The 5th Annual Empire State Energy Conference will bring energy industry leaders and supporters from across New York to the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, New York. All associations and affiliates located in New York and the Northeast are welcome to participate in this two-day conference, featuring:
Rates are as follow: (Aug 28th - 31st) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Room Type | Dates | Rate | Location |
Standard Room Rate | Aug. 28-31 | Normal Rate | The Otesaga, Cooperstown, NY |
|
5:00PM-5:30PM | UNYEA Board Meeting (UNYEA Board Members Only) |
5:30PM-6:15PM | UNYEA Annual Meeting (UNYEA Members Only) |
8:30AM-11:30AM | NORA Tank Training Seminar |
9:00AM-9:15AM | ESEA Annual Meeting (ESEA Members Only) |
9:15AM-10:45AM | ESEA Board Meeting (ESEA Board Members Only) |
11:30AM-12:30PM | Lunch (all attendees) |
12:30PM | Golf – Shotgun Start |
12:30PM-5:00PM | Vendor Setup |
6:00PM-7:00PM | Welcome Cocktail Reception (Sponsored by Sprague) |
Dinner on your own |
7:15AM | Vendor Setup |
7:30AM-9:00AM | Breakfast 8:30AM | Energy Marketers of America update with Tommy Thompson, EMA Chairman and Rob Underwood, EMA President |
9:00AM-9:50AM | FEMA |
10:00AM-10:50AM | Federated |
10:00AM-12:00PM | NORA Burner Manufacturer's and Bioheat® Fuel |
11:00AM-11:50AM | NYS Dept. of Tax & Finance |
12:00PM-1:15PM | Keynote Lunch (all attendees) |
1:15PM-2:30PM | ESEA's Regulatory & Legislative Update & Joining the Fight for our Future |
2:45PM-3:45PM | NORA |
3:45PM-5:00PM | Bioheat® Townhall |
5:30PM | Trolley to Ommegang Brewery |
6:00PM-8:30PM | Networking Reception featuring singer / songwriter Jordan Stoner at the Ommegang Brewery |
Senator Peter Oberacker is serving his first term representing the 51st Senate District. Elected in 2020 during a global pandemic, Senator Oberacker is keenly aware of the many critical issues and concerns facing the nine counties he represents.
Senator Oberacker's leading priorities include:
Senator Oberacker is serving as the ranking member on both the Internet & Technology and Alcoholism & Substance Abuse committees. Additionally, he is serving on the Education, Health, Higher Education, and Judiciary committees.
Prior to his election to the state senate, Peter served in county and town government.
Peter is a member of his local Fire Department and EMS squad, a small business owner and an accomplished sausage maker.
To be among the leaders of the Energy Marketers of America requires a genuine enthusiasm for the liquid fuels industry and relevant business experience. W.L. "Tommy" Thompson Jr., current chair of EMA's Executive Committee, has plenty of both. In fact, Thompson's career in the fuel and convenience industries spans an impressive 55 years and he has no plans to call it quits anytime soon.
As EMA chair, Thompson wants to educate politicians and the public about EVs and liquid fuels, bringing together fuel marketers from around the country to get the job done. "We are a grassroots organization over 6,000 strong. Government mandates, regulations and incentives are driving EV adoption. We have to explain to our politicians , local and national, the other side," Thompson said. "We have to point out the benefits of having liquid fuels. There's room for both. That's the big challenge, and that's what excites me about being chair of EMA."
Rob Underwood joined EMA in July 2007 as EMA's Director of Government Relations to represent petroleum marketers on Capitol Hill. Some of Rob's accomplishments include securing one of the most bipartisan Congressional letters sent to the EPA in recent years to address EMA's concerns with a costly Underground Storage Tank (UST) proposed rule. Rob also played a key role in reauthorizing the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) which was successfully signed into law in February 2014 and again in December 2018. Rob took over as President of EMA in May 2015. The most important role as EMA President is serving its 47 state and regional trade associations as well as thousands of independent fuel marketing companies before Congress and the federal agencies.
Rob is a native of Georgia where he earned a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining EMA, Rob worked for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA).
