Jim Collura Takes the Reins

by Rhonda Gerson, Oil & Energy Magazine

NEFI’s New President and CEO outlines his plans for the future of the organization

On November 4, 2024, the National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI) announced the appointment of Jim Collura to the position of President and CEO. Most recently, he served as the organization’s Acting President & CEO, after years as its Vice President and Director of Government Affairs.

Collura has been working in government policy since 2003 and joined NEFI in 2005. His depth of knowledge of the ins and outs of successfully advocating in Washington, D.C., and his experience in NEFI, made him the “clear choice to lead” the organization, according to the official announcement.

Collura graciously sat for an exclusive interview with Oil & Energy Magazine to discuss his experience, his plans for the organization, and the election’s impact on NEFI members.

Before we dig in, what message would you like to give NEFI members and partners?
The world is changing, and while the organization needs to change with it, I want to assure them that our core mission – to advocate on their behalf in Washington – will remain a major focus. My commitment is to ensure the return on investment for those that support us through dues and our advocacy fund or contribute in other ways. I want their ROI to be prioritized. My doors are open. I embrace constructive criticism. While NEFI is a strong organization that has accomplished much, if someone has ideas on how we can do better, I want to hear them.

Let’s start at the beginning. Can you outline your experience before NEFI?
Eight months after graduating college, I started working for Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican from New Hampshire, in Washington. I then went to work for the office of government liaison at U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for two years. That experience was insightful because it was there that I realized the importance of being able to work across the aisle.

What were your responsibilities as NEFI Vice President and Director of Government Affairs?
I joined NEFI in 2005, and I’ve been effectively running its Government Affairs program since 2007. My primary focus was to advocate the industry’s interests on the federal level as well as assisting state associations, when needed and requested. I also analyzed policy; pursuing the introduction of bills that benefit the industry; and working closely with our CEO, regulatory council and government affairs committee to evaluate the implications of policies for the industry and the competitiveness of our members. If a policy was perceived as harmful, we worked to defeat or change it. Where members had an interest, we would pursue passage of policies that benefit them. I would report back to the membership via weekly articles in our newsletter or in Oil & Energy, and at the same time provide reports to NEFI’s Board of Directors and committees.

You have been with NEFI for almost 20 years. What changes have you seen in the industry and the organization?
When I was hired, NEFI was a six-state, New England-based heating oil trade association with a presence in Washington. In 2024, we are now national in name and aspiring to a diverse national membership. NEFI is actively recruiting members throughout the Northeast and across the country. Hopefully we will have more in the near future.

As NEFI was predominantly a heating oil organization when I was hired, the heating oil market was more than 8 billion gallons per year in the U.S. Now it’s half of that.

While certain parts of the country have seen more attrition than others, our industry has responded with remarkable resilience and adaptability. We’ve seen companies consolidate and diversify their services and embrace innovative solutions like renewable heating fuels and the development and deployment of high efficiency equipment utilizing 100 percent biofuels. This evolution demonstrates our industry’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining its vital role in America’s energy future.

What do you see as your first priority for NEFI?
Priority #1 is to reassure our existing members and prospective members that, now and in the future, this organization remains committed to its core advocacy mission and will not deviate or be distracted from it. That said, my first 100 days will be aimed at strengthening NEFI internally and operationally, addressing the concerns some members have raised and assuring we remain transparent and accountable to our supporters. We must make sure all members have a voice in the governance of the organization and how it carries out its mission.

Will you continue to handle the D.C. outreach as well as the leadership responsibilities?
In the short term, I will continue to manage both responsibilities, as I have done since taking on the interim CEO role back in May. Even when we fill the director of government affairs role, and we will have to do that, I plan to continue to be involved, and hands-on in the policy work and outreach efforts, but it will likely be at a higher profile and more strategic level.

How does your advocacy background affect how you approach the position?
I will apply my experience of the last 20 years and use it to our members’ benefit. At the end of the day, I work for the Board and our members. NEFI belongs to them, and we will pursue what’s important to them, whether it’s advocacy or education programs, weather alerts, affinity programs. They dictate our direction, based on their experiences and what they need. Advocacy is more than going to Capitol Hill and telling people whether the legislation is good or bad. It’s telling a story – and the story is them. To learn what keeps our members up at night, what gives them hope. It is our responsibility to tell that story to the public, the media, policymakers – even our political opposition. But look at all the other ways we advocate for our members: by our regulatory counsel providing cost-saving compliance information, advice and representation; and helping our members be more competitive and be more successful through our membership benefits and affinity programs.

