The intention is legal authorization to end natural gas when just a few customers don’t want to make the shift, to avoid leaving pipes in the ground for just a handful of homes or businesses.

But to some in the business sector, this seemingly small proposal marks the start down a slippery slope toward state-directed shutoffs of natural gas in favor of electric heat all over the state. Forcing such a switch, business leaders argue, hits gas customers with expensive conversion costs — plus there’s no guarantee that monthly bills would be less expensive over the long run.

Is someone going to knock on your door, to take away your gas heat? Probably not, at least not anytime soon.

But the paragraph represents the latest flashpoint in a much broader debate over how much of a role natural gas should continue to play here. Local politicians have ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions from buildings’ heating and cooling systems. But those lofty ideals are running up against an ever-increasing fury among consumers and businesses over their rising bills.

This particular issue revolves around the state’s “obligation to serve” requirement that has long blocked utilities from ending service to existing gas customers without their consent. And though short in length, the legislative language in question has emerged as a major sticking point in conference committee negotiations this fall between the House and Senate over their dueling energy bills.

Such a dispute might not derail the whole thing. But it can certainly get in the way, as these things can do when two lead negotiators take starkly different views.

As Representative Mark Cusack and Senator Mike Barrett begin their negotiations, the sides seem far apart. The two co-chairs of the Legislature’s energy committee know there are other differences between the House and Senate bills, legislation ostensibly aimed at “energy affordability” to address voter discontent. Most notably, the House, under Cusack’s direction, would pare back the Mass Save home-efficiency program. Meanwhile, the Senate’s version, led by Barrett, phases out a pricey gas-pipe replacement initiative known as GSEP.

Both of these dueling ideas offer real savings, but adding up to maybe only several bucks each month for the typical home. Most people might not even notice.

The language addressing utilities’ obligation to serve is embedded in the Senate’s GSEP section. Essentially, if a utility determines a gas pipe needs replacing for a particular neighborhood, but most homeowners want to convert to electric heat, the holdouts could be forced to convert too. (The measure does require that another “safe, reliable and affordable” source of heat, presumably electric, is available, as determined by state regulators.)

The business community is sounding the alarm. Jon Hurst, head of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, says ending up with no energy bill at all is a better outcome than passing the Senate’s, given the anger from consumers and small businesses about utility bills lately. The “Big Four” — the Mass.

Business Roundtable, Greater Boston Chamber, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Mass. Taxpayers Foundation — told conferees it eliminates customers’ choice while forcing them onto another energy source (electricity) with supply constraints.

As Bill Ryan, spokesman for the business group-funded Mass Coalition for Sustainable Energy, puts it: “This is a ‘tip of the iceberg’ type of thing” toward ending natural gas service in Massachusetts. His group estimates billions in added costs over time, for everything from furnace replacements to electrical upgrades.

With natural gas plants still providing much of our electricity, environmental groups argue that it’s time to get more serious about moving off fossil fuels. State law, after all, requires carbon emissions to be all but eliminated in Massachusetts by 2050.

At Environmental League of Massachusetts, Amy Boyd Rabin says inaction on the GSEP issue will only increase utility profits amid overspending on antiquated gas networks, without providing necessary rate relief.

And the Conservation Law Foundation’s Caitlin Peale Sloan called the warnings from business groups “a self-serving story peddled by the utilities” to defend a program that pads their profits at the expense of families and businesses exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices.

The Legislature’s 2024 energy law included language that allows the Department of Public Utilities to consider greenhouse gas emissions as a reason for rejecting a petition for natural gas supply, if electricity or geothermal energy is available for heat instead. However, utilities then argued they still have an obligation to serve all existing gas customers, even if that law could prevent service for future ones.

Barrett says the Senate’s new language — that paragraph in the sprawling energy bill — doesn’t represent the end of natural gas delivery as we know it, despite the doomsday scenarios pushed by, as he puts it, “apologists for fossil

fuels.” Instead, it’s an attempt to provide flexibility for neighborhoods in which most, but not all, residents want to make the switch to electric. Without this language, Barrett says the holdouts could result in ratepayers supporting electric-system upgrades and pipe replacements for a dwindling number of gas customers, making the energy system more expensive for everyone.

Better state law is needed, he adds, to allow communities to selectively decommission sections of their gas networks. That’s why, he says, the Senate supports this clarifying language. In the end, the DPU would still have the final say in determining whether affected customers have access to an affordable alternative.

Sure, this is a contentious issue. But Barrett says the main debate is around the pace at which we transition off fossil fuels, not about the fundamental need to do so eventually. Some communities want to move faster than others.

The environmental advocates see this as a small but meaningful step toward moving more people to cleaner forms of energy. The business lobbyists, though, see one more way to chip away at access to natural gas — and a potentially expensive one at that.

