The rollercoaster of gas prices continues as there were several steep increases in the last week, though these were somewhat expected ahead of the holiday weekend. Most analysists believe that the supply situation is not going to change any time soon, so you can expect these increases to continue. Right now, everyone's been staring at $5 a gallon as a breaking point. However, it will not be surprising if the new breaking point will be $6 a gallon very soon. My personal instinct is that the demand for the summer driving season is being viewed very optimistically by refiners. I am from the school that the best remedy for high gas prices is high gas prices and if the anticipated demand never meets expectations, by August, refiners are going to be wondering what to do with their inventories and we will possibly see a sharp decline in prices. That is my personal instinct and not that of professional energy marketplace analysists.
NY GAS TAX HOLIDAY
New York has announced that they will suspend their gas tax starting this week and through the end of 2022. The legislation also allows individual New York counties to reduce their local gas taxes. We expect this will have an effect on volumes in New Jersey as we have previously experienced an exodus of New Jersey's gasoline volume to New York when the gas tax increased in 2016. It is likely we will see that again. Although it's been discussed and proposed, there hasn't been much of an appetite in Trenton to have a gas tax holiday here. There is still a chance something may occur as part of the budget process that concludes at the end of the month, we will keep you updated on any changes. We continue to push self serve as a means of allowing motorists to save at the pump.
MENTHOL BAN
At the time of this writing, the Assembly Health Committee is holding a hearing today on the menthol ban in New Jersey. You may remember we successfully fought this battle a few years ago. The proposed legislation (A-1989) prohibits sale of menthol cigarettes and sale or distribution of flavored electronic smoking devices and related products. We sent an action alert at the beginning of the week when we learned this hearing was scheduled. Thank you to all who contacted your legislators. At the time of this writing, we do not know the outcome of that hearing and will report next week if the committee votes to release the bill for a vote in the full Assembly. You can read our testimony to the Assembly Committee HERE.
NJGCA SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Our scholarship application deadline is fast approaching, have you applied yet? We are accepting both mailed and online applications. Last year, NJGCA awarded four scholarships to children of NJGCA members and the children of employees of NJGCA members. A total of $10,000 was awarded with $5000 being contributed thanks to the generosity of Utica Insurance. Utica Insurance is the insurance company that insures many NJGCA members. The contribution was arranged by NJGCA MBP Amato Agency. Once again, Utica has contributed $5000 towards a scholarship that is to be awarded to a student attending an automotive technical school or studying automotive technology. The NJGCA Board of Directors has also approved additional awards. Each NJGCA member will be entitled to submit ONE application that will be reviewed by the scholarship committee. Applicants may be either the child of a member, or an employee, or the child of an employee that works for the NJGCA member. You can find both the mail-in application and the online application HERE. Do not forget to include the other documentation required (transcripts, essays, etc) to be considered.
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753
ASE Training Course - Reach Out Today!
Are you (or an employee) getting ready to take your A6, A8, or L1 in preparation to recertifying your Emission Repair Technician (ERT) credentials through the State's Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP)?
We can help --- but we need to hear from you, first! NJGCA wants to hear from students interested in our ASE-prep training program, so we can gauge demand and schedule our next session series.
As you know, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has always maintained a "dual-track" system to allow technicians to earn their Emission Repair Technician (ERT) credentials through New Jersey's Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP). In doing so, technicians were allowed to certify as ERTs through either an ASE-test track or an ETEP-educational class track. Starting on January 1, 2020, NJDEP amended the ETEP criteria, and the ETEP-educational class track was abolished.
Today, only the ASE-test track remains, and all ERTs must certify or re-certify their credentials though ASE to remain in the Program.
NJGCA has recently offered an ASE-prep class to help you get ready for the A6, A8, and L1. In doing so, students were welcome to participate in a ten-session preparatory class that covered material for all three ASE exams. We also had a handful of students who joined us only for the A8 or L1 sections.
Once completed, students took their ASE exams with a local ASE-approved test proctor (NJGCA can train you to prepare for the ASE exams, but are not permitted to offer the actual exam - students must make these arrangements individually themselves).
