Jim Collura’s First Year as NEFI President and CEO

by Rhonda Gerson, Oil & Energy Magazine

With his first year coinciding with year one of Trump 2.0, Collura has led NEFI to many successes, through months of changes and challenges.

November 2024 ushered in two new administrations. At the start of the month, Jim Collura was officially appointed President & CEO of the National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI). A few days later, on November 5, Donald Trump was elected to a second term as President, with the Republican party taking full control of Congress, albeit by very slim margins. A year in, we look back at Collura’s leadership, NEFI’s growth, and government affairs in the Trump Era.

At the time of his appointment, Collura had been part of NEFI for nearly 20 years, as Vice President and Director of Government Affairs, and then several months as Acting President and CEO. Nevertheless, Oil & Energy Magazine introduced him to its readers in the November/December 2024 issue, exactly one year ago.

In that interview, Collura predicted the new administration in Washington would roll back harmful policies such as electric truck mandates and restrictions on residential heating systems. He also noted that exit polls after the Presidential election revealed that three-quarters of voters were concerned about inflation, and the strong Republican showing in statewide elections would lead to Democrats looking to more cost-conscious environmental policies beyond “electrify everything.” In terms of the political landscape, he summed it up saying, “The tide is turning for our industry, and the future looks bright.”

Regarding NEFI, Collura was looking forward to working closely with members to align the association’s programs with its core advocacy mission, strengthen the organization internally, become more “transparent and accountable” to its supporters, and grow NEFI membership in the Northeast and around the country. He was passionate about making sure members and non-members were aware of NEFI’s accomplishments on their behalf. “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,” he said in 2024.

Listening to Members, Delivering Results

Collura has always been adamant that NEFI must always be responsive to its members’ needs. “We must make sure all members have a voice in the governance of the organization and how it carries out its mission,” he said. To fulfill that commitment, NEFI conducted a comprehensive “pulse survey” in April 2025 to assess member satisfaction and identify which benefit programs are delivering value and understand where the organization needs to improve.

The results of the survey were telling. Nearly 85% of respondents viewed NEFI positively, with government affairs and advocacy ranking as among the most valued member services. But the survey also revealed that more than half of members were unaware of all available benefits. Respondents requested greater transparency, clearer communication about member benefits, and a stronger return on their membership investment.

Collura took those findings seriously. “Members told us what they needed, and we are responding,” he said. The survey led directly to expanded outbound communications and a commitment to publish an “annual report” beginning in 2026 to show members exactly where their investments are going. NEFI will also create a Membership Development Task Force and revise and modernize its bylaws in early 2026 and is exploring a potential rebrand to better reflect its diversified national membership and evolving mission.

In his “Front Burner” column this October, Collura posed the “$10,000 Question,” noting many companies – even some members – are unaware of the savings available through NEFI’s benefits programs. These include:

• Free regulatory compliance and basic legal support from Attorney Rick Schweitzer
• Drug & alcohol testing program with related medical exam and clearinghouse support
• Employee Assistance Program that can help get suspended drivers back on the road
• Free Fortune 500-level weather forecasting service
• Low-cost dental, retirement, and disability plans
• New educational offerings, such as peer group programs for service managers and CSRs

Realignment of Federal Policies

Collura has long felt that NEFI’s policy work must reflect its members’ real-world concerns. Most of all, the freedom to serve customers without misguided fuel bans, electrification mandates, and other regulatory barriers designed to restrict energy choice and increase costs. The industry would also not abandon decades of advances in renewable fuels and emissions reductions. But it can, once again, refocus on liquid heating fuels as a source of economic growth, energy reliability, and more achievable and affordable environmental management.

NEFI began 2025 with a revamped National Policy Agenda that reflects these priorities: promoting market innovation and consumer choice, advancing pragmatic solutions for American energy and environmental security, advocating for sensible regulatory policies, and supporting education and workforce development. NEFI also reiterated strong and continued support for its state association partners. That February, NEFI hired Liam Dotson as its new Manager of Government Affairs to help advance its bold new policy agenda in Washington.

Collura utilized his many contacts across the energy spectrum to build a coalition that had once been considered impossible. NEFI, Clean Fuels Alliance, and Energy Marketers of America joined with propane, natural gas, and HVAC trade groups including the National Propane Gas Association, American Public Gas
Association, American Gas Association, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) National Association, and many others. Scores of state, regional, and national associations are now coordinating closely to fight for consumer choice.

NEFI’s advocacy program has seen many successes over the past year:

• Energy Choice Act: Collura’s signature legislative achievement. The Energy Choice Act and three other NEFI-endorsed bills were cleared for a floor vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee this November. That legislation, sponsored by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and co-sponsored by nearly one-third of the entire House of Representatives – 140 members, including several Democrats – would prohibit state and local governments from banning heating fuels or related infrastructure.

