Alliance AutoGas Partner Converts Entire Fleet To Propane Autogas
President of Green’s Blue Flame Gas Company, Joe Green, says, “I met Randy Doyle [former CFO] of Blossman Gas & Appliances [founding company of AAG] back in 2009 through [NPGA] benchmarking. Randy told me about AAG and asked if I was interested. After I said I was, Stuart Weidie called me and I soon found out that we had a lot of common interests. We wanted to run everything we could on propane and make propane more accessible to our customers, and I knew AAG could contribute to that goal.” When speaking upon the impact Green’s Blue Flame has made on the propane industry, Stuart Weidie, president of AAG, added, “Joe and Brian Green have been leaders in the U.S. autogas industry for many years. We are honored that they are a major contributor to the AAG network and have set a fine example by deploying autogas in their own fleet.”
Since Bill Green started Green’s Blue Flame Gas Company back in the 1960s, the family business has always utilized propane in whatever way possible. Brian Green, business development manager for Green’s Blue Flame, says, “The technology has changed significantly over the years, but the constant for our company has been the mentality of doing what is necessary to convert our vehicles and keep them running on propane.” Shawn Hicks, service manager for Green’s Blue Flame, has been with the company for almost 40 years and has contributed largely to the success of their autogas program. “Having someone in-house that has the ability to diagnose and repair anything propane related has been key in enabling the company to achieve a 100% propane fleet, not including our propane transport,” says Green.
The entire world is facing both personal and professional challenges in the fight against COVID-19. While social distancing and staying at home are key parts of winning this fight, many businesses and organizations deemed essential must continue to operate. When speaking upon the family’s business, Brian Green says, “The propane industry is working in the background to make sure homes and other essential businesses continue to operate during this difficult time. As a primarily commercial-focused propane service provider, we have many customers critical to the supply chain needed to support households and essential infrastructure. The most notable is a local food bank that distributes food to those that need it.” Garrett Green, operations manager for Green’s Blue Flame, states, “We made changes to our delivery and invoicing process to provide the safest environment possible for our employees and customers while maintaining a quality service.” Stuart Weidie from AAG adds, “The United States should not allow its transportation sector to be subject to another country’s production of goods and materials. Instead, we should all join the movement to use a domestically produced transportation fuel, propane autogas, to ensure our national security and clean the air.”
This past year, Green’s Blue Flame was able to secure about $65,000 through the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) to convert its fleet to the domestic fuel. The TERP program provides financial incentives to eligible individuals, businesses, or local governments to reduce emissions from polluting vehicles and equipment. “Our state is fortunate to have a program like TERP, which provides incentives to fleets who want to utilize a clean-burning fuel such as propane,” says Brian Green.
Green’s Blue Flame has 18 vehicles in its service and delivery fleet, ranging from bobtail trucks to light-duty service trucks. Fuel savings are adding up quickly; the company is currently saving 60% by using propane in its bobtail trucks as opposed to diesel and saving 50% by utilizing propane in its light-duty vehicles. Green’s Blue Flame is also pleased to see savings on their overall vehicle maintenance. For example, regulations require diesel-powered vehicles to use diesel emissions fluid (DEF) for daily operation to help reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide (NOx). Propane autogas burns clean and does not require additional fluids like DEF, which eliminates the expense entirely.
AAG is thrilled to have a partner like Green’s Blue Flame lead by example in the propane industry. Jessica Johnson, partner and projects liaison for AAG, says, “Green’s Blue Flame Gas Company exemplifies how a propane company should aim to do business in today’s industry. We have enjoyed working with them over the years and hope our other partners will strive to convert their fleets to 100% autogas as well, now that they see it can be done.” When speaking on Green’s Blue Flame’s recent accomplishment, Brian Green added, “Having a fleet where we run everything on propane shows we fully believe in propane as a fleet fuel. By having 100% of our fleet run on autogas, it shows our customers how invested we are in propane.”
SOURCE: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, April 23, 2020. Subscribers receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes every week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere.
OUR DIGITAL PARTNERS