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BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    Agility Fuel Solutions-CleanFUEL USA Deal Expands Medium-Duty Focus

    Shortly after saying at the May Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, Calif. that it was adding propane power system capability to complement its natural gas fuel system offerings, Agility Fuel Solutions (Costa Mesa, Calif.) later that month said its new business unit had acquired CleanFUEL USA (Georgetown, Texas). Agility noted the purchase allowed it to “immediately offer complete propane fuel systems for commercial vehicles.” Agility president of powertrain systems Brad Garner and vice president of business development and strategy Charlie Silio spoke with BPN after the CleanFUEL USA acquisition. Garner said his company believes that with the right product and aftermarket support package, many more propane vehicles can be on the road, even with current low gasoline prices. “The economics can still...

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  • Beyond the Mains

    PERC Memories — A Flood of Friendly Faces

    By Roy Willis, PERC president & CEO, 1997-2017… It was 20 years ago this month — July 8-9, 1997 —  that the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) met for the first time. A great deal has changed since that inaugural meeting. Yet, one thing remains constant: the men and women who serve on the 21-member council, the professional staff, and the more than 100 industry volunteers on the PERC advisory committee do their best to serve the interests of the industry at heart. Dan Myers, who at the time was the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) executive vice president, took excellent minutes of the meeting that clearly show that first council, like every one that followed, was intent on doing the right thing for the...

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  • Feature Articles

    Help Defend DOE Clean Cities Program Slated for Elimination

    Washington, DC (July 10, 2017) — The White House has proposed elimination of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities program as part of its 73% cut of the department’s overall Vehicle Technologies program. The Clean Cities program is widely seen as one of the federal government’s most successful initiatives focused on increasing energy security through the deployment of alternative fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure—all domestically produced. Each federal dollar the program receives is turned into $10.60 of private investment. The work of Clean Cities coalitions helps stimulate local, regional, and the national economy by providing new jobs in the transportation and clean-energy sector, which includes propane autogas. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) reports that the total number of propane autogas vehicles has grown...

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  • Feature Articles

    ThompsonGas Acquires Assets of Clark Gas Co., in Alabama

    Frederick, Maryland (July 5, 2017) — ThompsonGas, Inc. has announced the company’s most recent acquisition of Clark Gas Co., of Florence, Alabama, from owners Jack and Kent Clark. Since 1972, Clark Gas Co. has served 20 counties in South Central Tennessee and Northwestern Alabama with propane services for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. ThompsonGas COO, George Koloroutis stated, “We are encouraged by the quality of the business that Jack and Kent have built. This transaction will provide an immediate contribution to our business and we are very proud to welcome the Clark Gas customers and employees to the ThompsonGas family.” ThompsonGas now serves more than 120,000 customers in 18 states (MD, VA, PA, WV, NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, MS, FL, MN, WI, MO,...

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  • Feature Articles

    Propane Prices Likely to Fade; Oil Under $50/bbl

    (June 26, 2017) Ineos recently purchased £800 million of oil and gas assets in the North Sea, as well as buying Danish company Dong Energy’s oil and gas business with access to a further potential 570 MMbbl of gas and oil reserves across 10 fields in Denmark, Norway, and the U.K. It makes Ineos the largest private producer in the North Sea and moves the company into off-shore oil and gas after buying fields from Fairfield Energy and the German Group DEA. Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Ineos, previously boosted control over the North Sea by buying BP’s Forties pipeline system, which links 84 North Sea oil and gas assets to the U.K. mainland, including Ineos’ chemical facility in Grangemouth. With Brent crude oil, the international...

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  • Feature Articles

    ROUSH CleanTech CARB-Certified Propane Engine Now Lowest NOx in Bus Market

    Livonia, Mich. (June 26, 2017) — ROUSH CleanTech has developed the first propane autogas engine available in Class 4-7 vehicles and Blue Bird Corp. Type C buses certified to the optional low-nitrogen oxide (NOx) level of .05 grams per brake horsepower per hour (g/bhp-hr). The new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- and California Air Resources Board (CARB)-certified propane-fueled engine is 75% cleaner than the current emissions standard. “ROUSH CleanTech’s low-NOx engine is a great step forward for the propane industry,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “Propane autogas is well established as an economic, clean-burning, and domestically produced alternative fuel ideal for fleets. Now propane gets the biggest return on NOx reductions, too.” Nitrogen oxides are a group...

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  • Feature Articles

    NPGA Chairman Named At Annual Meeting

    (June 22, 2017) As reported in today’s issue of NPGA Reports, Jerry Brick, Propane Operations Manager of North Star Energy LLC , Aberdeen, South Dakota, assumed the role of Chairman of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) during the annual meeting of the NPGA Board of Directors on Monday, June 19, 2017. Brick brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of chairman, with more than 40 years of service in the industry. Jerry has served in numerous capacities on the NPGA Board of Directors including the South Dakota State Director, Executive Committee, and all officer positions. During his time as Chairman, he plans to focus on continuing unity and integration between NPGA, PERC, and the state associations and promoting propane as a...

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  • Feature Articles

    Glenn Miller, Long-time Industry Leader and PERC Champion, Dies

    (June 22, 2017) — Propane industry giant, Preston “Glenn” Miller, Sr, passed away Monday, June 19, 2017, at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Miller of of Bowling Green, Ky. was 74. Glenn was the owner of Miller’s Bottled Gas, which has been in business since 1945. For decades, Glenn was very active as a leader in the propane industry. He served as the Kentucky Propane Gas Association (KPGA) President twice, and on the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Board of Directors continuously since 1978. Along with colleagues Milford Therrell (the father of PERC), and Butane-Propane News (BPN) owner and publisher, Bill Clark, the three industry icons were instrumental in the passage through the US Congress of legislation permitting the formation of the Propane Education and Research Council...

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  • Feature Articles

    Renewable Propane Shared Spotlight at 2017 “ACT” Expo

    The propane industry gathered further traction at the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo last spring. Propane stalwarts provided updates from a school district that uses propane school buses, as well as the latest products and information on autogas advances at several expo hall exhibits. One highlight was the presentation by Joy Alafia, the president and CEO of the Western Propane Gas Association (WPGA), who underscored the association’s commitment to helping the industry step up production of renewable propane. The Long Beach, Calif. event in early May 2017, featured product educational sessions, exhibits, and announcements from companies promoting advances in such areas as hybrid-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and renewable diesel. Propane garnered attendees’ attention with highlights that included a press conference by fuel systems provider Agility...

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  • Feature Articles

    Gallon Growers: Generators — More Necessary Now Than Ever

    Cyber terrorism. Increased severe weather-related events. An aging power grid system. Now, more than at any point in history, the homeowner and business owner face increased threats to utility security from a myriad of sources. For example, according to back-up generator manufacturer Generac, not only are storms occurring more frequently, they have become much more severe. While senior product manager Ray Stanek stays away from the potentially explosive debate of whether the cause is climate change, he says Generac is dedicated to its mission to make sure effective products are available. But when it comes to cyber terrorism, it’s a growing area of focus. “We saw cyber terrorism in New Jersey that had a slight impact on the power grid,” Stanek says. “I’m not a...

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