• Fuel Assistance: In early 2025, President Trump called for dismantling the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and terminated related federal staff. NEFI has worked with national energy, utility, and low-income groups to advocate for the program and helped secure signatures of support from over 1,400 organizations. The result: quick release of LIHEAP funds following the government shutdown and proposed funding increases of $10 million and $20 million in the House and Senate, respectively.

• Efficiency Standards: NEFI advocacy during the Biden Administration was instrumental in preventing the elimination of furnaces and boilers from ENERGY STAR and defeating overly aggressive efficiency standards for oil-fired boilers. The DOE ultimately withdrew these harmful proposals and ENERGY STAR not only maintained existing oil-fired furnace standards but will now require biofuel compatibility in July 2026. NEFI is advancing a bill in Congress that would completely overhaul the process for setting efficiency standards.

• Trucking Regulations: NEFI helped secure withdrawal of a federal waiver that had allowed states to impose “Advanced Clean Truck” rules (basically, electric truck mandates). Collura attended the White House signing ceremony, celebrating a victory that will prevent dramatic cost increases for heating fuel dealers. NEFI also supported successful efforts to eliminate redundant CDL background checks and fees, and to defeat proposals that would have increased federal HAZMAT fees and penalties.

• The Boston Resolution: The independent “Northeast Working Group for Industry Principles,” established by NEFI’s Board of Directors in December 2024, developed a set of common-sense principles to guide industry interactions with policymakers and the public. These principles were ratified at the Industry Summit in August 2025 and have been adopted by several industry associations across the country, presenting a unified voice for energy affordability, reliability, and choice.

Responding When Members Needed Answers

From wildly fluctuating tariff announcements to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to a government shutdown lasting more than six weeks, 2025 brought unprecedented volatility and uncertainty to the business environment. Collura and the government affairs team moved from challenge to challenge, making sure NEFI was in front of it all.

When tariff policies shifted rapidly, NEFI quickly retained a leading trade attorney to provide guidance through timely webinars, fact sheets, and updates available as a member-only benefit. NEFI Regulatory Counsel Rick Schweitzer provided ongoing analyses of how the administration’s regulatory rollbacks would affect their businesses. Liam Dotson offered frequent updates on the government shutdown, especially the impacts on LIHEAP funding. This information was disseminated through NEON (NEFI’s weekly newsletter), Oil & Energy Magazine, and periodic alerts, and uploaded to the password protected Members Area at NEFI.com.

“When members called asking what these changes meant for their business, we had answers,” Collura said. “That’s what a trade association is supposed to do”

Educational and Networking Opportunities

Member education was a priority throughout 2025. Webinars covered federal policies, workplace well-being, Trump tariffs, winter weather forecasts, and available federal and state grants for infrastructure investments. Each provided information to support NEFI members and their short- and long-term business plans.

The NEFI Education Foundation worked with the National Propane Gas Association to offer a discounted Entry Level Driver Training program. The foundation also offered two successful Peer Group programs, one for service managers and the other for customer service representatives, and is planning on a similar program for owners and senior executives.

The 2025 HEAT Show has been described by participants as one of the best events in the organization’s 84-year history. The show’s education sessions covered every aspect of the liquid fuels business and featured top-tier networking events, and Collura worked behind the scenes to secure several speakers, including U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) as keynote. But Collura credits the hard work of the NEFI team including Lisa Avery, Jessica Levaggi, Emily Lawrence, Darcy Holt, and Liam Dotson for the event’s ultimate success.

Collura introduced NEFI’s new member of the year award, named after its late CEO Jack Sullivan, to recognize significant contributions to industry advocacy and advancement. The inaugural Jack Sullivan Award was presented to Charlie Uglietto of Cubby Oil & Energy at the HEAT Show Gala Dinner. This was in addition to the Annual Legend Awards, which honored five leaders who have made exceptional, often lifelong contributions to the home comfort industry.

Looking Forward

Collura is looking towards 2026 with even more optimism. “We continue to build momentum on Capitol Hill, within federal agencies, and with our state partners,” Collura said. “Our Energy Choice bills are advancing, states are reconsidering harmful electrification policies, and the broader conversation around energy is shifting. Our industry is being heard, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Top priorities include pushing for the Energy Choice Act to receive votes in the full House and Senate, following up on NEFI’s outreach to the administration regarding safety concerns with commercial EVs transporting hazardous materials, and closely monitoring potential healthcare permitting reform bills that could affect members. At the state and regional level, NEFI will be watching for developments with respect to clean heating fuel standards including in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

NEFI plans to conduct an industrywide issues survey in early 2026 to better understand what is on members’ minds with respect to the evolving market and changing political landscape.

“Looking back on this year, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but the work is far from done,” Collura said. “Above all, we need to bring word of what NEFI is doing and what we offer to businesses that aren’t yet members, wherever they are across the country.”

“The policy wins, cost savings, education programs, and our exceptional events – these resources exist to strengthen our businesses and position the entire industry for long-term success,” he added. “That’s the mission, and that’s what drives everything we do.”

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