Building on that success, we are now seeking student participation in our next training series session. To make arrangements and organize a session, we need to hear from you!
As nearly 40 million Americans prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend, they're confronted with an unpleasant reality: gasoline prices are through the roof. Last week, for the first time ever, gas prices topped $4 in every single state. . . Many people would look at the figures above and come to a simple conclusion: the federal minimum wage needs to be increased! Unfortunately, it's precisely that kind of economic thinking that landed Americans with $7.25 gasoline. . . When politicians raise the minimum wage, the intended consequence is clear: a higher wage for workers. The unintended consequences get less attention: less employment, higher consumer prices, reduced benefits, and in many cases lower compensation for workers. Similarly, when politicians kill oil pipelines, restrict fracking, cancel drilling leases, and pass a slew of energy regulations that can hardly be counted, the intended consequence is (sort of) clear: less reliance on fossil fuels. The unintended consequences, however, are painful: higher energy prices.
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine grinding on, drivers will have to shell out a lot more to fill up their cars as the summer travel season begins this Memorial Day weekend. The price for regular gasoline in California has already risen to more than $6 a gallon, and it is virtually impossible to find gas for under $4 anywhere else. Nationwide, prices have risen by nearly 50 cents a gallon over the last month. The war in Ukraine is the most immediate cause for the jump in prices as global refiners, tanker companies and traders shun Russian exports, forcing up to three million barrels of oil a day off the market. Energy traders have also bid up oil prices in the expectation that Western governments will impose even tougher sanctions on Russia and its energy industry. But another reason for the high prices is that, despite them, motorists have not done much to burn a lot less gasoline. Analysts said people appeared to have a robust appetite for hitting the road as the United States recovered from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Memorial Day holiday weekend marks the start of the summer driving season, and already drivers are limiting their trips due to record gasoline prices that are expected to go even higher. Sal Risalvato, executive director of New Jersey Gasoline Convenience Store and Automotive Association, said he expects a busier Memorial Day weekend for highway travel than last year. He said consumers want to get out after two years of Covid, but demand for gasoline has not yet materialized as many expected. He said the reason appears to be elevated gasoline prices. "The best remedy for high gas prices is high gas prices."
At an industrial site on the banks of the Ohio River, a big blue building with pipes coming in and out of it could be part of the country's transition to cleaner energy. At least its owners hope so. Inside is a gas-fired power plant that could generate enough electricity for almost 400,000 homes. Lately, though, the company that operates the plant, Long Ridge Energy, has started blending a small amount of hydrogen - no more than 5% - in with the natural gas. The market really shifted over the last couple of years," says CEO Bo Wholey. "We're really responding to what the market wants." What the market wants is energy that doesn't create carbon pollution. Wholey thinks hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, could be the answer.
5/27/22
Heading To The Beach In NJ? Don't Buy Gas Here If you need gas before heading down the shore, fill up before you get on the Garden State Parkway or New Jersey Turnpike. Average gas prices have stabilized, and dropped a bit in New Jersey, to an average of $4.75 per gallon for regular, according to AAA, but you will pay much more than that on the state's toll roads. The service stations on the Turnpike and Parkway can only adjust their prices up to three times per week. The price is based on a survey of prices at stations elsewhere in New Jersey. As of Friday, the Sunoco stations on the toll roads are charging almost $4.88 per gallon for regular, more than a dime more than what you would pay if you filled up before you paid the toll.
5/31/22
Still No Timetable On NJ Rules For Experts On People High At Work After exasperated lawmakers demanded action on setting up rules for workplace impairment recognition experts required as part of legalizing recreational marijuana, the state's cannabis regulators offered assurances it's a priority, though still no timetable. . . CRC Chief Counsel Christopher Riggs said work on setting the standards for workplace impairment recognition experts, or WIREs, began last September, a month after the overall regulations for legal adult-use sales were adopted. The legalization law directs the CRC to try to cooperate with the Police Training Commission on WIRE regulations, but Riggs said by November it was obvious there would be an issue with that. "At that time, we were informed that the Police Training Commission does not train drug recognition experts for law enforcement, and they don't train WIREs either," Riggs said.
Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.
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