This industry – the home heating businesses and folks in the home comfort business – have been given the short end of the stick. It’s a difficult environment, and on top of it they are misrepresented in the media – slandered in the media – about what they do and who they are. And politicians are proposing legislation that would put them out of business. Businesses that deliver vital fuel to their own constituents! They need someone to tell their story, and to do it optimistically and passionately. It is time to go on the offensive.

How will the outcome of the 2024 election affect your members, the industry, and the association’s priorities?
NEFI is a non-partisan organization, and we will work with whatever party is in charge in pursuit of our members’ best interests. Our effectiveness comes from our ability to work constructively with both parties to advance policies that benefit our members and their customers. While the recent election creates significant opportunities, we’ll continue building bridges across the political spectrum.

That being said, the outcome provides an opportunity to advance parts of our agenda that have been stymied for the last couple of years. Particularly in the areas of consumer choice and ensuring a level playing field in the market. This past year we worked closely with allies in Congress to introduce legislation to protect energy choice and restrict federal agencies and state and local governments from barring consumers from accessing the heating fuels and technologies of their choice. Namely, the “Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act” and “Energy Choice Act.” These will remain priorities in the new Congress.

There will also be a roll back of harmful regulatory policies that have been considered in the last four years that would affect our members and business writ large, like the proposed federal regulations on heavy duty commercial vehicle emissions that would restrict access to internal combustion engine trucks without considering renewable fuel options, arbitrary new restrictions on residential boilers, and the overly burdensome OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Proposal. That’s just a few of the many, actions proposed that we have the opportunity to roll back or reform in a way that’s more even-handed.

There are lots of opportunities. Congress will also be reviewing tax policy. Republicans will use budget reconciliation to move tax policies, and we will be at the table thanks to years of developing strong relationships with key legislative offices on both sides of the aisle.

This was the first major election that NEFI’s new federal PAC participated in. Can you talk a little about the origins of the PAC, its goals, and how the candidates it supported did?

The PAC was established to support our advocacy efforts in Washington, specifically to support federal lawmakers who share our vision for the future of the industry and its importance to their constituents, and advocate for policies in furtherance of those interests.

We contributed to candidates, equally split between Democrats and Republicans, who met our criteria. Most Democrats we supported are political moderates, such as Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, a pragmatic lawmaker who supports energy choice. Every candidate we supported this election cycle was elected or reelected, which puts us in a good position heading into the new Congress.

How will the election result affect state and federal efforts to “electrify everything”?

At the federal level, electrification policies of the current administration are now dead in the water, and we should start seeing them get rolled back. Regulations designed to limit access to liquid fuel- and gas-fired appliances will be removed or repealed. This is a huge win for our members.

Congress will reform the tax code and – importantly – the so-called Inflation Reduction Act or IRA, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Republicans try to claw back the money that hasn’t yet been released for home electrification rebates. In states where the money’s been released, new federal requirements could require these programs be changed. NEFI will be heavily engaged in this process.

At state level, my immediate reaction to the Republican victory at the federal level was that blue states would become more aggressive, with liberal politicians assuming no new climate policy from Washington and that Biden Administration efforts would be stalled or repealed. As a result, climate policies could be more aggressive in these states, and the timelines moved up. It’s already happening – in New York, Governor Hochul is rushing to get the congestion pricing program – which she pulled just as it was about to be enacted – back on the table before Congress can stop it.

But look at the exit poll results. They’re stunning: 76 percent of voters cited inflation as a major burden on their family and livelihood. If you look across the country, Democrats may have won in some states, but they won with much smaller margins. These trends put their political future at risk. If they pursue more aggressive policies on the back of working Americans, lower income families, small businesses, they’re going to pay the price, clearly. I think that – I see a possibility that they become more aggressive, but they may take a pause and look at the extraordinary cost of living, and second guess that approach. I hope they do.

I don’t think it’s that Americans are no longer concerned about the climate – they still want policies that help the environment. The concern is burdening them with the costs and laying the burden on them. It is anti-free market, anti-consumer – that’s the approach that’s not working. American entrepreneurship and innovation will save our planet, not costly mandates and regressive carbon taxes.

What do you envision for the future of NEFI? What do you think needs to change?

Five years ago, then NEFI CEO Sean Cota led the effort to rebrand the association as national in scope, change its mission, and diversify its membership. I think it was one of his crowning achievements, the right thing for the association, and I want to build on that. I want to build our membership beyond our New England backyard, grow our membership in the Northeast and around the country. That’s a major goal of mine and our organization’s leadership.

There are areas where we can improve. One thing we don’t do well enough is tell the story of the good things we are doing. We offer so much and have incredible accomplishments on the federal level. Word is not getting out about the benefits of NEFI membership, and we need to do better. There are places around the country that don’t know who we are, what we do, how much we offer. Yet they have and are continuing to benefit from our important work. We need to get membership information in front of them and give them the opportunity to join.

