Thank you to all of you who have renewed your membership with MAHPBA for 2011!

For those who have not yet renewed, there is still time! Membership cutoff will be effective January 31st - at that point we will be removing non-members from the website and password protecting "members only" areas.

Most importantly though, you will not only miss out on all the great benefits and government affairs help, but you will break your continuous years of membership with MAHPBA if you don't send in your renewal by that time!

The tax credit for Biomass Heating Appliances was set to expire December 31, 2010. On December 17th, President Obama signed into law an $858 billion tax package that includes a revised tax credit for our industry that includes the following provisions:

• 10% credit for the purchase of a biomass heating appliance in 2011, capped at $300
• Removal of the lower heating value level (LHV) efficiency measurement
• Credit applies to appliance purchase price only and is not extended to installation or venting materials

In the weeks leading up to the voting HPBA reached out to congressional leaders to remind them of the importance of this tax credit to our industry and to the consumers who are interested in our products. Unfortunately, because our industry is not as well known as some of the other renewable energy industries such as solar and wind, we were not able to retain the 30% tax credit.

This is another example of the need for each and every member to get involved and reach out to their legislative representatives. You need to make sure that your representatives know about you and your business and how important our products are to your local consumers and environment.

We need to make sure that when these types of votes come before our representatives, they are aware of who we are and our importance. The squeaky wheel is the one that gets greased and these relationships start on the local level. The HPBA and MAHPBA staff cannot fight these battles alone. You must get involved! Please ask us how you can make it happen so that in the future the hearth industry will have the votes.

On March 4 at 8:00pm in Salt Lake City, you do not want to miss the revolving disco lights and throbbing dance beat that will get your foot tapping and body moving! The Salt Palace Convention Center will be transformed into a '70s disco extravaganza with music by the Afrodisiacs, a high-energy disco band from Seattle.

Everyone is invited (no charge, but an HPBExpo badge required) and encouraged to come in '70s disco attire. Don't miss the party of the year hosted by HPBA and generously sponsored by Hearth & Home Technologies, Kozy Heat, Lennox Hearth Products, M&G DuraVent, Napoleon Fireplaces & Grills, Regency Fireplace Products, SBI-Stove Builder International, Travis Industries and Weber-Stephen Products Co.

ALL NEW for 2011 EXPO!

Hundreds of New Products - the newest technology and styles consumers will want in their homes.

Biomass Central Heating Symposium - all-day symposium on Wednesday March 2 will include sessions and table top exhibits. This is a hot new topic and potentially new revenue stream for retailers. Symposium is co-sponsored by the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI).

"Friday Night Fever" Disco Party on Friday, March 4 - the industry-wide party is revived after 15 years! Put on your 70s clothes and join the fun at the Salt Palace Convention Center for music and dancing by the Aphrodisiacs. (8:00pm - 11:00pm)

Young Guns Lounge - If you're under 40 years of age and/or been in the industry less than 10 years, we have a "hang-out" lounge for you - no old fogies allowed! Meet your generation industry peers in the show floor lounge and make new acquaintances.

New Registration Dashboard - When you register for your Expo badges, take advantage of the new registration dashboard features. You can set up booth appointments prior to the show, find specific products you're looking for, or match your needs with exhibitors and their products.

Check your next newsletter for more fast facts about HPBExpo!

Last month, we mailed out the 2011 NFI Education Brochures and we want to make sure you received one! If you did not, please contact us and we will mail, fax or email you a copy.

ATTENTION TO ALL WHO ARE
NFI WOOD CERTIFIED!!!

To correct the manual rewrite cycle, it is necessary to make a one-year extension for some NFI Wood Certifications that expire in 2011. If you were planning to renew your NFI Wood Certification by exam in 2011, your current certification will be extended until 2012 if you take an online, one-hour "Update & Re-Enforcement Course". There is a $75 extension fee which includes the online course. Please call the MAHPBA office for more information.

Here are the dates and locations for your information:

Glen Mills, PA (Holiday Inn-Concordville)
Monday, May 16-GAS
Tuesday, May 17-PELLET
Wednesday, May 18-WOOD

Lancaster, PA (Annual Meeting)
Tuesday, June 7 - all courses are being offered concurrently-you may only choose one fuel type!

Hunt Valley, MD (Marriott Hunt Valley)
Monday, August 8-GAS
Tuesday, August 9-PELLET
Wednesday, August 10-WOOD

Currently, there are two regulations being reviewed and implemented that will jeopardize your future!

Department Of Energy (DOE) Issue

As part of its implementing the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued final regulations on April 16, 2010, that effectively banned the sale of decorative gas fireplaces by making these subject to efficiency standards of 9,000 Btu/hr. or greater. Adding further insult to injury, an environmental group called the Natural Resources Defense Council or "NRDC", filed a legal challenge against HPBA's position and supported the DOE in their final ruling.

New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) Issue

The New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) for wood heaters is being reviewed by EPA. In doing so, EPA is considering tightening the standards for emissions for woodstoves, as well as expanding the certification program to include everything that burns solid fuel. The outcome of this effort will negatively affect the nature of your business for years to come, so HPBA needs to act now to influence the EPA standards for future emissions of solid fuel appliances.

HPBA IS REPRESENTING ALL HEARTH AND CHIMNEY PROFESSIONALS IN THIS LEGAL BATTLE. Your first step in this fight is to BECOME A MEMBER of MAHPBA or renew your membership. With all the legal battles, there is a huge financial cost; therefore, we are ASKING not only for your membership support, but your monetary support as well. Donations in any amount will be greatly appreciated.

WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OR NOT, THE FUTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE LEVEL OF EVERYONE'S SUPPORT!

Starting February 1, 2011, the MAHPBA website will have a "members only" section!

To access the member site, you will need a user name and password - if you have renewed your MAHPBA membership for 2011, you will receive your user name and password via email by the end of January.