SPEAKERS:
The topics the session will cover:
On March 1st, 2022, Michael Devine became the President of the National Oilheat Research Alliance. As a government-sanctioned "check-off" program, NORA is funded by an excise tax on every gallon of heating oil sold and that money is carefully reinvested in research and education programs. Michael oversees the operations of NORA, which include Consumer & Professional Education, Energy Efficiency & Safety, and Research & Development. As the liquid heating fuel sector continues to evolve, Michael will help sheppard the transition to increasing the usage of biofuels as a powerful alternative to electrification and a more impactful approach to reducing the country's dependence on foreign energy resources, lowering carbon emissions, providing comfort, and securing domestic jobs. As the NORA President, Michael hopes to help shape the future of the liquid heating fuels industry, giving homeowners wise choices for how to heat their homes.
Michael comes to NORA after having served as Vice President of Sales & Business Development for World Energy. As part of the Senior Management Team at World Energy, he managed day to day activities for sales and volumes at terminals and related operations, prepared monthly and annual budgets, and developed key national accounts including FedEx, UPS, Chevron, Ryder, The Union Pacific Railroad, and many others. Prior to his time at World Energy, Michael was the CEO of Earth Energy Alliance, which he founded in 2009, to assist the petroleum distribution industry in reducing the carbon footprint of their fuel by increasing the use of renewable liquid fuels. His company worked closely with renewable energy wholesalers, Bioheat distributors and the National Biodiesel Board (now Clean Fuels Alliance of America).
Michael has deep roots in the oilheat industry. He began his career in his family's business, Devine Brothers of Norwalk, Connecticut. Michael started from the ground up, initially as a truck driver and service technician, growing into roles as sales manager, vice president, and president of the 50+ employee, third generation business. Michael served as a member of the NORA Board of Directors and additionally served member of the Governing Board of the Clean Fuels America Alliance, he and has been a positive and active voice in supporting the oilheat and liquid heating fuels industry for decades.
While most owners and general managers of heating oil companies are familiar with the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), many do not know all of the services and programs that NORA provides to the liquid heating industry. Michael Devine who is the new President of NORA, will provide a synopsis of the organization, the programs and services that NORA provides and role that NORA plays to advance the oil heat industry.
The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) is setting out to prove that homeowners can reduce a home’s carbon emissions to zero using a renewable low carbon liquid fuel and solar panels. Indeed, the demonstration has already begun in Port Jefferson, NY at the home of NORA’s Director of Research, Dr. Thomas Butcher. NORA intends to show that the combination of 100% biodiesel partnered with solar panels can bring the home to zero carbon emissions.
John is Counsel at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, where he has worked as a government affairs attorney for the last fifteen years. He advocates on behalf of a range of businesses, professional associations, and not for profit entities. He has particular experience representing clients in biotechnology, energy, higher education, and other highly regulated industries. He also assists clients strategize regarding the availability of and access to a variety of government funding mechanisms and other programs. Before he joined the Government Affairs department, he practiced for several years in the trial department, gaining invaluable experience honing his writing and advocacy skills representing clients in complex commercial litigation matters.
He serves as ESEA's retained lobbyist, and is also an adjunct professor in the Political Science department at Roberts Wesleyan College.
As principal of the Petroccione Law Firm, LLC located in Albany, New York, Emilio has been counsel to ESEA and has represented energy marketers since beginning his law career in 1983. He is an attorney with more than 35 years of experience practicing regulatory and government affairs law before the New York State Legislature, the Governor's Office, State Agencies, and the Courts.
Emilio received his law degree from Albany Law School and a bachelor degree in science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is admitted to practice law before all New York State courts and the United States Supreme Court. Emilio has been a registered state lobbyist since 1986 and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
Rich Goldberg is one of the energy industry's leading marketing experts. For 30 years he has consulted with fuel and service companies to help increase growth and profitability. His award-winning marketing agency, Warm Thoughts Communications, Inc., employs 35 creative specialists who work with hundreds of heating oil, propane and HVAC companies nationwide.
Warm Thoughts is playing a major role in fighting the "electrify everything" effort that would cripple the delivered fuels industry. His firm has conducted voter research about carbon reduction efforts throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. They are executing major public awareness and pressure campaigns in NY and NJ, and on behalf of NEFI and MEMA.