Resolving that conflict won’t be easy. But it could prove crucial to getting the Legislature’s latest energy bill over the finish line.

Boston Globe/Jon Chesto

Notes from SCHPBA: As a follow-up to Jon Chesto’s Globe piece about the Senate bill, we wanted to share with you some takeaways:

• Customers “could be forced to” give up their gas heat because of the Senate bill. Chesto writes that a small paragraph in the 170-page Senate bill would give regulators the authority to direct utilities to terminate gas service that customers want to keep.
• Long-held customer protections for energy choice would be weakened. As the piece explains, the Senate bill would “sever gas service” for existing customers by ending the so-called “obligation to serve” natural gas customers. These protections have long prevented the termination of gas service without customer consent.
• “Billions in added costs” could be added to ratepayer bills. Jon shares MCSE’s estimate, without any pushback, that the furnace and appliance replacements and electrical upgrades necessitated by the Senate bill will dramatically drive costs up over time. As a reminder, we estimate these costs to be as much as $27 billion annually and $230 billion by 2040 — adding another $1,000 to ratepayers’ monthly bills.
• The business community’s concerns about the Senate bill are broad and explicit. In addition to the MCSE, the article notes that the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Greater Boston Chamber, and Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation have voiced the same concerns about how the Senate bill “eliminates customer choice.” It also notes that Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst considers “no energy bill at all is a better outcome” than passing the Senate bill.

We urge you to read the whole article if you have not already — it is excellent, very timely and explores concerns that haven’t gotten a lot of air time to this point.

Our message to conferees remains clear: An energy affordability bill should lower costs and preserve customer choice. The final bill should exclude the Senate language allowing gas service to be terminated over a customer’s objection.

“Understanding how homeowners interact with products is vital to setting up our industry for success,” said Jack Goldman, President & CEO of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.
“This study is just one example of how HPBA is devoted to providing its members — and the general public –– with the data that they need.”
Last conducted in 2014, the study analyzed general awareness, ownership, usage, satisfaction, purchase intent, and customer priorities during the decision making process. The charts directly below measure ownership by appliance and fuel type.

In 2016, 52% of Canadian respondents owned a fireplace, 28% a stove, and 20% a fireplace
insert. Fuel types for appliances were 39% gas, 34% wood,
25% electric, and 2% pellet. There were also some striking trends on the regional level throughout the United States:

• Factory – built fireplace ownership in south central states exceeds the national average.Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas have 8% more fireplaces than the U.S. overall.
• Stove ownership in the Pacific spiked from 17% in 2014 to 27% in 2016 for freestanding appliances in AK, CA, HI, OR, and WA, a percent change of 61%.
• Gas appliance popularity soars in Mid-Atlantic and Mountain States. In contrast to the 3% drop seen nationally, gas appliance ownership has increased collectively by 26% in NJ, NY, and PA, and by 23% in AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, and WY.

HPBA’s biannual study, conducted by Rockbridge Associates Inc., consisted of a 10-minute online survey of decision-making homeowners, which were balanced against the U.S. Census. The margin of sampling error for aggregate results is +/- 3 percentage points. HPBA updates its questions to respond to the industry’s evolving needs, and therefore past reports are not directly comparable.

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based in Arlington, Va., is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms and allied associates for all types of barbecue, patio and hearth appliances, fuels and accessories.

The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, advertising, and consumer education.

# # #

*Use of the HPBA’s Hearth Ownership and Market Potential Study findings should be credited to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.

Carrie deGuzman
Senior Manager – Communications
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
1901 North Moore Street, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22209
703-522-0086, X 116
www.hpba.org

As chilly evenings return and the thought of a crackling fireplace or woodstove warms the mood, keep safety in mind when starting that first fire. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association has important safety tips for consumers:

• Make sure the fireplace damper is open.
• Make sure chimneys and vents are clear of creosote build­up or obstructions.
• Clean out ashes from previous wood fires.
• Don’t build too big a wood fire.
• Use a fire screen or glass door in front of the fire to prevent room sparks.
• Make sure the area around the fireplace or woodstove is clear of furniture, books, newspapers and other potentially flammable materials.
• Test smoke detector batteries to ensure proper operation.
• Burn only dry, well ­seasoned split logs or manufactured logs. Mix soft woods with hard woods for long­ glowing ember beds.
• For gas fireplaces, clean the fan and related air­ circulation passages and make sure vents are unobstructed.
• Never burn garbage, charcoal or plastic in the fireplace. Do not burn chemically treated, painted or stained wood from construction sites or driftwood found on the beach.
• Never use gasoline or any liquid accelerant to help start a fire.
• Keep small children and pets away from the fireplace.
• Never leave a fire unattended, and make certain it is completely extinguished before going to bed.
• If building a wood fire, keep the fire proportionate to the fireplace size.
• Don’t close the damper until the embers have completely stopped burning.
• Always follow your state and local burning regulations and programs.

