Bantam Fuel President, Peter Aziz Speaks Out on Governor Malloy's Energy Proposal

TORRINGTON, Conn. – Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection hosted the final of five public hearings on Governor Malloy's energy proposal in Torrington's City Hall on Monday night. Members of the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association including Bantam Fuel President, Peter Aziz, spoke out about the potential fallout of Malloy's plan.

From the Register Citizen: "Peter Aziz, owner of Bantam Fuel, said the state is playing an unfair battle...“It’s difficult enough to compete with our own competitors without having to compete with the state. This is completely unfair. It’s an unfair battle...' " Read the full story

From the Republican American: "Peter Aziz, president of Bantam Fuel, said he questioned the state's projection that jobs would be created under the energy plan..." Read the full story

Bantam Fuel President, Peter Aziz Elected New Vice Chair for Independent Petroleum Association

LITCHFIELD, Conn. – The Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association [ICPA] is pleased to announce the election of Mr. Peter Aziz of Bantam Fuel of Bantam, CT as the association's new Vice Chair of the Board, and Ms. Jennifer Tracey-Carlo of Tracey Energy in New Haven was elected as the association's new Treasurer and Chair of its Finance Committee.

The ICPA announced that Ms. Sharon Bloomer, CFO of the Apple Oil Company in West Haven Connecticut, was elected as the 2011-2012 Chair of the Board of Directors of the ICPA.

Irving Gas Station in Litchfield to Re-open Under New Owner

LITCHFIELD, Conn. – Bantam Fuel, a long-time, popular supplier of fuel products as well as heating, cooling and plumbing services in Litchfield County, has purchased the Irving Gas Station in Litchfield, located at 250 West Street. The station, which includes a convenience store called Twin Stop, will reopen June 17th with a new staff and new local management. It will retain its name and mix of gasoline and diesel fuel services, and the Twin Stop convenience store is being refurbished and restocked.

Bantam Fuel President Peter Aziz, who also owns the Bantam Fuel Mart gas station and convenience store across the street from the Irving station, says the new Irving will provide the same quality service, products and expertise the local community has enjoyed from Bantam Fuel, since 1930.

“After the town’s recent experience with the Irving station, Litchfield deserves especially courteous service, high-quality fuel and a family friendly atmosphere,” said Aziz. “We are already training our new staff to provide this quality service, just as we do across the street at the Bantam Fuel Mart. This is a fresh start, with an entirely new team and a different philosophy. We look forward to seeing our neighbors and new customers and remaining an important part of this wonderful community.”

Bantam Fuel has been in business for 81 years, and was purchased by Aziz’s father, Paul, in 1979. The Aziz family is well known, and has a long history of community service and involvement.

Peter Aziz currently is serving his second term as president of the Litchfield – Morris Rotary Club. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Litchfield Bancorp, is Treasurer of the
Independent CT Petroleum Association, and is the Junior Warden of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Peter Aziz has lived in Litchfield for 30 years with his wife, Susan, and three daughters.

“We’re delighted that Peter and Bantam Fuel have stepped in and are reopening the Irving station,” said Leo Paul, Jr., First Selectman of Litchfield.  “We want to let the community know that the station and convenience store are now being operated by an established, trusted local business owner. We appreciate their continuing commitment to Litchfield, both through service and by creating jobs, and wish them luck and much success in this new business endeavor.”

Bantam Fuel President Raises Energy Concerns in Washington

BANTAM, CT – Bantam Fuel President Peter Aziz was part of a delegation from the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association (ICPA) that traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to lobby for support of measures that could slow the rise in gas prices.

Aziz and his colleagues touched on a wide variety of issues in their meetings with U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney and with representatives of the offices of Senators Joseph Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal and Congressmen Christopher Murphy, John Larson and Rose DeLauro.

Discussion focused on the commodity futures market and how greater regulation could prevent the speculation that has led to higher gas prices at a time when oil inventories are at an all-time high.

"It was important that we went in person," Aziz said. "Some of the staffers were surprised that we supported more regulation of derivatives trading, falsely assuming that businesses always prefer less regulation.

"But we explained that Connecticut residents suffer artificially high fuel prices when a few firms are allowed to corner the market in energy derivatives, and also when there are no limits on investment money in that market."

Specifically, the ICPA favors greater regulation of the $600 trillion commodity futures, or derivatives, market of crude oil, gas, diesel, heating oil, natural gas and electricity. Without sufficient regulation, prices can be driven up by speculators looking to turn a profit.

