This is an unprecedented time. Everyone is facing uncertainties and unknowns. Our members, whether manufacturers, retailers, distributers or anyone else who touches our industry, are being forced to make tough decisions.
At HPBA, we are working hard to keep up with the quickly-changing legislative actions and the regulatory changes. We are sending out regular emails to the entire membership with important updates, links to various websites with the latest forms and applications, and webinars.
Please visit
www.hpba.org/coronavirus
for all of the information we have collected and developed, including links to the webinars, FAQs, government updates, and links to state-level information.
Please continue to follow all the most recent CDC guidelines – practice social distancing, wash your hand frequently, wear a mask in public and stay safe.
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EPA Final Rule Denies Sell-Through
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Nearly 17 months after proposing sell-through for some appliances covered in EPA’s 2015 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), the Agency issued a final rule denying sell-through for all products. Published in the
Federal Register
on April 2
nd
, the decision means that no Step 1 appliances may be sold after May 15, 2020.
HPBA sent a letter to both Congressional leadership and to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging some relief (in the form of limited sell-through allowance) due to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on season-ending efforts to clear out Step 1 inventory. With the prohibition on Step 1 sales beginning in just over a month, be sure to visit HPBA’s
NSPS Toolkit
to make sure you are prepared.
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USMCA Ratification Complete, But Implementation Likely Delayed
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On March 13
th
, the Canadian Parliament ratified the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will replace NAFTA; all three countries have now approved. Although the countries originally planned for a June 1
st
effective date, there is an effort between the three countries to delay full implementation until at least July 1
st
. HPBA continues to follow this issue and will keep members apprised of developments.
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Brookline Natural Gas Restrictions Questioned by Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
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On March 17
th
, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued a legal analysis of the natural gas restrictions adopted by the City of Brookline, MA. In the analysis – requested by a state Assistant Attorney General – the DPU comments that state law regarding the sale and distribution of natural gas preempts the November revision to Brookline’s General By-Laws. The revision limited natural gas infrastructure in new homes to cooking purposes and restricts what applications (heating or hot water) even existing gas customers may fuel in a renovation.
The DPU also expressed concern about the uniformity of state offerings if individual jurisdictions acted to restrict energy resources. The full DPU legal analysis is available
here
. Along with Northeast HPBA, we will follow and report on developments on the issue.
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In the weeks leading up to Expo, HPBA and its executive leadership spent many days considering its options and conferring with the health experts in New Orleans and Louisiana. It was a very difficult decision to make, but ultimately HPBA’s Executive Committee and key staff decided to hold the show as scheduled. We cannot thank our attendees and exhibitors enough for supporting the HPBExpo 2020 this year in New Orleans! It was a difficult decision for any company to make to attend and we are grateful to all the attendees and exhibitors who participated during such an uncertain time. We heard from many of you that despite the lower turnout, the show was still a great experience and worthwhile to attend.
We hope to see you all in Nashville for HPBExpo2021. Be sure to mark your calendars for March 3-6, 2021.
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Trying to recall a company or a product? The
2020 List of Exhibitors
is still available, as is the
2020 Mobile App
. Be sure to also check back later for a collection of photos taken at the show.
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Exhibit booth sales have begun; if you didn’t have the opportunity to book space at this year’s show for next year, visit our
Apply to Exhibit page for floor plans and contracts.
Contact
Anita Derouin with questions or to discuss booth options. Mark your calendar as housing and registration will open September 1
st, 2020.
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He@rth Online Training Sale
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NFI wants to help you during these trying times. We have put all HE@RTH Online Training on sale until April 30th.
Just use coupon code
nfitrain
at checkout. For more details, click below.
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Tom Stroud
Tom Stroud, HPBA’s long-time Senior Manager – Codes & Standards, passed away last week at his home in West Seattle, Washington. Tom served the industry from 2005 to 2019. Prior to joining HPBA, he had a business for 25 years building masonry heaters and worked for Moberg Fireplaces, a high-end custom designer, for seven years.
Tom devoted himself to representing the fireplace and barbecue industries at meetings of standards development and code organizations. He tirelessly advocated for the industry on language that could reshape our products, or dictate how and where they could be installed and used. Tom at one point was a member of over sixty groups. His talent lay not only in understanding the issues at hand, but also in recognizing that successful advocacy involved building relationships with other group members.
Tom had a warm heart and a love for life. He had an innate curiosity and an instinctive appreciation for all that was around him, which made him a positive force on the people in his life – his colleagues and friends, and especially his family. He was devoted to his wife, Francine, his four daughters, and their families. He will be sorely missed.
Cards and e-mail messages to his family can be sent to HPBA*, and they will be forwarded. The family has asked that donations in Tom’s memory be sent to the ALS Association, Evergreen Chapter, by clicking below.
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Dan Bizner
The hearth industry is saddened to learn of the loss of Dan Binzer, the founder of Montigo. He passed away on March 11. Dan began building Montigo in the early 1970s with creative and innovative products that greatly impacted the hearth landscape. He sold the company in 2016, but remained involved with product design until he officially retired in late 2019. HPBA and the hearth industry send our thoughts and prayers to Dan’s family and loved ones and everyone at Montigo.
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Reminder!
HPBA has a new banking relationship with Bank of America, and our SunTrust accounts are now closed. For wiring information, please contact
Robert Washington
.
NEW PAYMENT ADDRESS:
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
P.O. Box 412397
Boston, MA 02241-2397
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Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
1901 North Moore Street, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 522-0086
Fax: (703) 522-0177
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