December 03, 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!

TIRE REGISTRATION COMPROMISE LANGUAGE RELEASED
PAID SICK LEAVE REMAINS CONSTANT THREAT
**NEW** ETEP RE-CERTIFICATION CLASS STARTING DECEMBER 8th!
INTERNET LOTTERY MENTIONED AT COMMITTEE HEARING
MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM

We learned this week that the Conference Commitee tasked with merging the House and Senate versions of the hotly-debated highway funding bill (both of which contained mandatory tire registration language) had completed their work, and the final version of the bill was released. First, the not-so-great news... tire registration HAS been included in the final version. However, we (and our friends from Maryland) have spent the last month presenting an amendment to any member of Congress who would give us a minute of their time and... we were successful in getting that amendment included in the bill. Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is required to conduct a study on the best way to implement the new tire registration process.
 
Unfortunately, NHTSA is not specifically required to do the study before the tire registration rule is created.  I have a modest degree of confidence that all parties involved recognize that it doesn't make sense to do a study AFTER a rule is already made, but I also know that government often does things that don't make sense.  I can remain hopeful, though, can't I?  Rest assured, we will remain as involved as possible in influencing the outcome of the rulemaking process, too.
 
Finally, I want to thank all of you that responded to all of my requests to contact members of Congress.  I want to acknowledge the support on this issue that we received from Congressmen Leonard Lance and Frank Pallone, both of NJ.  You many remember from last week's message that we had a last minute meeting with Congressman Pallone as he returned for the Thanksgiving holiday.  His staff has been in touch with me all week to give me status updates on the progress of his efforts to get our amendment included in the final version of the bill, and we will continue to work with them as the tire registration issue continues to unfold.  
 
Let me be clear, the meeting that we had with Congressman Pallone, which was also attended by several NJGCA members who operate repair shops, may have been the most beneficial thing that we have done in the past six months to help ourselves on this issue. Congressman Pallone wrote a very compelling letter to his colleagues on the conference committee after hearing our plight.  He was obviously successful, since there were over 1,000 pages of amendments considered by the conference committee, and only TWO of those amendments were actually adopted. Fortunately, ours was one of the two!
 
Now, we live to fight another day and our involvement in the rulemaking process will be crucial.  Yes, we will call upon you again for help once that process has begun.
 
Moving on, I'm writing this message right after Eric returned from a coalition meeting in Trenton regarding the issue of paid sick leave. He received an update on this issue from Senator Madden, Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee.  Though widespread support exists in the Legislature, it appears that the coalition of small business organizations that was formed to fight against paid sick leave has been successful in voicing how problematic this issue is, and has highlighted concerns in the industry about how it should (or should not) be implemented. There is enough disagreement and confusion amongst legislators that we may be successful killing this again. But, don't get your hopes up yet, because I can assure you, it will be a main focus for the new legislature, which takes office on January 12th.  Paid sick leave will be a huge burden to your businesses and we must fight to stop it!
 
Next, I want to make a final announcement about the ETEP Re-Certification Training that NJGCA just added in response to YOUR requests.  The class will be four (4) full days, December 9, 15, 22 and 29.  The class begins this Wednesday, 12/9, so NOW is your last opportunity to get registered and get your ETEP re-certification taken care of before the New Year. Click HERE for the registration form.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call the NJGCA office at 732-256-9646.

Last week, there was a Committee hearing to discuss the lack of revenue that the Lottery is earning.  There was a mention once again about allowing internet lottery sales.  The discussion that ensued at the Committee hearing tells me that there are people in high places in Trenton who want to make this happen. This is another issue that I am following closely and I will alert you as things develop.  We remain adamantly opposed to permitting sales of lottery over the internet, as this will surely hurt your convenience stores.
 