Aziz and the ICPA delegation asked Courtney and the legislative representatives they met with to support $570 million in funding for the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission this year and next. The funding, according to the ICPA, would allow the CFTC to properly enforce its regulations.

Another issue the delegation addressed were the hidden fees debit card users are charged at the pump. The ICPA supports a new federal law designed to cap fees at seven to 12 cents per transaction. The law, which is being opposed by banks and credit card companies, is due to go into effect July 21.

The ICPA works to protect and strengthen the future of the petroleum industry. It represents 576 home-heating oil and gasoline distributors in the state.

Bantam Fuel Supports Local Feature Length Film Effort

BANTAM, CT – An independent filmmaker from Litchfield will get a boost from Bantam Fuel this summer while directing his first feature-length film.

Paul Brighton and the cast and crew of "Brilliant Mistakes" will be filming throughout Litchfield County and will travel to locations with the help of a $500 donation of gas from Bantam Fuel.

The donation, according to Bantam Fuel President Peter Aziz, represents the company's interest in assisting cultural endeavors based in Litchfield.

"This film project stands out because of all the local people involved in the production and the Litchfield-area properties in the story," Aziz said. "I think it will prove to be an exciting moment in time for the community, and we're delighted to be able to help."

Brighton, also the film's producer, will be filming scenes in Litchfield, Bantam, Torrington and other Litchfield County towns.

As an independent film, "Brilliant Mistakes" is relying  heavily on donations to cover the cost of actors, crew, travel and other  expenses. Read more

Brighton's production company is called Salisbury Films. More about the film

Bantam Fuel Recognized as Pioneer in Industry

BANTAM, CT – Bantam Fuel President Peter Aziz took a chance four years ago when he was the first home heating oil provider to offer BioHeat to northwest CT.  This move has proven successful for the business and is being hailed as a model of achievement by the national home heating oil industry. In fact Bantam Fuel's BioHeat program has been recently featured in "Success Stories: Sustainability of America's Future Through Biodiesel," a National Biodiesel Board publication. The article profiles six heating-oil companies from across the nation, including Bantam Fuel, that were pioneers in BioHeat long before it became synonymous with the heating oil industry's green movement.

Bantam Fuel and the other companies profiled have been leaders in the effort to embrace biodiesel as a way to reduce carbon emissions, despite a lack of tax incentives to do so. The BioHeat product offered by Bantam Fuel is a combination of premium heating oil and 5% organic, renewable biodiesel.

It was only after exhaustive research that Aziz decided to introduce Bantam BioHeat, a trademark of Bantam Fuel. At the time, Aziz felt the company could support the expanding green movement and a growing public sensitivity toward environmental issues.

Although some customers and Bantam Fuel employees were skeptical at first, they were won over after seeing that Bantam BioHeat was not only compatible with home-heating oil equipment but was better for the environment. In March Gov. M. Jodi Rell approved Senate Bill 382, requiring at least a 20% biodiesel component by 2020. Aziz recently testified before the legislature's Environment Committee in favor of 382. Connecticut is the first state to sign a bill into law calling for a 20 percent blend.

View the complete "Success Stories" article.

Testimony from Bantam Fuel President, Peter Aziz, helps pass Bill 382

Legislation that will reduce sulfur and require increasing levels of biodiesel in home heating oil has been signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

Rell's approval of Senate Bill 382 came after the legislature, which heard testimony from Bantam Fuel  President Peter Aziz, voted in support of the measure.

Aziz testified before the legislature's Environment Committee in March and explained Bantam Fuel's success with its Bantam BioHeat fuel over the last four years. Bantam BioHeat, Aziz testified, costs the same as regular heating oil, performs well in cold weather, and burns with higher efficiency.

Improved efficiency, Aziz said, means customers use less fuel and save money. Bantam BioHeat features a biodiesel component, or (an organic renewable resource), equaling 5 percent. The new Biodiesel blends will emit less carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and the lower sulfur content will improve the performance of home heating systems.

"Passage of the law is great news for Connecticut fuel consumers," Aziz said. "Their heating oil will be cleaner, more reliable and have a significant renewable energy content.

By approving the new law, Aziz said, the governor and legislature have put Connecticut on a path towards having the cleanest home heating fuel in the country. According to the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association (ICPA), the new law will lead to the replacement of 100 million gallons of traditional heating oil with a domestically produced, renewable fuel. That will save xxx million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering Connecticut's atmosphere every year, and it will make BioHeat a more environmentally friendly fuel than Natural Gas.

