January 16, 2015

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! 

GOV. CHRISTIE STATE OF THE STATE - NO MENTION OF TTF OR GAS TAX
MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTIONS
KEYSTONE PIPELINE RECEIVES VOTES IN US HOUSE
NEW UST RULES AND COMPLIANCE CALENDARS
RE-LAUNCH OF NJ GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM

I said a few weeks ago that the gas tax and the Transportation Trust Fund is likely to be a weekly topic, and so far it has been. This week, Governor Christie provided his annual State of the State Address to the Legislature, as required by the NJ Constitution. The big news is more about what he didn't say, than what he did say. He said a lot about NOTHING, and NOTHING about some very important issues, such as the gas tax and the Transportation Trust Fund. The news media was quick to point this out, just seconds after his speech was finished.  Although the Governor was very specific that under no circumstances would he sign any increases in income taxes, by failing to include gas taxes in that sentence, he left everyone speculating that some kind of a scheme is in the works that will either increase the gas tax, or add sales tax to gasoline sales.
 
I wrote an op-ed last week hoping that ONE of the State's major newspapers would publish it BEFORE Governor Christie gave his speech on Tuesday. I was thrilled when the Sunday Asbury Park Press published it, as well as New Jersey Newsroom and a news story in the Bergen Record. The Times of Trenton published it on Tuesday morning, just hours before the Governor took the podium.  You can read my op-ed by clicking HERE.
 
Unfortunately, federal highway funds are in the same predicament as state transportation funds, and there have been recent efforts on the national level to increase the federal gas tax. At least the good news at the federal level is that they can't impose a sales tax, they can only increase the amount of cents-per-gallon that the gas tax is, while still keeping the collection method the same.  
 
Now, you haven't heard much from me regarding motor vehicle inspections because I have not had anything to report, and I still don't. As you know, I predicted that the State would announce a program before the end of the summer, but they have still failed to do so. No, I don't think that I was misled about the imminence of this announcement... I'm pretty sure that people in very high positions in the Governor's Office are as dumbfounded as I, especially since the State has a contractual obligation to meet by May of 2016, and every day the clock ticks closer to that date. It only makes sense that we should hear something soon. I think that the Governor's presidential ambitions have something to do with this delay.
 
More news on the Federal level -- the House recently passed Keystone Pipeline legislation, with a 266-153 vote.  NJ has 12 representatives in the US House - 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats.  All 6 Republicans voted yes on the bill, and they were joined by 2 Democrats who also voted yes (Rep. Norcross and Rep. Sires).  Three Democrats (Rep. Pascrell Jr., Rep. Watson-Coleman, and Rep. Pallone) voted No, and Democrat Rep. Payne abstained from the voted. The Senate is supposed to take up this legislation next week. Although there is a lot to mention regarding the marketplace, and how the Keystone Pipeline affects all of this, we will save that for another issue, perhaps as early as next week, depending on what happens in the Senate.

Moving on to long-awaited UST regulations... We expect them to be announced sometime in the next 30 days, and we will give you the details as soon as we have them. Compliance calendars should also be received in the next week or two as well.  We used to have them delivered to our offices in November or December, however over the past few years we've become accustomed to them not arriving until after the New Year.  The 2014 calendars that we sent you last year DO include compliance recording for January 2015! This calendar is a courtesy provided by NJ DEP and, like everything else the State does, budget constraints make them slower than usual. We will have an update on their status next week.
 
Finally, another reminder that the State re-launched the Generator Grant Program earlier this month. Grants are being awarded on a first come, first served basis. To apply for up to $15,000 to install a quick connect you must have at least 18,000 gallons of gasoline storage capacity, and sell diesel at your location. All information about this program, including the application, is available online at www.njeda.com/generators. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Jacy at 973-376-0066 or jacy@njgca.org with any questions or concerns about this program.

That's all for now!  Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

Do you have a business for sale?  Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

• NJGCA regularly assists members looking to sell their business by getting the word out. Since everyone reading this message is involved in the small business gasoline retail, convenience store, and automotive repair trades, it is an ideal medium to connect with interested buyers and prospects!

NJGCA also helps members sell equipment by placing ads in the Road Warrior!

