Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association

05/22/2026

Trump Relaxes Refrigerant Rule in Move to Address Affordability

NACS Chairman, Annie Gauthier, attended the White House event representing the convenience retailing industry.

Yesterday, the Trump administration eased federal rules requiring retail stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cooling equipment. The administration said the move would help lower food prices by delaying costly restrictions that limit the type of refrigerants U.S. businesses and families can use.

The change relaxes previous Biden administration regulations related to hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, which are emitted by refrigerators and other appliances, the Associated Press reported.

During the White House event, President Trump said the previous regulations were “unnecessary and costly and actually makes the machinery worse.”

NACS 2025-26 Chairman Annie Gauthier, CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company (Y-Not Stop), attended the event in the Oval Office along with executives from Kroger, Piggly Wiggly and other grocery chains.

“I was honored to represent the convenience retailing industry to witness the easing of burdensome regulations with a real cost to our businesses and our communities,” said Gauthier.

NACS commented on the refrigerant rules as they were going through the regulatory process, urging less burdensome requirements. The White House announcement took NACS’ position and will save retailers substantial funds. Retailers will be able to use current equipment as planned rather than having to spend substantial funds replacing refrigeration units.

In addition to easing the refrigerant rules, President Trump has taken a number of actions consistent with NACS positions this year, including pushing the Food and Drug Administration to approve pending ni****ne v***r products, fighting against electric vehicle mandates and endorsing the Credit Card Competition Act.

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

🎉 May 20, 2026 - WHAT. A. DAY 👏!

LOMA held its Q2 Board of Directors meeting before heading to the Louisiana Capitol for our annual Legislative Day — and what a success it was! 🇺🇸⚜️

We had the opportunity to meet with members of Louisiana’s House and Senate to discuss the important role our members and industries play in "Fueling Louisiana!"

We were especially honored that the Louisiana House of Representatives presented a resolution commemorating LOMA’s 75th Anniversary 🎖️ and that we were recognized on the Senate floor for the work our members do every day in their communities and for the significant impact our industries have on Louisiana’s economy and in times of disaster. 👏⛽🏪

We wrapped up the day with a social event welcoming members of the House and Senate and thanking them for their continued support of LOMA, our members, and the industries we serve. 🤝

For 75 years, LOMA has remained committed to protecting and promoting Louisiana’s fuel and convenience store industries. Supporting and advocating on behalf of our members isn’t just our mission — it’s our passion. 💙⚜️

11/26/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from LOMCSA!

11/13/2025

Energy Marketers of America Raises Alarm Over Visa and Mastercard’s Proposed Settlement on Swipe Fees

Washington, D.C., November 10, 2025 – Today, the Energy Marketers of America (EMA) expressed deep concern over the reported terms of a new proposed settlement between Visa, Mastercard, and U.S. retailers, calling it “insufficient relief in the face of years of unchecked fee increases.” The Wall Street Journal broke the story.

The settlement, filed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, comes nearly 20 years after the original antitrust lawsuit was launched and follows the rejection of a prior $30 billion agreement in 2024. While it includes a modest 0.1% (10 basis point) reduction in interchange fees for five years and new flexibility for retailers to decline high-fee rewards cards, EMA warns the deal falls far short of delivering meaningful, long-term relief.“

Swipe fees have exploded in recent years—reaching $111 billion in 2024 alone—while this settlement offers only temporary, minimal relief,” said Rob Underwood, President of Energy Marketers of America. “The devil is in the details, and the proposed settlement raises more questions than answers. Energy marketers cannot afford another hollow compromise.”

Key concerns include:

Minimal Fee Reduction: A 0.1% cut for just five years does not offset the 70% surge in swipe fees since the pandemic, leaving fuel retailers—who operate on razor-thin margins—without sustainable relief.

Rewards Card Loophole Risk: While retailers may decline entire categories of cards, it remains unclear whether accepting one rewards card would require accepting all—potentially allowing Visa and Mastercard to reclassify non-rewards cards with token rewards to preserve high fees.

Consumer and Sales Impact: With 70% of transactions involving rewards cards, refusing them could drive customers to competitors, forcing retailers into an untenable choice between profitability and customer loyalty.
EMA supports fair competition and transparency in payment processing but urges the court to demand stronger, permanent safeguards before approving any agreement.“

America’s energy marketers deserve a settlement that reflects the true cost burden they’ve endured—not one that protects network profits at the expense of Main Street businesses,” Underwood added. EMA will continue monitoring developments as the proposed settlement moves toward judicial review.

09/25/2025

Ford to Cut Another 1,000 Jobs in Germany as EV Demand Continues to Stutter
Ford plans to cut a further 1,000 jobs in Germany as it seeks deeper cost savings to offset weak demand for electric vehicles in Europe.
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The plan comes on top of previously announced layoffs and means Ford's 28,000-strong European workforce will be slashed by around 18%.