He is an avid traveler, a father of four, and has been married to an extraordinarily tolerant woman for over 35 years.
Rushing to meet the New York's carbon reduction goals by relying on a single solution (such as "electrify everything") could bring significant downside for its citizens. Consumer polls clearly show that while a majority of NY likes the concept of electrification, they know little about the significant downsides, costs and risks associated with some of the solutions proposed as a part of the scoping plans laid by the Climate Action Council. When people are informed, their support drops dramatically.
The Smarter New York Energy (SNYE) campaign has been leading the charge to educate the public and engage them in pushing back against the most extreme aspects of these plans. It advocates a path towards carbon reduction that includes traditional fuels that are increasingly renewable, with less cost and likelihood of triggering public backlash.
ESEA supports these efforts to educate consumers and to advocate for thoughtful policies to meet the State's carbon reduction efforts. Warm Thoughts Communications is coordinating the public awareness campaign. Its President, Rich Goldberg, will give an overview of its efforts so far, and explain why it is so critical that every fuel company participate in advancing its aims.
John Levey is a consultant and educator with over 40 years experience in the HVAC industry.
He serves as Director of Education for the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA); serves on the National Fire Protection Association Technical Committee on Liquid Fuel Burning Equipment (NFPA-31); and is a member of the Underwriter's Laboratories Standards Technical Panel for Above Ground Oil Tanks (UL-80).
John wrote and co-produced seventeen training videos for the Oilheat industry and is the author of NORA's publication "Heating Oil Storage Tanks, Guide for Quality Installation and Maintenance."
Tee off in a picturesque lakeside setting at Leatherstocking golf course, one of the most scenic and challenging resort golf courses in Upstate New York, or anywhere on the East Coast. Designed in 1909 by Devereux Emmet, this award-winning golf course features naturally contoured terrain that rolls along the postcard-perfect shores of Lake Otsego.
Senator Peter Oberacker is serving his first term representing the 51st Senate District. Elected in 2020 during a global pandemic, Senator Oberacker is keenly aware of the many critical issues and concerns facing the nine counties he represents.
Senator Oberacker’s leading priorities include:
Prior to his election to the state senate, Peter served as a member of the Otsego County Board of Representatives where he chaired the Public Works Committee, served as vice-chair of the Administration Committee, and was a member of Human Services, Negotiations, and Inter-Governmental Affairs committees. Previously, Peter served as Maryland Town Supervisor and as a town board member.
A dedicated community member, Peter is a member of his local Fire Department and EMS squad and is a member of the Masonic Lodge. Peter is a graduate of Schenevus High School and SUNY Delhi. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Shannon, of 34 years. They have two adult children.
Born and raised in Stanfordville, New York, Jordan is the eldest of Wendy and Brian Stoner’s six children. Growing up in a musical family, Jordan took up drums at age 13 and played his first club gig at age 15 with “The Stoners”, the family band consisting of Jordan, brother Brandon on bass, Dad on guitar and vocals and Mom on vocals, playing classic rock and country cover tunes. After 16 years in the business, Jordan has honed his vocal skills and developed his own style to become one of the premier singers and entertainers around. Surrounding himself with some of the best musicians in the business, Jordan Stoner and his band, the Crash Test Silverados, is ready to take the country music world by storm!
Click here and listen to his latest tracks!As New York enters it state-wide mandate for the inclusion of renewable, low-carbon biodiesel into the heating fuel stream questions, concerns and ideas are sure to emerge. Join us and our panel of Bioheat® experts to share your thoughts about the current mandate and about lowering carbon emissions even further with ever higher blends of biodiesel.
Our panel will represent all facets of the Bioheat supply chain, including a retailer who share how they became a low-carbon liquid fuel provider. You will be able to ask your questions about laws and regulations, supply, delivery, service and marketing as they relate to your and your customers’ low-carbon future.
This will be an informal open discussion setting without “presentations”. Please come with prepared with ideas, suggestions, questions and comments as we all progress towards securing a place for your company as it continues to provide your customers with safe, efficient and environmentally responsible comfort.
Moderated by Don Farrell, Indoor Comfort Marketing