Specialty hearth products retailers who are members of HPBA can show homeowners the latest efficient hearth products and answer any safety or maintenance questions. Look for dealers whose technicians are certified by the National Fireplace Institute (NFI), because they have earned the highest designation for installation and service for hearth products.

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue (HPBA) is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms and allied associates for all types of hearth, barbecue, patio appliances, and accessories. The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, and consumer education.

Retailers belonging to the South Central states of HPBA have special training and experience to provide expert advice on all fireplace needs. To locate retailers, visit www.schpba.org or call (903) 533­1674.
# END #

Arlington, VA – (January 11, 2017) – The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) applauds Congressmen Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) along with six other members of the U.S. House of Representatives for introducing legislation today to ensure regulatory fairness for wood appliance manufacturers, retailers, and consumers––wood and pellet stoves, hydronic heaters, and wood furnaces.

The legislation, formally known as the “Relief from New Source Performance Standards Act of 2017,” would extend the May 15, 2020 effective date of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation for new wood and pellet stoves, hydronic heaters, and wood furnaces by three years to May 15, 2023.

“With an effective date just over three years from now, this regulation stands to put thousands of U.S. manufacturing, distribution, and retail jobs in peril. It would increase hardships in rural communities across the country,” said Jack Goldman, President & CEO of HPBA. “With only five labs in North America qualified to test all products impacted by this rule, there simply isn’t enough time for manufacturers to complete research and development, product testing, and have their completed test reports reviewed by EPA by the end of 2018 so that they’re in stores by 2020.”

The typical business cycle in the industry necessitates at least three years before a product can be sold at a specialty retail store. An extension is preferred over a complete repeal of the rule to avoid consumer choice becoming severely limited. If a federal standard is not maintained, state governments would likely establish different standards. This would affect the products that could be sold between different state markets. The effort to extend the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) deadline has received bipartisan support from Congress.

“Our bill provides much needed relief for wood stove manufacturers and consumers alike. My constituents are tired of an overly aggressive EPA setting unachievable regulations that do nothing but hurt our employers and raise prices for those simply looking to heat their homes during cold winters,” said Congressman Peterson.

“Affordable heating solutions are important to many of my constituents, and federal regulations must take into account the real world needs and time constraints of industries, like wood stove manufacturers, that make these products. This bill is a simple one – it gives wood stove manufacturers the time they need to comply with federal regulations and develop new technologies. I’m pleased to join Rep. Peterson in introducing this bipartisan bill,” said Congressman Goodlatte.

HPBA and its members are encouraged by early support for this legislation, and look forward to working with the cosponsoring Representatives listed below to protect American manufacturing jobs and ensure common sense environmental policies.

• Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)
• Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
• Rep. Billy Long (R-MO)
• Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO)
• Rep. Thomas Emmer (R-MN)
• Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN)
• Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)
• Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)

Extending the date that the NSPS requirements go into effect will not only provide manufacturers with equal opportunity and necessary access to testing labs, it  will also ensure stability in the retailer market, an important staple to healthy local economies. Furthermore, additional time will allow for the development of more efficient and reliable woodburning heaters for American homes. The regulations only apply to woodburning appliances manufactured after May 15, 2015, not to existing products in homes.

HPBA and its members have been long-time champions of woodburning product innovation through more efficient and cleaner burning technology. Biomass, such as wood, is an important renewable home heating option. HPBA takes every opportunity to ensure the general public has a wide variety of woodburning appliances available.

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based in Arlington, Va., is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms, and allied associates for all types of barbecue, patio and hearth appliances, fuels, and accessories. The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, advertising, and consumer education.

Arlington, Va. – Dad deserves the best, starting with breakfast. This Father’s Day, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) is encouraging a new tradition for dear ol’ dad: surprising him by grilling up a breakfast feast.

“Father’s Day is the fourth most popular grilling day, when 49% of grill owners will be firing up their grill to prepare a celebratory meal,” said Carrie deGuzman, Senior Manager of Communications for Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA). “Most likely, it’s basic burgers and brats for lunch or dinner. This year, whether you are a grilling novice or an aspiring pitmaster, you can create an unforgettable gift by starting his day with a hearty breakfast you prepared over the flame just for him.”

HPBA recommends a savory as well as sweet dish for your Father’s Day breakfast on the grill:

Grilled Eggs by Steven Raichlen, Author of Perfect Smoke

Ingredients
1 ½ tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
2 eggs
1 ounce slivered ham or crumbled cooked bacon (optional)
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 ounce grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, Gouda, cheddar, or other cheese
1 tablespoon breadcrumbs

Set up your grill for direct grilling and preheat to medium-high (400 degrees). Grease a small ovenproof skillet, baking dish or ramekin with ½ tablespoon of the butter or olive oil. Crack in the eggs and sprinkle ham or bacon (if using) on top. Pour in the cream. Sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs. Dot the tops of the eggs with
the remaining butter or oil. Place the skillet with the eggs on the grill away from the heat. Toss the wood chips on the coals or place in the smoker box of your gas grill. Grill over indirect heat until the crumbs are browned and the eggs are just set, 7 to 10 minutes. (The yolks should remain a little runny in the center.) Serve the eggs at once with strips or slices of fire-grilled toast.

