Author

BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    What’s Causing Nationwide Truck Driver Shortage & What’s Being Done to Address Dilemma?

    Freight management solutions provider LTX Transportation Services writes that throughout the past decade the trucking industry has struggled with a shortage of truck drivers, and that the problem is becoming increasingly acute. Noted is that more than 68% of all freight is moved on U.S. highways, and with the driver deficit increasing pay, significant impacts on supplier costs and consumer pricing may result. Additional fallout includes shipping delays and minimized stock on hand at stores. Fuel transportation can be similarly impacted. Providing an overview of this nationwide, multi-industry dilemma, LTX explains that one of the largest issues influencing the driver shortage is the demographic of the current workforce, primarily age and gender. The trucking industry relies on male employees 45 years of age or older....

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  • Feature Articles

    Superior Energy Systems Nominated for 2018 Global Energy Award

    CLEVELAND (October 11, 2018) — Superior Energy Systems has been nominated for the 2018 S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards in the category of Midstream Award of Excellence. S&P Global Platts is a leading worldwide provider of energy and commodities information and spot market benchmarks. Superior Energy Systems is the only propane company nominated for such an award across a host of award categories. The Global Energy Awards, considered the "Oscars" of the energy industry and now in its 20th year, honors organizations and individuals who have demonstrated innovation, leadership and superior performance. Given the key role the energy industry plays in the global economy and its impact on society, S&P Global Platts believes that those that are committed to addressing the industry’s most pressing...

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  • Feature Articles

    More than 30% of Maritime Oil Traverses South China Sea

    (October 11, 2018) — The South China Sea is a major trade route for crude oil, and in 2016 more than 30% of global maritime oil trade, or about 15 MMbbld, passed through it, reports the Energy Information Administration (EIA). More than 90% of crude oil volumes flowing through the South China Sea last year transited the Strait of Malacca, the shortest sea route between suppliers in Africa and the Persian Gulf and markets in Asia, making it one of the world’s primary oil transit chokepoints. In addition, a significant amount of crude oil, about 1.4 MMbbld, passes through the strait on its way to Singapore and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where it is refined before transiting the South China Sea in the...

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  • Feature Articles

    School Bus Rebate Program Open for Applications Until Nov. 6. Program Webinar Offered Oct. 11th

    (October 9, 2018) — The 2018 Diesel Emissions Reduction Acct (DERA) has announced a funding opportunity for school bus fleets that serve public schools. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality is accepting applications nationwide for rebates to assist in replacing old, dirty diesel school buses with new, clean-burning, quieter propane autogas school buses that meet the cleanest emission standards. EPA anticipates awarding more than $9 million in this funding opportunity and selected applicants will receive $15,000-20,000 per bus for scrapping and replacing old buses. Eligible Entities: Regional, state, or tribal agencies including school districts and municipalities or private entities that operate school buses under a contract with an entity listed above. The EPA is offering a webinar about the 2018...

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  • Feature Articles

    ThompsonGas Acquires Alabama Propane Assets, 4th Purchase This Year

    (October 8, 2018) — ThompsonGas LLC (Frederick, Md.) has acquired the propane division of South Alabama Gas District, which has operations in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Details regarding the transaction were not released. The purchase is the fourth for ThompsonGas so far this year. “Needless to say, we are excited to add the South Alabama Gas propane locations to our operations in the South,” said Jeff Kerns, ThompsonGas CEO. South Alabama Gas has built a tremendous business and assembled a great team of employees to become a leading propane provider in their region. We are pleased to welcome this group of employees to the ThompsonGas family and we will continue to provide the excellent service to customers that they have come to expect.” “ThompsonGas has...

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  • Feature Articles

    China Gas Holdings Expected to Import 10 Million Metric Tonnes of LPG

    A single company, China Gas Holdings, is expected to import around 10 million metric tonnes of LPG over the next five years, up from the current 2.8 million tonnes annually as the Hong Kong-listed gas operator and service provider seeks to expand into the petrochemical sector, industry sources said recently and as reported by S&P Global Platts. The group’s LPG sales totaled about 4.030 million metric tonnes, up 9% year on year, according to its 2017-2018 annual report. Of these, 2.8 million tonnes were imported and the balance were sourced from domestic suppliers such as refineries and other importers, the sources said. The company projected its LPG sales to households to increase to 4.5 million metric tonnes in fiscal year 2018-2019 from 4.030 tonnes in...

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  • Feature Articles

    3 Fleets Receive Autogas Award from Propane Council at BusCon

    WASHINGTON (October 3, 2018) – Three transit fleets received the eighth-annual Top User of Propane Autogas Award from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) during the BusCon Expo in Indianapolis. The award celebrates fleets creating healthier environments for riders and communities by using clean, cost-effective, and domestically-produced propane autogas. The awards were presented during breakfast on Wednesday, October 3, in Room 130/131 of the Indiana Convention Center. “These fleets truly represent the top users of propane autogas in transportation in their consideration for the environment as well as the students, patients, residents and communities they service by choosing a clean, cost-effective fuel,” said Michael Taylor, director of autogas business development for PERC. “Propane autogas can offer many advantages, including the lowest cost of ownership,...

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  • Training

    FREE Hands-On Training For Propane Autogas Vehicles

    Marathon Technical Services is working with KC Regional Clean Cities coalition to provide FREE, hands-on educational training on the proper and safe way to design, build, and operate maintenance facilities for propane autogas, CNG, LNG, and hydrogen vehicles. The training includes both in-classroom training and tours of local facilities. The class will be offered at the Wyandotte County Fleet Services in Kansas City, KS. October 17 course topics will include: • Properties of gas • Safety issues and failure scenarios • Code overview and application • Best practices – Designing for certain building types • Best application of equipment options • Cold vs. warm weather garages • Special spaces (paint booth, adjacent spaces) • Cost data • Case studies/virtual tours On October 18, participants will...

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  • Feature Articles

    1 in 3 Households Challenged In Meeting Energy Needs

    (October 1, 2018) — Nearly one-third of U.S. households, 31%, reported facing a challenge in paying energy bills or sustaining adequate heating and cooling in their homes in 2015. According to the most recent results from the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Residential Energy Consumption Survey, about one in five households reported reducing or forgoing necessities such as food and medicine to pay an energy bill, and 14% reported receiving a disconnection notice for energy service. Households may also use less energy than preferred, and 11% surveyed reporting homes were kept at an unhealthy or unsafe temperature. The 2015 survey asked about these and other challenges, including paying energy bills and repairing broken equipment in the home. Households experiencing these circumstances, often considered components of household...

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  • Feature Articles

    Hexagon Ragasco Composite LPG Cylinder Producer Celebrates 15 Million Cylinders Sold Worldwide

    The Hexagon Ragasco composite LPG cylinders have steadily gained recognition over the past 18 years and are today in use in more than 70 countries and across a wide range of domestic, leisure and industrial applications. Their user friendliness, durability and unmatched safety record enable propane marketers to gain and retain market share while running cost-effective and safe operations. They are designed to operate across all weather conditions from -40 degrees Celsius (Antarctic regions) to +65 degrees Celsius (desert regions). The propane cylinders are lighter, rust-free, and translucent. "We are proud to reach the 15 million mark. This milestone embodies the trust that our customers have placed in our products. We have focused on bringing a better alternative to LPG storage in the past 18...

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