Finally, I will be away next week with my family but I am bringing a laptop, and I will try to find time to write a message for the staff to send to you.  You all know that I have been waiting for an announcement about a new motor vehicle emissions inspection program.  I have been promised for over two years that an announcement was imminent, only to be let down each time I expected it to happen. Recently, I have been encouraged by conversations that I have had with the Governor's Office that a new proposal would be out by the end of the year.  So, after waiting for the last three years, Murphy's Law dictates that this announcement will come next week, when I am away. I will stay in contact with my staff just in case they need to alert me that the proposal has been released.

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

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

**NEW** Emission Repair Technician Re-Certification Class
Four (4) Full Days -- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM -- December 9, 15, 22 & 29

Section 8 – Advanced Gasoline Technologies (Wednesday, December 9)
Section 9 – Advanced Light Duty Diesel (Tuesday, December 15 & 22)         
Section 10 – Hybrid/Electric Technologies (Tuesday, December 29)

Cost = $635 Member
$765 Non-Member

For more information and registration form, CLICK HERE.

Emissions Inspector Training -- Tuesday, December 8th

Class Starts 7:00 AM (donuts and coffee provided)
Pizza and soda served at 12:00 pm
MVC Test at 1:00 PM

Cost: Member = $250
Non-Member = $300

Please bring $50.00 check made payable to NJMVC to satisfy the State's licensing fee

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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 

NJGCA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER GILL ENERGY LOOKING TO HIRE FOR (3) DIFFERENT POSITIONS!

District Manager
Store Manager
Trucking Operations Manager

For more information about these positions, and to submit a resume for consideration, please contact: ravigill@gillenergy.com.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

12/2/2015:
Gas Prices Continue Tumbling in November
Gasoline prices continue to tumble in the wake of the Thanksgiving Holiday as average price nationwide dropped to $2.04 per gallon, which is within fractions of a penny of the multi-year low reached back in January.  The national average is tracking to fall below the $2 per gallon benchmark by Christmas.  Gas prices are down three cents per gallon for the week, 14 cents during the last month and 74 cents compared to a year ago, according to the latest survey by AAA. The decline in gas prices has helped fuel the boom in sales of trucks and utility vehicles, which tend to be less fuel efficient than midsized or compact passenger cars. Pump prices in 22 states are now below $2 per gallon, and drivers in the Midwestern states of: Michigan, where prices dropped almost overnight to $1.81 per gallon; Missouri, also at $1.81 per gallon; and Ohio at $1.82 are paying the nation’s lowest averages at the pump.
 
12/1/2015:
EPA Sets 2016 Renewable Fuel Standard at 18B Gallons
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday issued its final rule designed to increase production of ethanol to be blended with gasoline through 2016. The agency said it will require more than 18 billion gallons of renewable fuels, most of it ethanol, next year. The amount is less than what was set in a 2007 renewable fuels law, but more than what was proposed by the EPA in May.  The May proposal called for refiners to use 17.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2016, with approximately 14 billion gallons coming from traditional corn-based ethanol and 3.4 billion gallons coming from advanced bio-fuels. The final rule doesn't necessarily mean a higher percentage of ethanol in an individual driver's tank, and isn't likely to have much effect on gas prices. But it does mean there will a higher supply of the homegrown fuel overall.
 
12/1/2015:
Bill Gates, Other Billionaires Invest To Advance Clean Energy
This week, representatives from world governments are meeting in Paris for the much-anticipated United Nations summit on climate change. Ahead of those talks -- which are intended to create a global strategy for radically reducing carbon emissions -- some of the world's richest people announced their own plan to slow climate change. More than 20 billionaires, including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, signed on to the new Breakthrough Energy Coalition. Members of the group have pledged to invest in clean energy in order to accelerate its advancement, according to Forbes. In statements on its website, the coalition says the urgency of climate change requires an aggressive program of investment to quickly expand clean-energy adoption. It styles itself as a public-private partnership, claiming that current levels of government funding are inadequate for meaningful continued development of clean-energy technologies.

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.