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May 23, 2019

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

• Future of Fuel-Cell Vehicles in New Jersey; Gasoline Ban Threat in California; DVOM Diagnostics Technical Course; Happy Memorial Day

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Mercer County: Gas Station for Sale
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

• Democratic Congressional Reps Want Gas Tax Hike
• $15 Minimum Wage to Be Major Issue in 2020 Elections
• For Widespread Adoption of Electric Vehicles, Many Roadblocks Ahead
• McConnell And Kaine Unveil Bill To Raise Tobacco Age To 21
• Your Car Knows When You Gain Weight
• Lawmakers Embrace Goal Of A Fossil-Fuel Free New Jersey By 2050
• California Regulator Threatens Ban On Gasoline Engines

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!

??????• ENTIRE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26
??????• RECERTIFICATION EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: May 1, 8, 15, 22

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation!
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing
• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!
• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER-- CLICK HERE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

FUTURE OF FUEL-CELL VEHICLES IN NEW JERSEY
GASOLINE BAN THREAT IN CALIFORNIA
DVOM DIAGNOSTICS TECHNICAL COURSE
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

FUEL CELLS

I recently provided testimony to the Assembly Committee on Science, Innovation & Technology on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the establishment of a task force. I sometimes get asked why it is that NJGCA involves itself in alternative energy conversations and learning more about what’s to come in our industry. The fact of the matter is, we are asking to be participants in these ongoing discussions. It is our responsibility to make sure you are aware of the future, and electrified vehicles (including hydrogen-powered) is on the horizon. More manufacturers are investing in electrified vehicles, and hydrogen can be included as an electric vehicle. The difference between hydrogen and a plug-in electric vehicle is that a fuel cell vehicle makes its own electricity. My goal at some point is to provide hydrogen suppliers and car manufacturers for you to speak to face-to-face so you can make your own judgment. The example I gave to the committee in my testimony in terms of my responsibility to my members is that if this were 120 years ago, and I was the executive director of the candle retailers association, it would have been my responsibility to have my members understand that the electric light bulb would at some point be the means that we illuminate our homes and workplaces. I have that same responsibility to you now as gasoline retailers.

GASOLINE BAN

This week, the California Air Resources Board chairman threatened to enact stricter pollution rules as a response to a federal relaxing of rules through the Trump administration. If you have been reading our Energy Examiner feature in the On the Road newsletter, then you are aware of the battle between California and the Trump administration around emissions standards and that New Jersey has hopped on the bandwagon to involve itself in those efforts. CARB Chairman Mary Nichols took this a step further this week, saying she would consider banning vehicles that burn petroleum-based fuels in retaliation. We are not feeling particularly threatened by this right now, but wanted you all to be aware of this. This is an example of the mindset that at some point will take over the mainstream thinking. If you sell petroleum products or service cars that are fueled by petroleum products, you will be affected. Yes, it's a long way off, but it's something to consider.

ENHANCED DVOM DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES

We are only two weeks away from the start of this class and an incredible opportunity for our automotive technicians to pick up some new skills. We have sent out a number of emails in recent weeks about the first training course that we are sponsoring. I know many of you believe that you are experienced technicians and do not need the course that we are offering, Enhanced DVOM Diagnostic Strategies. However, we are learning that the most experienced auto techs may not realize or want to admit a course like this is the exact remediation that they need to build on their previous experience and training. Although this course may be only a refresher for all of you experienced techs, it is certainly designed to impart much knowledge on the less experienced techs in your shop. You should attend and bring your techs. The course will be offered in two night increments. The first course for North Jersey members will be June 5th and 6th in Ridgefield Park at Westview Service and hosted by NJGCA Treasurer Tim Arata. The second will be June 12th and 13th in Forked River at Lacey Auto Care hosted by member Rich Ritchie. Click HERE to pick your class locations and register, and click HERE to read more about the class. If you are interested in attending, make sure you register early; space is limited!

I want to wish all of our members and their families a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I hope that while you are celebrating, you take some time to pause and give thanks to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us the freedoms we have today.

