHER CAFE STANDARDS
The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers called on Congress to pass legislation to increase automobile fuel economy. The Senate passed legislation (H.R. 6) on June 21 to increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) to a combined standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 from the current 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 22.5 miles per gallon for sport utility vehicles and other light trucks. This amounts to about a 4 percent annual increase. House and Senate leaders are negotiating over the Senate energy bill and a version (H.R. 3221) approved by the House without CAFE provisions. Domestic automakers are supporting alternative legislation (H.R. 2927), that would require a 3 percent annual increase in CAFE standards. If the overall CAFE standard is ultimately set at around 35 miles per gallon, foreign automakers want more time to be able to comply with the rule, delaying it until 2021 or 2022.
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GROUP RELEASES DRAFT GHG EMISSIONS REPORTING SYSTEM
On Oct. 29, The Climate Registry released a draft greenhouse gas emissions reporting system to support voluntary, mandatory, and market-based global warming initiatives in North America. The document outlines basic reporting requirements, methodologies for quantifying emissions from multiple sources, and the required third-party verification system. Once finalized, the guidance document will be the common standard for members to measure, track, verify, and report their greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, 39 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, three Canadian provinces, three tribes, and one Mexican state have signed on to participate in the nonprofit registry. Both registry members and nonmembers are encouraged to review and comment on the draft General Reporting Protocol through Nov. 30. Formed in 2006, the multi-state registry provides a central repository for voluntarily reported greenhouse gas emissions data.
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REMINDER: FILL OUT THE 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. Thank you for your help.
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HELP US PREPARE FOR SIGMA’s 50th ANNIVERSARY
Beginning in January 2008, SIGMA will kick off its year long celebration of its 50th Anniversary. We need your help! Do you have any photos of your stations from decades ago? What about old equipment or other memorabilia? How about an interesting story to share? We want to hear from you! Please email Susan Crosby at scrosby@sigma.org if you’d like to contribute.
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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. Over eleven days, the tour will visit Australia and gain first-hand knowledge about business practices in Australia and in the US. This registration rate 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. 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 website or call the SIGMA office at 703-709-7000.
SIGMA Weekly ReportNovember 5, 2007 © Copyright SIGMA, 2007
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