Outdoor Cinnamon Rolls with Bacon by Ray Lampe, Dr. BBQ

The little bit of flavor from the grill combined with the smokiness of the bacon really makes this easy dish something special!

Ingredients
1 roll of 8 refrigerator cinnamon rolls
4 slices thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled

Prepare the grill to cook indirect at 350 degrees. Place rolls on a baking sheet in a circle so they are just barely touching each other. Cook on the grill for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from grill, top with package icing, then sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based just outside of Washington, DC, is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms, and allied associates for all types of fireplace, stove, heater, barbecue, and outdoor living appliances and accessories. HPBA provides professional member services and industry support in government relations, events, market research, education, certifications, consumer education, and industry promotion.

Arlington, Va. – It’s summertime and breakfast (or brunch) is often the one meal that families with hectic summer schedules can carve out to enjoy together. From classics like bacon and eggs to adventurous dishes such as warm cinnamon rolls, the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) encourages people to cook their morning meal on the grill.

“Grilling is quick, easy, and mess-free – a perfect cooking option for anytime of the day,” said Carrie deGuzman, Director – Communications for Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. “And breakfast staples such as eggs, bacon, and toast taste delicious with that charred, fresh-from-the-grill taste. We encourage everyone to enjoy breakfast over the flame at least once this summer for one of the most memorable meals you will have all year.”

New to grilling breakfast and not sure where to start? Check out these grilled and smoked breakfast recipes from our friends:

For a sweet start, try this Pear and Maple Breakfast Sausage courtesy of USAPears. “These sausages are extremely simple to make, freeze well, and cook up like a dream – crispy edges, tender centers, and a burst of juicy, sweet pear in every bite.”
For an unparalleled umami burst, make the Steakhouse Breakfast from Mushroom Council and American Egg Board. “Fried egg, spreadable blue cheese, sautéed assorted mushrooms, and steak strips on Asiago Cheese Focaccia” makes for a delicious breakfast.
For an egg-cellent eat, grill a Bacon & Egg Breakfast Grilled Cheese Sandwich from the American Egg Board. “Grilled cheese sandwich recipes aren’t just for lunch or dinner, add a scrambled egg and some bacon for a yummy breakfast version.”
For a spicy snack, enjoy Grilled Spicy Watermelon courtesy of the Watermelon Board. “Watermelon wedges are grilled until caramelized, drizzled with garlic chili sauce, and garnished with cilantro.”
For a quick kick, create this Chipotle Egg Sandwich from The National Onion Association. “A grab ‘n go sandwich for breakfast with a little kick!”
Make and share your own grilled breakfast dish in our #BarbecueBreakfast Recipe Contest by August 18 for a chance to win great prizes. View the complete contest guidelines.

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based just outside of Washington, DC, is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms, and allied associates for all types of fireplace, stove, heater, barbecue, and outdoor living appliances and accessories. HPBA provides professional member services and industry support in government relations, events, market research, education, certifications, consumer education, and industry promotion.

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Media Contact: Eric Davis, Harvest PR & Marketing, 612.424.7545, eric@Harvest-PR.com

WHO: Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

WHAT: The newly proposed consent decree to settle Harley-Davidson’s alleged Clean Air Act violation no longer includes funds towards a $3 million woodstove changeout program in the northeast.

WHEN: The proposed consent decree was published today.

WHERE: Northeast, U.S.

WHY: The decision by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove the provision funding an environmental mitigation project in the northeastern U.S. is highly disappointing. Woodstove changeout programs funded by settlement agreements are important public-private partnerships between local and regional organizations and the U.S. government with the goal of mitigating environmental harm directly impacting residents, especially rural communities. This program would have changed out thousands of older woodstoves in the northeast, replacing them with today’s newer, cleaner-burning woodstoves that U.S. manufacturers have invested millions of dollars developing. We intend to submit comments to DOJ in the next 30 days and implore the Administration to consider restoring the changeout program, an environmental mitigation project that, according to DOJ’s June 5 guidance memo, should be exempt from the memo’s restrictions.

HPBA will be kicking off Fire Prevention Week (October 8–14) by co-hosting a Twitter Party on fireplace and stove safety with the National Chimney Sweep Guild and Mom Bloggers Club, a leading blog for moms. The Twitter Party will take place October 10 at 1:00–2:00 pm EST and feature tips for enjoying fireplace, stove, and heater products safely, including the following.