While staying the course in its federal efforts, NEFI should seek to also support its state association partners combating “electrification only” policies. Even with the election outcome, these challenges persist. In 2019, our industry charted a better path with the Providence Resolution pledge to voluntarily reduce emissions through innovation and sustainability. A recent analysis shows we’ve exceeded our 2023 goal, achieving a 26 percent reduction where only 15 percent was required. This demonstrates what our industry can accomplish through unity and shared purpose. Looking ahead, we’re targeting a 40 percent reduction by 2030 – achievable through our continued adoption of renewable liquid heating fuels and high-efficiency equipment.

Can you provide more on your visions for:

NEFI’s Policy Positions:

I anticipate the NEFI Board will reaffirm our National Policy Agenda, which has five pillars:

• Supporting equitable solutions for carbon reductions, which includes renewable fuels such as biodiesel and renewable diesel;
• Promoting market innovation and consumer choice;
• Advocating for sensible regulatory policies that remove unnecessary burdens and costs;
• Investing in education and workforce development and supporting policies that encourage young people to enter the home energy industry as drivers or service technicians; and
• Supporting our state association partners.

This last point is particularly crucial as we continue working closely with state associations to combat “electrify at any cost” policies and heating fuel and appliance bans while promoting the adoption of renewable fuels. Their success in
preserving consumer choice and demonstrating our industry’s vital role in America’s energy future is essential.

Education Programs:

We are looking to restart the NEFI Education Foundation in a big way. We are exploring a potential pilot program in partnership with the Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors (PHCC) National Association, aimed at professional development for service managers, and if successful, we may broaden it to include other professions in the industry. It would provide a launching point for a more active educational program going forward. Other exciting ideas are in the works as well.

Affiliations and Partnerships:

NEFI will expand its involvement in key coalitions and alliances in the coming months. These partnerships are key to success in today’s political environment. One I can announce now is the Jobs and Career Coalition, a pro-business, pro-free market alliance of national organizations that support policies that boost interest in the trades, as opposed to a four-year liberal arts degree. This directly supports our workforce development priorities.

Events:

I am excited that the HEAT Show will return to Boston in 2025, at the Encore Hotel & Casino, which is a stellar venue. Just as with our 2019 event in Providence which launched the industry’s historic commitment to reduce emissions, this year’s event comes at a pivotal time in American energy policy. The Show will showcase our industry’s innovations with respect to renewable fuels and next-generation heating systems, while demonstrating its continued commitment to reliable, affordable, and sustainable home energy. NEFI will look to expand participation to include a wider range of industry stakeholders that share our goals for energy reliability, affordability, and sustainability. After all, we are all in this together!

What do you see for the industry in 5 years? 10? Longer?

Short term, I think there will be continuing consolidation and diversification, which at the end will end up making the industry stronger and more resilient. There will be some great opportunities in Washington, as both Republicans and Democrats want to pursue policies that shore up energy reliability and affordability. Our industry will play a unique role, given its proven accomplishments in carbon reduction and energy efficiency security and reliability. We have had some hard times in recent years, but this truly feels like a turning point.

Building on that point, I believe the electrification movement may stall out. Electrifying the entire economy will be the antithesis of energy security, reliability and affordability. It’s very important, given the competition in the world, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the onshoring or reshoring of jobs and manufacturing back to the U.S. We will need a lot more energy, not less.

The world has changed dramatically over the last five years, and so have our energy needs. All the estimates we’ve seen about the energy requirements for AI that will be needed for the U.S. to compete and lead the world are probably way too low. I mean, Microsoft just bought a reactor on the Three Mile Island nuclear facility to power AI! All signs suggest that AI will be an energy vampire here in the U.S. and around the world.

I believe we’re going to move from the electric-only path, and move to a more pragmatic, diversified approach that includes renewable liquid fuels and energy efficiency, which creates opportunities for long-term competitiveness and the viability of our members.

What don’t your members know about you? The work you do is time consuming and high-stress. What do you do in your free time to get your mind off things?

While these industry challenges and opportunities require intense focus and dedication, I believe maintaining proper balance is important and that you must take care of yourself – physically, mentally, and spiritually – to be an effective leader. I exercise regularly and train in martial arts and hold a black belt a traditional style of full contact karate. I also occasionally teach it to both adults and children, including at-risk and special needs kids, which I love.

I am very close with my family and try to visit my parents and my sisters and their families in Massachusetts often. I enjoy watching professional football and am a hard-core geek who reads comics and plays Dungeons and Dragons. Of course, I am a big political junkie and policy wonk – it’s in my DNA and I will always be!

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