• If you'd like to list equipment for sale, or have an open position you'd like to make other industry professionals aware of, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066 and let us help you get the word out! 

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

01/11/2015:
Saudi prince: "Never" again will we see $100-a-barrel oil
Saudi billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal did a recent interview in which he said that we will not see $100-a-barrel oil again.  The plunge in oil prices has been one of the biggest stories of the year. And while cheap gasoline is good for consumers, the negative impact of a 50% decline in oil has been wide and deep, especially for major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia. Even oil-producing Texas has felt a hit. The astute investor and prince of the Saudi royal family spoke to me exclusively last week as prices spiraled below $50 a barrel. He also predicted the move would dampen what has been one of the big US growth stories: the shale revolution. In fact, in the last two weeks, several major rig operators said they had received early cancellation notices for rig contracts. Companies apparently would rather pay to cancel rig agreements than keep drilling at these prices. His royal highness, who has been critical of Saudi Arabia's policies that have allowed prices to fall, called the theory of a plan to hurt Russian President Putin with cheap oil "baloney" and said the sharp sell-off has put the Saudis "in bed" with the Russians.  Follow this link above to read the entire interview.
 
01/09/2015:
Municipalities Consider Raising Smoking Age to 21
With all the health dangers, people would be better off not smoking. That's a fact. But at this point, if they are over the age of 19, it's their personal decision to make. However, Hackensack is considering joining Englewood and Teaneck in raising the legal age to buy cigarettes within the city's borders to 21. We're still uncomfortable with the idea that someone considered an adult when it comes to serving in the military, getting married and voting isn't seen as mature enough to decide whether to buy cigarettes. The legal age to purchase tobacco in most of the country is 18. Staff Writer Todd South reported that New York City raised its age to 21 in 2013, and certain parts of Massachusetts and Hawaii have the same age restrictions. New Jersey raised its age limit to 19 in 2006. If the Hackensack proposal follows the laws in Englewood and Teaneck, it would ban the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 21, but not the act of smoking itself among those who are underage. "What's to stop them from driving to Maywood and buying them anyway?" Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse said. "We're talking about losing business to another town." The City Council discussed the proposal this week but hasn't voted yet. Two members were in favor, two had mixed feelings and the mayor opposes it.
 
01/09/2015:
Momentum builds in Congress for raising the federal gas tax
Record-low gas prices across the U.S. have given rise to fresh talk in Washington of raising the federal gas tax for the first time in over 20 years, with leading Republicans now saying a hike must not be ruled out. The GOP has long resisted calls from business leaders and others to boost the 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax as a way to pay for upgrades to the nation’s crumbling roads and bridges. Yet in recent days, senior Senate Republicans have said they want to keep options open and that "nothing is off the table" when weighing the best mechanisms to pay to finance infrastructure projects. "I just think that option is there, it's clearly one of the options," said Sen. Inhofe (R-Okla.), new chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the third-ranking Senate Republican, also said they were open to the possibility of raising the tax. Democratic leaders in both chambers of Congress, meanwhile, declared this week that “now is the time” for an increase. While major obstacles stand in the way -- namely the House of Representatives -- business groups believe there is a real chance to raise the tax in the final two years of the Obama administration.

01/05/2015:
How low will they go? Gas prices could hit bottom by MLK Day
Low gas prices, which have delighted drivers and frustrated commodities speculators, may be heading for the last mile as experts predict declining prices at the pump could bottom out by Martin Luther King Day weekend. "I think we will bottom out between now and Martin Luther King weekend," said Tom Klosa, founder of the Oil Price Information Service. "This is way beyond what we expected. The lowest price I heard is $1.80 (a gallon) and that is close to cost." The official average price in New Jersey is now $2.25 a gallon. Klosa said that while that is likely to drop to $2.20 to $2.10, there are unbranded stations with prices in the $1.80 to $1.90 range. OPIS tracks prices at 130,000 stations in North America. Gas Buddy.com reported lows ranging from $1.85 a gallon to $1.97 for regular in several stations across the state. Nationally there are gas stations in other states with lower prices that Jersey drivers can only dream about filling up at, where gas is in the $1.60 range, Klosa said. "We are going to turn around," he said of prices eventually hitting bottom. " But this will be the cheapest year since 2009.

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.