Sam Fox, director of propane sales at McCraw Oil (Bonham, Texas), is larger than life. Fiercely loyal, easy-going, solid, likeable, professional, dedicated, a warrior, a creative thinker, a hoot, a mentor, an expert…always willing to help. These descriptions are just a few (that were suitable to print) coming from colleagues, friends, his boss, fellow committee members, and even the chairman of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). But don’t think this is a eulogy of some sort. Far from it — Fox is just getting started. He has worked for both large and small industry companies over the last several decades, beginning with his family business, Penny’s Gas in Kaufman, Texas. “I am proud to be a third-generation propane marketer. I was with my family company from...

Frederick, MD (May 18, 2017) — ThompsonGas has acquired the assets of Burkardt’s LP Gas of Polo, Illinois, from owners Bill and Beverly Burkardt. ThompsonGas now serves more than 100,000 customers in 18 states (MD, VA, PA, WV, NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, MS, FL, MN, WI, MO, WA, OR, IL). ThompsonGas COO, George Koloroutis: “This is our first acquisition in the State of Illinois and we are encouraged by the quality of the business that Bill and Bev have built. This transaction will provide an immediate contribution to our business and we are very proud to welcome their customers and employees to the ThompsonGas family.”

Propane continued to make headway as a commercial vehicle fuel, with the added bonus that it’s “green,” at the 2017 Work Truck Show/Green Truck Summit in Indianapolis in March 2017. Vehicle displays, a session on propane’s role in emissions reduction, and an Alliance AutoGas event at which conversion specialists once again performed a live upfit of a 2017 Ford F-250 to propane, drew interest from attendees. The techs completed the demonstration in 1:21.00, beating their F-150 conversion speed at last year’s Work Truck Show of 1:32:25 (BPN, April 2016, p.62), which Alliance described at the time as the fastest live propane autogas conversion. Stacey Snyder, conversion specialist from Alliance AutoGas in Asheville, N.C., assisted Kevin Oglesby, conversion specialist from Alliance member Southern Alternatives LLC in...

WASHINGTON (May 17, 2017) – The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) announced the addition of a new page to its website solely focused on helping municipalities and public organizations learn how propane maintenance equipment can improve their grounds maintenance operations. At www.propane.com/municipality, visitors will find resources explaining how propane mowers increase department productivity, lower fuel costs, and reduce emissions. “Whether we’re talking about a large city, small rural township, or even a university, grounds maintenance departments are constantly asked to do more with less,” said Jeremy Wishart, PERC deputy director of business development. “Propane mowers help maintenance crews be more productive and efficient with their ever-shrinking budgets and time constraints.” At the new online resource, content available for site visitors includes: • Video testimonials...

The idea for the formation of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Workforce Development Task Force began last year as NPGA chairman Stuart Weidie embarked on his travels to different state propane gas association meetings. At those gatherings, he heard repeated concerns from propane marketers about their challenges in attracting and retaining quality employees. Weidie shared those comments with the NPGA executive committee. In response, early this year a task force was formed with the objective of providing propane marketers information on techniques for recruiting, hiring, and “onboarding” new employees or integrating them into the organization. Jane Stroupe, regional project director for the southern region at AmeriGas (Valley Forge, Pa.), is chair of the task force, and Eric Kuster, director of safety and certification for...

Costa Mesa, California (May 11, 2017) — Agility Fuel Solutions announced today that its recently-formed Powertrain Systems business unit has acquired the assets of CleanFUEL USA, a leading provider of liquid-injection propane fuel systems for commercial vehicles, as well as propane autogas dispensers and refueling equipment. Agility’s Powertrain Systems business unit is also hiring key employees of CleanFUEL USA and will add business locations in Wixom, Michigan to focus on fuel systems, and Georgetown, Texas to focus on refueling equipment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will enable Agility’s Powertrain Systems business unit to immediately offer complete propane fuel systems for commercial vehicles based on patented liquid propane injection (LPI®) technology. Agility will also be able to offer turnkey propane fueling packages...

WASHINGTON, DC (May 8, 2017) – On behalf of the members of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), the organization called on newly confirmed U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to immediately delay the compliance deadline for certain provisions of the Crane and Derricks in Construction regulation. The current compliance deadline of November 10, 2017, is a three-year extension of the initial deadline. OSHA intended to propose modifications to the crane operator certification component of the regulation during the extension, but the agency has failed to do so. Rick Roldan, NPGA’s President and CEO said, “OSHA has failed to hold up their end of the bargain during the last three years and provide modifications to the existing rule. The industry is depending on Secretary...

Harrisburg, PA (March 5, 2017) — The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association (PAPGA) is focused on stopping the passage of a bill, HB 107. HB 107 is under consideration by the Pennsylvania House Consumer Affairs Committee, chaired by Representative Robert W. Godshall (R- Montgomery). HB 107 can be reviewed at: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2017&sessInd=0&b illBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0107&pn=0084 HB 107 would create a new Distribution System Expansion Charge or “DSEC,” allowing regulated natural gas utilities to petition the Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) to recover costs for the extension of natural gas lines to unserved and underserved areas of the Commonwealth, including recovery of the costs of converting customers’ internal piping and appliances. The extensions and conversions would be financed through charges spread across the entire existing customer base of the utility. The...