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BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    Video Shows How Propane Autogas Benefits Delaware Authority for Regional Transit (DART)

    WASHINGTON (November 2, 2018) – The Propane Education & Research Council released the newest video to its popular Straight Talk video library, which tells the stories of fleets having success operating propane autogas vehicles in a variety of applications. The latest video features Delaware Authority for Regional Transit (DART) and pays special attention to its stress-free refueling strategy. “We know there are a lot of fleet managers who are dramatically reducing their operating costs and lowering emissions with their propane autogas vehicles, and sharing their experiences provides real world results for others that are contemplating a switch to propane autogas” said Mike Taylor, director of autogas business development at PERC. “The DART Straight Talk video highlights the simplicity and showcases their success implementing a custom-tailored...

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  • Feature Articles

    Colorado Voters Defeated Proposition 112, Slam Gas Output 45%, Oil 54%

    UPDATE: November 7, 2018 — Colorado voters on Nov. 6 defeated Proposition 112, which would have increased oil and gas well setbacks from homes and businesses. The proposition would have required most new oil and gas wells be at least 2,500 ft from homes and other occupied buildings statewide except for federal land in Colorado (November 2, 2018) — If passed, Colorado’s Proposition 112 ballot initiative might not completely destroy the oil and gas industry in the state since producers could employ longer laterals to reach molecules while still complying with new setback rules, according to a new study by the Colorado School of Mines and as reported by S&P Global Platts. But approval could eliminate access to 58% of the state’s subsurface minerals, and...

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  • Equipment

    PERC Presents Propane Leadership Awards To Landscaper, Outdoor Equipment Advocates

    The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) recently presented its annual Propane Leadership Awards to a Texas-based equipment dealer and an Oregon landscape contractor. Austin Turf & Tractor and Pacific Landscape Management were recognized in the PERC booth during Dealer Day at the GIE+Expo in Louisville, Ky. Corey Petersen of Hillsboro, Ore.-based Pacific Landscape Management and Ben Davis, commercial sales manager at Austin Turf & Tractor, accepted the awards on behalf of their companies. For the third consecutive year, the council presented one outdoor power equipment dealer and one commercial landscaper with the award, which recognizes those in the landscape industry who advocate propane equipment. “Both Pacific Landscape Management and Austin Turf & Tractor have done considerable work in bringing awareness of the benefits of...

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  • Feature Articles

    Rebates Available to Convert Wood Stoves, Fireplaces to Propane

    SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 1, 2018) — The Utah Clean Air Partnership and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality are launching a new wood stove conversion rebate program to help reduce emissions during the state’s dreaded winter inversions. Rebates are available to homeowners living in Davis, Weber, Salt Lake and Utah counties, as well as portions of Cache, Box Elder and Tooele counties. Low-income homeowners can receive up to a $3,800 rebate to convert a wood-burning appliance to propane or natural gas. Other homeowners can receive up to $2,800. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), smoke from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces is a significant source of emissions during winter inversions — up to 150 tons of emissions over the life cycle of a stove....

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  • Feature Articles

    Higher Forecast Energy Prices Seen Boosting Heating Bills

    The Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects average household bills for most major energy sources of home heating to rise this winter because of higher forecast energy prices. Temperatures are expected to be roughly the same as last winter in much of the country. Forecast winter home heating expenditure changes vary significantly by both fuel and region. On average, EIA expects natural gas bills to rise by 5%, fueloil by 20%, and electricity by 3%. However, expenditures for homes that use propane are expected to be about the same as last winter. Although increased expenditures for natural gas, fueloil, and electricity largely reflect higher energy prices rather than colder temperatures, a warmer-than-average winter would see smaller spending increases and a colder-than-average winter would see larger increases...

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  • Feature Articles

    ROUSH CleanTech Hosts California Road Show To Demonstrate Clean, Affordable Propane Autogas Fleets

    (October 25, 2018) — ROUSH CleanTech is taking propane autogas trucks and buses on a three-site California Road Show that runs Nov. 6-8, to demonstrate clean, affordable solutions for California fleets. Attendees can take a spin in a propane autogas truck or bus, enjoy a complimentary Continental breakfast and lunch, and learn more about the state of the propane autogas industry including an overview of the funding opportunities available to help offset purchase costs for ultra low-emissions propane autogas vehicles and the importance and availability of ROUSH CleanTech’s 0.02g ultra-low-NOx propane engine. An overview of how propane fleet vehicles lower fuel costs up to 50%, reduce maintenance compared to diesel, and how low-cost propane autogas produced in the United States can also be made from...

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  • Feature Articles

    Largest Illinois School District Adds 15 Vision Autogas School Buses

    (October 22, 2018) — Township High School District 211 in Cook County, Ill., the largest high school district in the state, added 15 propane autogas-fueled buses to its fleet for the 2018-2019 school year. The Blue Bird Corp. Vision Type C models reduce operating costs and help the district lower its carbon footprint. “District 211 strives to be green in as many areas as we can,” said Diana Mikelski, director of transportation. “Our new propane-fueled buses are one major way we can improve the air quality around our schools.” Mikelski estimates that the new propane buses will collectively save about $15,000 a year in fuel costs alone. “We are reducing our transportation costs with propane buses and the savings will be reallocated to other transportation...

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  • Feature Articles

    IEA: Oil Markets Tightening On Sanctions and Output Decline

    The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) September 2018 Oil Market Report comments that if Venezuelan and Iranian exports continue to fall, markets could tighten and oil prices could rise without offsetting production increases from elsewhere. The agency observes that since the previous edition of its report, the price of Brent crude fell close to $70/bbl then rebounded to flirt with $80/bbl. “Two reasons for the swing are that Venezuela’s production decline continues, and we are approaching Nov. 4, 2018 when U.S. sanctions against Iran’s oil exports are implemented. In Venezuela, production fell in August to 1.24 MMbbld and, if the recent rate of decline continues, it could be only 1 MMbbld at the end of the year.” IEA added that evidence provided by tanker tracking data...

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  • Feature Articles

    Meter Seal Requirements

    By Richard Fredenburg… We wear two hats when it comes to propane inspections. Most of the time you’ll see me writing about propane safety, but we also have a responsibility for propane weights and measures. While many states, probably most, have these responsibilities in different agencies, we like the way we do it in North Carolina. Sometimes weights and measures rules bump up against safety rules. Notice I said “bump.” I did not say conflict. One place where this happens is filling cylinders. We allow dealers to charge a flat fee for filling a cylinder and we expect it to have the full legal amount when the customer leaves with it. We also expect it to not be overfilled. That places a burden on the...

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  • Feature Articles

    Winter Home Heating Bills Likely Slightly Higher In 2019

    (October 15, 2018) — Most U.S. households can expect higher heating expenditures this winter compared with last winter, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Winter Fuels Outlook. Higher expected winter heating expenditures are mainly the result of higher prices for heating fuels since temperatures are forecast to be similar to last winter in much of the country. EIA’s short-term projections for heating demand are based on the most recent temperature forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s forecast anticipates that the 2018-2019 winter will be 1% colder than last winter, which is close to the average of the previous 10. Noted is that expenditures for Midwest households using propane as their primary heating source are expected to decline. The region, which...

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