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BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    New Online Educational Resource Database for Fleets, Service Technicians

    WASHINGTON (June 30, 2020) – The Propane Education & Research Council created online learning resources with educational information about propane autogas for fleets and service technicians that are starting to return to work after recent shutdowns while navigating through new challenges. “The pandemic has been a wakeup call and it has many fleets reevaluating their best practices and operational efficiencies, including their fuel choices,” said Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development at PERC. “For fleets that aren’t familiar with propane autogas, these resources are a great place to start to learn how the energy source can help reduce their costs and emissions. For fleets that already operate with propane autogas, these resources will help them smoothly get back to business.” The pages feature several...

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  • Feature Articles

    10 Factors That Affect The Value Of Your Propane Business

    By Tamera Kovacs and Cooper Wilburn… There are many factors that go into a retail propane marketer’s decision to sell their business but typically there is one key factor that propels them to act. That one deciding factor is unique to each marketer as to when the time is right. Today, retailers have another factor to consider, COVID-19. Should they proceed with their plans to sell or should they wait? That answer is not as straightforward as one might hope—the COVID-19 impact is just another factor that must be weighed into the decision-making process. When considering the impact COVID-19 will have on the sale of propane businesses, most buyers will look at how it has impacted their business specifically. They will look at how it...

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  • Feature Articles

    Part II: The Propane Industry’s 30 Under 30 Leaders

    Thirty young propane professionals, who were nominated by others in the industry, have been selected as Charter Members of the Young Gassers’ 30 Under 30 Program. Each of these young adults will receive a variety of assignments, perks, and recognition within the propane industry for their participation. This is the inaugural year of the 30 Under 30 Program. Created by the International Association of Young Gassers in conjunction with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and the Canadian Propane Association (CPA), the program is meant in invest in, engage, and encourage young professionals working for companies directly involved in the propane gas industry. Following is a brief description, as provided to BPN, of 15 inaugural members of 30 Under 30. The previous 15 young leaders...

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  • Feature Articles

    Eastern Propane & Oil’s Denis Gagne Sworn In As NPGA Chairman

    (Rochester, NH) On June 15, 2020 — Denis Gagne, Senior Vice President of Supply & Acquisitions at Eastern Propane & Oil, was sworn in as the new Chairman of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). The NPGA is the national trade association representing the U.S. propane industry. Its membership includes small businesses and large corporations engaged in the distribution and servicing of propane gas and related equipment. Its mission is to promote and support the use of propane as a low carbon, reliable, resilient, and abundant source of energy to meet the needs of households and businesses in the United States. Denis has a lifetime of experience in the propane industry having worked in his family’s propane business, Gagne’s Bottled Gas. Denis joined Eastern in...

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  • Feature Articles

    Future Of Renewable Propane Autogas Showcased In New Video

    WASHINGTON (June 15, 2020) – In an effort to showcase the zero-emissions outlook of propane autogas, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) unveiled a new video highlighting renewable propane: the energy source for fleets now and into the future. “As the next generation of sustainability, renewable propane is an energy source that will play a critical role in caring for the environment,” said Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development at PERC. “Renewable propane has all the benefits of conventional propane autogas – it’s clean, affordable, and provides fleets with the same performance and reliability they’ve come to expect – but at the point of combustion, it’s carbon neutral.” Renewable propane is a byproduct of the renewable diesel and jet fuel production process, which...

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  • Feature Articles

    NPGA Adds COVID-19 To Propane Industry Priorities

    At the beginning of 2020, BPN spoke with the National Propane Gas Association ’s (NPGA) Jeff Petrash, vice president and general counsel, and deputy counsel regulatory affairs, Sarah Reboli, about the coming decade. Midwest propane supply issues had consumed their time in late 2019. “Electrification will be a big issue for a number of years ahead for NPGA,” Petrash told BPN in January. Other issues discussed included a plan to go back to FERC in June to address how index pricing is set for liquids shipped on pipelines; natural gas expansion issues brewing in Utah and Iowa; and new requirements from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). With the spread of COVID-19, addressing the pandemic and its many challenges while still focusing on all...

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  • Feature Articles

    Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension & Increased Flexibility Legislation Moves Forward

    (June 5, 2020) — This morning, President Trump signed H.R. 7010, Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA), which will increase the program’s flexibility and increase access for small businesses. Congress approved the bill on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis with the House voting in favor 417-1. The Senate quickly followed suit, passing the bill under unanimous consent on Wednesday evening. The PPPFA makes several modifications to the program, including: A 6-month extension, moving the end date of the program from June 30, 2020, to December 31, 2020. An increase in the forgiveness window for expenses from 8 weeks to 24 weeks and extension of the rehiring deadline. An increase in the current limitation on nonpayroll expenses, like rent and utility payments, for loan forgiveness from 25...

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  • Feature Articles

    FMCSA Publishes Start Date for Hours of Service Modifications

    (June 2, 2020) — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially published modifications to Hours of Service regulatory provisions on June 1, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports. Motor carriers and drivers can implement the modifications starting September 29, 2020. NPGA notes that the modifications include improving the short-haul operation exemption by extending the maximum on-duty time from 12- to 14-hours and expanding the maximum air-mile radius from 100- to 150-air miles. The modifications also include changes to the regulations on adverse driving conditions, 30-minute rest break requirements, and split sleeper-berth. NPGA estimates these modifications could save the industry more than $11 million annually in paperwork costs, and provide 30,000 bobtail drivers more time to serve customers during deliveries. The official final rule...

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  • Feature Articles

    A New Brand of Business Consulting

    (May 21, 2020) New Hampshire – After more than 15 years in the energy industry, Amanda Bacon launches Savvi Strategies, a consulting firm helping small and middle market businesses dramatically improve their marketing and public relations activities, and showing them how to transform their company culture into a strong, competitive advantage. Bacon is well-revered in the propane industry for helping several companies achieve award-winning success. She has led entire organizations, as well as sales, marketing, and public relations teams. Joe Rose, Goodwill Ambassador at Lin’s Propane Trucks and long-time propane advocate says, “One of the greatest things about the energy industry is that most companies are local and family-owned. Amanda recognizes that their brand is something they take great pride in, and it is one...

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  • People

    Propane People “In The News”

    Blue Cow Software recently welcomed the addition of four new associates. Perry Bailes, Janice Trombetto, and Luziane Cavalcanti have joined the company as Implementation Specialists , to help train and support users of Blue Cow’s Ignite software suite of products. Richard Jesionowski , joins the group with over 30 years’ experience developing enterprise level applications. He has a passion for utilizing modern technologies and brings valuable skills to the Blue Cow Software team. software developer has also joined the group. Jeff Brunner has joined Cetane Associates (Kent, Conn.) as a director and will support the activities of the firm’s origination and deal execution teams. Brunner brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the delivery of propane, distillates, and HVAC services. He most recently...

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