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BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    Coronavirus Rolls Through Global Economy, Impacts World Industry

    (February 21, 2020) — The coronavirus will have a larger negative effect on the global economy than the SARS outbreak in 2003, writes IHS Markit. At the time of SARS, China was the sixth-largest economy, accounting for only 4.2% of world GDP. China is now the world’s second-largest economy and represents 16.3% of international GDP. Therefore, any slowdown in the Chinese economy sends not ripples, but waves across the globe. The London-based market intelligence provider notes that the coronavirus has brought large parts of the world’s second-largest economy to a standstill and the impact is being felt across industries, including energy. If the current and unprecedented confinement measures in China stay in place until the end of this month, and are lifted progressively beginning in...

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  • Feature Articles

    New Mexico’s First Propane School Buses Save District Money, Helps Environment

    MORIARTY, N.M. (February 19, 2020) — In a partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department, Los Lunas Public Schools, Magdalena Municipal School District and Moriarty-Edgewood School District have each purchased school buses fueled by propane autogas. The 17 Blue Bird Vision Propane Buses will be the first propane school buses to operate in the state. “Our district has had to dip into operational monies to supplement our transportation costs over the last eight years. Adopting propane technology will be significantly cheaper in fuel and maintenance costs,” said Teresa Salazar, superintendent of MESD, which hosted the event. Propane autogas prices average 50 percent less than diesel and reduces maintenance costs and wear and tear on the engine and components. “It is very rewarding to see...

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  • Feature Articles

    Hard Facts Energy Primer Delivered to All U.S. Mayors in Washington

    (February 18, 2020) — The Institute for Energy Research (IER) delivered copies of its Hard Facts: An Energy Primer to all mayors attending January’s 88th annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. The report provides an in-depth analysis of U.S. energy resources and their significance to the economy. Distribution of the primer was aimed at grounding policy conversations in fact, not fantasy, IER said. The institute maintains too few in the U.S., be they policymaker or citizen, fully grasp the nation’s current energy story. That situation, the organization argues, is ripe for myths and misunderstandings, which can only be cleared up with undisputable facts. “Our mayors are ripe for deceit and should be very cautious about any energy policy coming out...

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  • People

    Propane People “In The News”

    (February 12, 2020) — The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA; Washington, D.C.) has recently added several employees to its newly created Communications and Member Services Department. Sarah McLallen has joined NPGA as vice president of communications and member services , where she will head this new department. McLallen has spent the majority of her career at industry trade associations in Washington, D.C. She was most recently affiliated with the copper industry. Morgan Doggett has been named manager of communications . She has previous professional experience at Partners of the Americas, U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois State Senate, USAID Soybean Innovation Lab, IllinoisVENTURES, Illinois Corn Growers Association, and Illinois Association FFA. In 2019, she relaunched marketing and brand of the international USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program, and she...

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  • Feature Articles

    PERC Strengthens Business Development, Industry Relations Teams

    WASHINGTON (February 12, 2020) — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has added four staff members to its business development and industry relations units, according to President and CEO Tucker Perkins. “The newest additions to our team — Stephen Whaley, Joseph Calhoun, Erin Lee, and Rachel Hrabik — make us stronger in at least two key areas, business growth, and customer service,” Perkins says. “They bring experience, expertise, and drive to their work on behalf of the propane industry.” Stephen Whaley, Director of Autogas Business Development will manage the over-the-road market portfolio for PERC. He is responsible for growing propane autogas market share in on-highway light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle markets. His focus will be on new product research and development, product launches, maintenance...

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  • Feature Articles

    California Rebuked For Delegating Environmental Stewardship

    (February 10, 2020) — An op-ed in Eurasia Review rebukes California for delegating its environmental stewardship to proxies. Noted is that the Golden State, with the world’s fifth-largest economy, ballyhoos its green leadership. However, its love of importing electricity and oil exposes its passion to green-up at any cost to fobbing off environmental guardianship to other countries and states that have significantly less controls. While other states have encouraged exploration and development efforts that have contributed to the U.S. emerging as a leading energy producer and exporter, California’s leaders “believe it is better to import crude oil instead of increasing in-state crude oil production from the largest shale reserves and ocean crude oil reserves in the country, found in the Monterey Shale and Pacific Ocean.”...

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  • Feature Articles

    Energy-Related CO2 Expected to Fall Annually Through 2021

    (February 7, 2020) — The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) January Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts year-over-year decreases in energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through 2021. After declining 2.1% in 2019, energy-related emissions are seen retreating by 2% in 2020 and again by 1.5% in 2021 for a third consecutive year of decreases. EIA notes these declines come after an increase in 2018 when weather factors caused energy-related CO2 emissions to rise 2.9%. If the forecast holds, energy-related CO2 emissions will have declined in seven of the 10 years from 2012 to 2021. And with the forecast declines, the 2021 level of fewer than five billion metric tons would be the first time emissions have been at that level since 1991. After a slight pullback in 2019,...

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  • Feature Articles

    ThompsonGas Acquires All American Propane

    (February 6, 2020) — ThompsonGas (Frederick, Md.) has announced the acquisition of All American Propane, a propane provider in Yakima, Wash. Details regarding the transaction were not released. ThompsonGas noted it was proud to welcome All American Propane’s residential, commercial, and industrial customers who have valued the company’s presence in the area for many years. “We are pleased to add All American Propane to the ThompsonGas family,” said ThompsonGas CEO Jeff Kerns. “All American Propane presents a unique opportunity to expand our northwest operations into eastern Washington.” “All American is a great company serving one of the most important agricultural areas in our country,” added Jim Davis, ThompsonGas COO. “We are so pleased to partner with this great group of people to grow the business...

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  • Feature Articles

    Blossman Gas Acquires Two Southeast Propane Companies

    Swannanoa, NC (February 6, 2020) — Blossman Gas, Inc. , the larg est privately held propane company in the US, has acquired two Southeastern propane companies: Stateline Gas of Ranburne, AL, and Youmans Gas & Oil of Hollywood, SC.  Youmans Gas & Oil has been in business in South Carolina for more than 80 years. When asked about the change, former president John Boineau said, “I’m extremely positive about this transition for Youmans with Blossman Gas, and expect that our customers will receive the same level of care and service that we have provided them since 1937.”  Stateline Gas has been in the Georgia and Alabama markets since 1999.  Both businesses were previously family-owned, making for a seamless integration into Blossman Gas, a 3rd generation...

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  • Feature Articles

    Bergquist, Inc. Announces New President, Employee Promotions

    Toledo, Ohio (February 4, 2020) — Bergquist, Inc ., an industry leader in wholesale propane equipment distribution, today announced the appointment of Lauren Clark as president of the company. In addition to this promotion, Bergquist also announced new roles for three other employees: Bob Barry, CFO; Joe Montroy, vice president of sales; and Scott Biggs, director of outside sales. Formerly, as vice president of operations, Clark oversaw all accounting, IT and HR functions. Prior to her role within the company, Clark worked for a domestic third-party logistics provider at Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. Clark joined the family distribution business at Bergquist in 2009 and has been actively involved with the company’s continued growth over the past decade. In her new role, Clark is responsible for...

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