That's all for this week -
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Want to become an emission repair technician/facility?
Entire Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) Training Classes
Sections 1-7
2 PM to 10 PM
May 1, 8, 15, 22
June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26

Sections 8, 9, 10 (RECERTIFICATION)
2 PM to 10 PM
May 1, 8, 15, 22

Stop turning away work!

The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility and have a Licensed Emission Repair Technician perform the repairs! When the new Emissions Inspection program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Facilities will be given to the vehicle owners who fail the New Jersey Emission Inspection. If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician and you are licensed as a Emission Repair Facility! Those signing up for the FULL training course will attend sections 1-10. Full ETEP class fees for members are $2,195 and non-members are $2,395. Recertification fees for members are $729 and non-members are $879. Note for Spring 2018 classes: Recertification dates will be held FIRST, with sections 1 to 7 to follow.

Click here for FULL ETEP REGISTRATION FORM
Click here for ETEP RECERTIFICATION FORM

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 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

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

New! Parts For Sale: Incon TS-1000 tank monitor works well just taken out of service. Printer is aprox 2 months old. Also, Incon 8, tank probes. System replaced because on an Exxon upgrade. Call John Twin Towers Exxon (201) 224-8444

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

5/23/19
Democratic Congressional Reps Want Gas Tax Hike
Democratic Congressional representatives want to see a gasoline tax hike, which would help pay for the $2 trillion infrastructure plan agreed to last month, but yesterday’s scheduled meeting between President Trump and leading Democrats to discuss the issue was abruptly ended by Trump, according to the Washington Post.

5/23/19
$15 Minimum Wage to Be Major Issue in 2020 Elections
The entire 2020 Democratic presidential field has publicly touted the need to double the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. According to APNews, support for the proposal reflects the success of the Service Employees International Union, which has promoted the idea through a campaign called “Fight for 15,” which aims to get higher wages for foodservice and other workers.

5/22/19
For Widespread Adoption of Electric Vehicles, Many Roadblocks Ahead
With more battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on the road than any country other than China and domestic auto companies like Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. investing in new electric models, the United States is a clear leader in the electric vehicle space. But while analysts continue to forecast growth in the U.S. market, electric vehicles still make up just a sliver of overall domestic car sales at 1.2 percent, according to International Energy Agency data.

5/20/19
McConnell And Kaine Unveil Bill To Raise Tobacco Age To 21
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Monday introduced legislation to raise the age for buying tobacco to 21 — now a bipartisan effort that addresses some of the criticism public health groups had of an earlier proposal they saw as too industry-friendly. McConnell‘s bill is now joined by Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine, who has backed legislation to ban indoor smoking and some flavored products in the past. The version released would raise the age to 21 for everyone, backtracking on McConnell’s April promise to exempt “men and women who served in uniform." Nor does his Tobacco-Free Youth Act block states from taking more stringent steps on tobacco, including moves to address the growing teen vaping epidemic.

5/20/19
Your Car Knows When You Gain Weight
Cars produced today are essentially smartphones with wheels. For drivers, this has meant many new features: automatic braking, turn-by-turn directions, infotainment. But for all the things we’re getting out of our connected vehicles, carmakers are getting much, much more: They’re constantly collecting data from our vehicles.

5/17/19
Lawmakers Embrace Goal Of A Fossil-Fuel Free New Jersey By 2050
In a spirited legislative hearing, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee unanimously approved a bill that requires all electricity in New Jersey by 2050 to come from carbon-free sources, presumably renewable energy and nuclear power. The legislation (S-3681) essentially gives New Jersey three decades to wean itself off natural gas, a fuel that today supplies approximately 40 percent of the state’s electricity. Natural gas also heats about two-thirds of homes in New Jersey, and is critical as a raw material in manufacturing.

5/16/19
California Regulator Threatens Ban On Gasoline Engines
California's top environmental regulator is threatening to enact tougher pollution rules that could include a ban on vehicles that burn petroleum-based fuels in retaliation for the Trump administration’s plan to relax vehicle emission standards. The move -- which would be a first in the U.S. -- marks an escalation in the clash between Washington and Sacramento that would increase uncertainty for carmakers in the nation’s biggest auto market.

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 require 12 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 732-256-9646 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.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.