Bill 382 was proposed by the (ICPA) and requires at least a 2 percent biodiesel component that will increase to 20 percent by 2020. Connecticut is the first state to sign a bill into law calling for a 20 percent blend, although similar bills are pending in New York and Rhode Island.

Along with reducing greenhouse emissions, the law will also help create jobs in the biofuel industry, the ICPA said. The ICPA represents 565 oil dealers in Connecticut and their 13,000 employees. Bantam Fuel is a full-service energy company offering innovative solutions to heating oil and propane customers in Northwest Connecticut. The company provides automatic delivery of heating oil, bio-heat and propane, and 24-hour service of heating and air-conditioning equipment.

Bantam Fuel President, Peter Aziz, Testifies before
Environment Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly

Peter Aziz recently testified before the Environment Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly in support of Senate Bill 382. Senate Bill 382 is legislation that would reduce the sulfur content of heating oil down to less than 1% of today's levels, and it would require an increasing biodiesel component to be phased in.

As it stands, Bantam Fuel customers already enjoy the cleanest home heating fuel in Northwest CT.  If the bill passes, the reduced sulfur and the increasing levels of biodiesel will soon make heating oil even cleaner than Natural Gas. On March 12th, Aziz spoke about Bantam Fuel's success with Bantam BioHeat over the last four years, telling legislators that it didn't cost any more than traditional heating oil, performed perfectly in cold weather, and burned with higher efficiency. 

He also told state congressmen and senators how fuel filters are cleaner than they used to be, and technicians find less soot at the annual efficiency tune-up. "At higher efficiencies, you burn less fuel – saving our customers money" he told the Environment Committee. "Our customers are happy with the fact that 5% of their heating fuel is a truly renewable resource, and much of that is grown right here in the USA.  And they're happy that their heating fuel now has significantly fewer Greenhouse Gas emissions."

Aziz explained how the proposed sulfur reduction "would mark another huge improvement in clean combustion, clean filters, reliable operation, and emissions that are better for the environment”. "With nothing more than the stroke of a pen," Aziz said, "Connecticut can have the cleanest home heating fuel in the country.  That's the brilliant thing about this legislation."

The bill passed the Environment Committee by 23 – 2 the following week, and was set to go to the Energy Committee next.

A GIANT IS MOVING INTO YOUR  NEIGHBORHOOD!

It’s Superior Plus Corp., Canada’s largest marketer of propane – and it’s going to acquire the US-based Griffith Energy Services, Inc. this month.  So, if you were a customer of Scasco, Formaggioni , Lindstedt or Holcomb Oil you’re now a customer of Superior Plus, whether you want to be or not. Read More...

Read the Press Release

Read a message from Peter Aziz, President of Bantam Fuel

A NEW WEBSITE AND LOTS OF SMART ENERGY SOLUTIONS!

There have been lots of changes in home energy lately. Some are related to fluctuating fuel costs. Others are about companies that, unfortunately, did not follow good business practices and have left their customers hanging. Still others have to do with new, energy-saving technologies. And we find that our customers have lots of questions.

When you need answers, just take a look around our new website. You’ll find all kinds of useful information – everything from a video on new tank-less water heaters that can save you up to 40% over a traditional style heater, to outdoor reset controls that can help you reduce fuel consumption, to programmable thermostats, to more fuel-efficient furnaces, to payment plans, service plans and much, much more.

You can even use our new blog to ask Peter Aziz, Bantam Fuel’s President, questions about the industry, your home energy usage and more.

At Bantam Fuel, we build long-term relationships with our customers. We help them cope with energy prices. We show them new ideas in saving money and energy. And, above all, we stick by them, delivering the quality fuels and expert service they need.

So welcome to our website. And welcome to “Smart Energy Solutions.”

A PLAN TAILORED TO YOUR EXACT NEEDS?     ... NOW THAT'S SMART.

The SmartEnergy Plan is designed to save money, help you outsmart the volatile energy market, make you home more comfortable, and help you be more “green.” In other words, it’s designed to help you be smarter about home energy. Since every home is different, The SmartEnergy Plan is tailored to your home, your lifestyle,
and your budget.   

Just ask us about The SmartEnergy Plan.

We’re happy to provide this service to all our customers at no charge.