2 Days, 20+ Breakout Sessions, 200+ Registrations, and Innumerable Connections
The Southern New England Energy Conference, held September 14-15 in Newport, Rhode Island, was filled with educational sessions, networking sessions, and so much more.
According to the event organizers, this year’s event recorded 202 registrations, their highest post-COVID. The schedule included 20 breakout sessions, one general session, and three keynotes. Programming was separated into two general tracks, a NORA Educational Track, and a NEFI Educational Track.
On the first day, Sprague Energy’s co-CEO Kevin Schmidt gave a lively keynote presentation, “Navigating the Next Era of Energy,” which started with an introduction of Hartree, which purchased Sprague Energy four years ago, and then segued into Schmidt’s analysis of fuel markets. He noted that distillate stocks in the northeast were especially troubling, and even if conflicts in Russia and the Middle East were to end immediately, distillate supply would not be restored to normal levels here for at least 90 days. In the meantime, he strongly advised that with high fuel oil prices, every retailer should seek to increase their lines of credit with suppliers and banks, or they may find themselves with insufficient credit to buy product this winter.
The other keynote on Monday, “Jones Act Waivers & the Case for Reform,” was presented by Colin Grabow of the Cato Institute, sponsored by NEFI. Grabow addressed the many issues with the Jones Act and how the difference in cost to build ships had led to a dearth of American made, flagged, and crewed ships. He showed how it was financially impossible to ship between American ports, and that it was less expensive to ship from the U.S. to a foreign port and then back to another U.S. port, than it would be to ship port-to-port with Jones Act-compliant fleets. With the waiver that was initiated after the start of the conflict with Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, there has been increased fuel shipping to the East Coast, including the first ever propane shipment to Rhode Island from a U.S. port. As there are no Jones Act ships that can transport propane, this was is the first time propane could be moved domestically in this manner. The Jones Act waiver also enabled the first shipments of propane to Puerto Rico.
The final keynote closed the event, with Jim Collura, President & CEO of NEFI, Glenn Hasken of Energy Marketers of America, and Leslie Anderson of the Propane Gas Association of New England, reviewing the status of important industry-related legislation in Washington, and the importance of all industry associations working together to reach their common goals.
The general session, held Monday morning, featured an introduction to NORA’s 100% Renewable Fuel Field Study. (See article "NORA Study: 100% Renewable Heating Fuels Are a Viable Option for Home Heating" for a detailed review of the results of the program.)
The Energy Choice Update session, with Renée Lani, General Counsel of the American Public Gas Association, Mark Valentini, Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association, Liam Dotson, Manager of Government Affairs for NEFI, and Bob Wolfer of Bradford White, monitored by Jim Collura, opened the educational programs with a standing room only crowd. The panelists discussed the changes in Washington under the current administration and Congress, including how the discussion of energy choice has evolved to consider affordability in lieu of an ‘electrify everything’ mindset; the regulatory changes, including updates to the tax rebates initially created under the Inflation Reduction Act; activity from all the participants’ organizations to affect changes to the “process rule” and those on equipment efficiency and building codes; the status of the Energy Choice Act, anticipated electricity demand in the near future, and so much more.
Another program that was standing room only was the Biofuels Update held Tuesday morning. Moderated by Anne Steckel, NEFI Policy Advisor, her “All-Star Team” included Kevin Grant of Sprague, J.W. Hackett of Global Partners, and Jason Lawrence of Chevron. These industry leaders discussed the state of the market, storage, imports, the Renewable Fuel Standard and Renewable Volume Obligations, Small Refinery Exemptions, and what comes next. Steckel noted that when they first proposed a panel on the biofuel market with regard to availability and pricing, no one could predict that they would be presenting during so much upheaval in the delivered fuel industry. The speakers agreed that with heating oil and crude prices at record levels, there was opportunity for biofuels marketers and producers to grow and profit.
Other programs of note included: “The Rise and Fall of Clean Heat Standards,” Michael Ferrante, MEMA; Rocco Lacertosa, NYSEC; Matt Cota, VFDA; Leslie Anderson, PGANE; “How to Work with Third-Party Consultants,” Fred Lord and Pam Giordano, Cetane Associates; “When Basis Wakes Up. Managing the Last Mile of Price Risk,” Phil Baratz and Danny Silverman, Angus Energy; “Stop Reacting, Start Anticipating: Building a More Profitable Service Organization Before Problems Occur,” Leo Verruso, Barry Aruda, Advanced Fuel Solutions; “Managing Your Cyber Risk,” Bob Butkus, Federated Insurance; “The Workforce Squeeze - Finding, Keeping and Getting More from Your People,” Ben Brubeck of Government Affairs Solutions; “AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Home Comfort Businesses,” Kendal Maughan, Adminify; “EVs, Truck Emissions, Drivers, and Other Regulations Affecting Your
Operations,” Rick Schweitzer, NEFI; among many others.
In addition to the educational sessions, the tabletop exhibit space was always busy with vendors and attendees discussing products, projects, and possibilities. Breakfast was held in this area, enticing attendees to come early to eat and greet. The networking cocktail party on Monday evening was, as always, a big hit, with everyone mixing and mingling. Evenings were left unscheduled, and the Newport Marriott is so centrally located, that everyone seemed to take to the streets, walking to one of the fabulous, and often, historic, options for dinner and more socializing.
SNEEC was hosted by Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, Energy Marketers Association of Rhode Island, New York State Energy Coalition, Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, and NEFI.
The following companies and organizations sponsored the show: Conference Partner: Federated Insurance; Premium Sponsor: Entech; Platinum Sponsor: Liberty Bank; Monday Luncheon Sponsor: Sprague Operating Resources; Tuesday Luncheon Sponsor: Inland Fuel Terminals; Reception Sponsor: Petro Home Services; Gold Sponsors: Avoca, Global Companies LLC, Sack Energy, Republic Services, Warm Thoughts Communications; Silver Sponsors: Buckeye Energy Services, Irving Oil; Bronze Sponsors: Angus Energy, Approved Oil, Cetane Associates, Coastal Carriers, Powerhouse, Webster Bank; Breakfast Sponsor: HOP Energy.
The 2027 program is already scheduled for September 13-14, 2027, again at the Newport Marriott.
