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BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    $1000 Incentive Expanded To 69 New Propane Mower Models

    WASHINGTON – In recent years, p ropane-burining lawn mowers have surged in popularity, especially as gas prices soar. Some of the main benefits of using propane mowers is that this green fuel burns on average 35% cleaner than gas. Free of carbon build-up, propane engines also last about 25% longer than gas models. Many municipalities, government agencies, colleges, and even homeowners associations specify the use of propane lawn mowers on their contract bids as part of their sustainability efforts due to propane’s low environmental impact. A lower carbon footprint provides a competitive advantage to many companies that use propane mowers. Recently, 69 additional propane mower models were added to the list of OEM dealer-converted units eligible for the Propane Education & Research Council’s (PERC) Propane...

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  • Safety

    New Photo Contest Encourages Forklift Safety

    WASHINGTON (June 11, 2018) – The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has launched a forklift safety photo contest in conjunction with National Forklift Safety Day on June 12. The contest asks facility managers and their employees to submit photos that show how they are raising the standard for forklift safety on the job. According to OSHA, 70% of all forklift accidents could be avoided with proper training and policy. The photo contest aims to spread awareness of those safety practices.“Facility operations managers mean business when it comes to safety and now it’s time for them to prove it,” said Jeremy Wishart, director of off-road business development for PERC. “As part of National Forklift Safety Day, we want to do our part at PERC to...

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  • Feature Articles

    New Video Showcases Success of Boston Public Schools’ Propane School Bus Fleet Detailed

    WASHINGTON (June 7, 2018) – The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has added to its popular Straight Talk video series, an online collection of customer testimonials that lets viewers hear directly from fleets succeeding with propane autogas. The latest video provides an update from Boston Public Schools (BPS), two years after it first purchased propane autogas buses. “The acquisition of propane-powered buses is probably the most significant thing that has happened to any school bus operation,” said Peter Crossan, the fleet and compliance manager at BPS. “The buses have had a profound effect positively on our schoolyard, students, and faculty. And our drivers love them.” According to Crossan, the school district’s initial reason for considering propane-powered buses was to improve air quality around the...

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  • Feature Articles

    Propane Gas Recalled Due To Fire, Explosion Hazard

    (June 5, 2018) — T he United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports Keyera Energy Inc., of Houston, Texas, is recalling propane gas distributed in Texas and Louisiana by various companies and sold by retailers between February 2018 and April 2018 due to potential fire and explosion hazards. The company says the recalled gas does not contain sufficient levels of odorant to help alert consumers to a gas leak. Failure to detect a leak can of course result in fire, explosion, and thermal burn hazards. About 1.7 million gallons of propane gas were recalled This recall involves under-odorized propane gas (LPG) delivered to consumers for use in storage tanks or sold at retail locations in portable refillable cylinders (for use in recreational vehicles, barbeque...

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  • Feature Articles

    NPGA Benchmarking Shares Valuable Lessons and Best Practices

    Todd Holtzman was on a waiting list for several years before being placed in a group in the National Propane Gas Association’s Benchmarking Council. But when he talks about it, he jokingly says he shouldn’t mention it — because he’s giving away one of the biggest secrets to his success. “Benchmarking is the best-kept secret in the industry,” said Holtzman, one of three panelists at the seminar about the Benchmarking Council at the NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo in Atlanta. Holtzman’s family had been in the fuel business in Virginia for many years, but as a college senior, his father asked him to return to the business after graduating in 1997 to help start up a propane business. Holtzman said he believes benchmarking gives him...

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  • Feature Articles

    NGL To Sell Retail Propane Business To Superior Plus for $900M

    Reuters (May 30, 2018) — Canadian specialty chemicals firm Superior Plus Corp said on Wednesday it would buy NGL Energy Partners’ retail propane unit for $900 million in cash to boost its presence in the United States. NGL’s shares surged 14 percent to 12.20 in trading after the bell. NGL Propane sells propane and distillates to over 316,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the U.S. Northeast, Southeast and Upper Midwest under regional brands, including Osterman Propane, Downeast Energy and Eastern Propane. In the 12 months to March 31, NGL Propane sold about 182 million gallons of fuel, generating about $85 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Superior said the deal would help save about $20 million to $25 million within...

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  • Feature Articles

    Industry Groups Call for Relief From Steel Tariffs and Quotas

    The American Petroleum Institute (API) has joined other trade associations in comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) on Section 232’s interim final rule to raise concerns over the ability of natural gas and oil companies to receive relief from steel tariffs and quotas. “U.S. natural gas and oil companies should be granted relief from the tariffs and quotas on imported steel that will harm U.S. businesses, our economy, and American consumers,” said Kyle Isakower, vice president of regulatory and economic policy at API. “Tariffs will raise the cost of imported steel by 25%, while quotas will stop U.S. businesses from receiving steel for U.S. energy projects around the country, harming the president’s agenda of continuing our energy renaissance, strengthening our infrastructure, and creating...

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  • People

    Propane People “In The News”

    (May 23, 2018) — Crestwood Midstream (Kansas City, Mo.) has made several promotions within its Marketing Supply and Logistics (MSL) Business Unit. John Powell, senior vice president and CCO , is now responsible for all operations for the MSL Group . In his new role, he will oversee Crestwood’s NGL processing, fractionation, storage, transportation, and marketing services in Bakersfield, Calif. and its nearby rail operation in Tupman . Chris Roth has been promoted to vice president of East marketing and supply . He joined Crestwood’s predecessor, Inergy, in 2004 as a supply regional analyst, and was most recently director of East marketing and supply. He works with propane marketers in the Eastern half of the U.S. on their supply and logistics solutions. Bryon Muchow has...

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  • Feature Articles

    More than 13,000 Propane Autogas Vehicles Sold in 2017, Increase in 2018 Predicted

    More than 13,000 propane autogas fleet vehicles were sold in 2017, according to data compiled by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). The new vehicles will consume about 36.8 million gallons of fuel annually and many displaced fuels with higher emissions like gasoline and diesel. PERC comments that while the total 13,045 autogas vehicles sold in 2017 was lower than the 14,045 sold in 2016, the relatively flat sales are signaling to industry officials that more propane autogas growth is around the corner. “Propane autogas overcame significant challenges in 2017—from the absence of federal incentives for alternative fuels from the federal government, to incredibly low gasoline and diesel prices throughout much of the year—and we received an overwhelming endorsement for our fuel in all...

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  • Feature Articles

    Schwan’s Home Delivery Service Deploys 600 Autogas Vehicles

    Schwan’s Home Service Inc. (Marshall, Minn.) is continuing its decades-long commitment to clean-burning propane autogas vehicles. The company has deployed 200 ROUSH CleanTech E-450 cutaways and has plans to lease an additional 400 by the end of this year. “Propane-powered vehicles have played a key role in Schwan’s product delivery for more than 40 years,” said Danielle Stariha, senior manager of fleet and procurement at Schwan’s Home Service. “Total costs of ownership for propane autogas are much lower than traditional fuels and other alternative technologies, which is why we are continually implementing the newest propane technology.” Schwan’s, which has one of the larger privately held fleets in the U.S., will take delivery of its first 200 Ford E-450 cutaway vehicles this month. Each frozen food...

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