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BPN Staff

Compiled by BPN Staff

 

  • Feature Articles

    Alliance AutoGas Converts F-250 to Propane Autogas in Record Setting Time at 2017 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis

    Swannanoa, NC (March 22, 2017) — Alliance AutoGas conversion specialists upfitted a 2017 F-250 live, in the record setting time of 1:21:00, at the recent Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. The time beat last year’s F-150 conversion record at the Work Truck Show of 1:32:25, which was recorded as the fastest live propane autogas conversion. “The live conversion was not being done this year for speed or to break any records—only to show consistency, and ease of install on any vehicle,” notes Ed Hoffman, President, Blossman Services, Inc. Stacey Snyder, conversion specialist from Alliance AutoGas, in Asheville, NC, assisted Kevin Oglesby, conversion specialist from Alliance member Southern Alternatives, LLC, in Athens, GA, in the installation of the Alliance AutoGas engineered conversion system. Stacey explained, “We...

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  • Feature Articles

    East Chicago Schools Acquire Six Environmentally-friendly Propane School Buses to Fleet

    EAST CHICAGO, Ill. (March 20, 2017) — East Chicago public school students are now riding to school on six new propane-powered buses, thanks in part to a grant awarded by BP’s Whiting Refinery, as reported in the Chicago Tribune last Friday. Paige McNulty, superintendent of East Chicago schools, remarked that when she came on board as new superintendent last August, the district already was planning to buy new school buses. McNulty said Transportation Manager, Robert Garcia, suggested the district compare the benefits of using propane-powered school buses versus diesel, and so the district investigated the two types of fuel. "We decided that was the way to go," McNulty said last Monday. "It's more ecologically safe for our community with much less emissions. It also will...

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  • Feature Articles

    This Fish Story Is a “Whopper”

    By Connie M. Smith … In these times of declining gallons, dealers are constantly looking for new ways to increase sales and add new burner tips. Sometimes that takes thinking outside the box—way outside the box in this case. Growing fish in the middle of a field in the heartland of America is certainly not the average agricultural use, but in this case, it certainly has grown gallons sold. Jay Hansen never thought he’d be delivering propane to a fish farm. Since starting his propane career in 1989 with Ferrellgas, and becoming part of the AgVantage FS (Waverly, Iowa) sales/delivery team in 2007, Hansen had filled tanks for the typical corn dryers, hog buildings, farm homes, and businesses. He also built relationships with his customers,...

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  • Feature Articles

    ThompsonGas Acquires the Assets of Propane Northwest in Oregon

    Maryland (March 17, 2017) — ThompsonGas has announced the acquisition of Propane Northwest, based in Portland, Oregon. Owners, Paul Bansen and Don Hutt, founded Propane Northwest in 1999. Bansen and Hutt worked for a major marketer in the propane industry for 15 years prior to going out on their own. Each are considered recognized experts in the propane industry. The acquisition expands the ThompsonGas footprint into Oregon and Washington. ThompsonGas now serves more than 90,000 customers in 16 states (MD, VA, PA, WV, NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, MS, FL, MN, WI, WA, OR). ThompsonGas COO, George Koloroutis noted, “This is the first ThompsonGas acquisition in the western United States and we are encouraged by the quality of the business Paul and Don have...

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  • Feature Articles

    F-250 Converted To Autogas Live On-Site At 2017 Work Truck Show/Green Truck Summit

    Indianapolis, IN (March 15, 2017) — Imagine this vehicle as your next fleet vehicle. Next imagine the F-150 has been converted to propane autogas. Then imagine ANY vehicle for ANY need — delivery, service, package or transporting people — can easily be converted to autogas to significantly reduce costs with proven technology, while also preventing dangerous emissions that harm the environment by using propane autogas — a clean-burning, abundant, American fuel. This week at the 2017 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Ind., the Alliance AutoGas conversion techs conducted a step-by-step live conversion of a 2017 F-250. The conversion features Alliance AutoGas’ simplified EPA and NFPA 58 compliant Engineered Fuel System featuring a “plug and play” single plug wiring connector. The Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition...

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  • Feature Articles

    Mobile Truck Computing Enters The ‘Customer Experience’ Era

    Mobile truck computing is headed into its third era, which Aaron Cargas of Cargas Systems (Lancaster, Pa.) calls the “customer experience era.” In today’s customer experience world, the propane industry has tablets at its disposal that have become much more powerful, the user interface is much better than ever, and the capabilities of the devices to communicate to the back office are greatly enhanced, notes Cargas, who is vice president of the company. Cargas will talk about what he describes as the three eras of mobile computing in propane during a presentation titled, “The Evolution of Mobile Truck Computing: An Essential Tool for Propane,” on April 21 at the National Propane Gas Association’s Southeastern Conference in Nashville. He explains that when mobile computers first appeared...

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  • Feature Articles

    Truck Builder Innovations Thrive In Challenging Conditions

    Propane truck builders have felt the pain of the warmer-than-average winter in many areas of the country, beginning with the winter of 2015-2016 and continuing into 2017. “It’s still a little slow. All of the truck builders I’ve talked to said it was a down year,” said Rob Vandemark, who runs the truck division for Industrial Propane Service Inc. (Byron, Mich.). Speaking to BPN in early February 2017, he added, “It’s still slow taking off this year. I think marketers are hanging on to see what happens with politics, the presidential election, and what [President Trump] is going to do. So we’re optimistic as far as sales.” Roger Smith of Kurtz Truck Equipment (Marathon, N.Y.) agreed with Vandemark about the warm winter’s effect on truck...

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  • Feature Articles

    Action Alert: Iowa Propane Gas Association Opposes Tax Credits for Geothermal Energy Systems

    Des Moines, IA (March 14, 2017) — The Iowa Propane Gas Association (IPGA) opposes the following legislation introduced recently by the Iowa House and Senate: SF 386, SF 387, HF 122 and HF 123. This legislation would provide tax credits for installing geothermal energy systems. Proposed Senate and House files create tax credits equal to 10% of the expenditures made by a taxpayer for qualified geothermal energy system properties. By creating these tax incentives, the legislature would skew the marketplace to favor geothermal systems at the expense of other fuels, including propane. The IPGA believes the legislature should not pick winners and losers. The IPGA is requesting that propane industry members contact the Senate Ways and Means committee to request a NO vote on SF...

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  • Feature Articles

    Bergquist, Inc. Sold to Minority Owner, Family-Owned Business Remains In Familiar Hands

    (Toledo, OH) March 10, 2017 — Bergquist, Inc., the industry leader in wholesale propane equipment, recenlty announced that Bob and Linda Barry are now the owners of the company after they recently purchased the remaining shares from previous majority shareholders, Larry and Joyce Hinkley.   The Barrys have been partial owners of the company since 1995 and can be largely credited with the company's success the past 22 years. The Hinkleys purchased KA Bergquist, Inc. from Jack Miller in 1986. That year, the Hinkleys hired their son-in-law, Bob Barry, to be the controller for the company. Barry continued his work with the company for a decade, learning the ins and outs of the industry and furthering Bergquist's commitment to quality and customer service. The Barrys purchased...

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  • Feature Articles

    Propane Autogas Vehicle Sales Outshine 2015 Figures, Continue to Climb

    WASHINGTON (March 7, 2017) — Propane autogas vehicle sales increased by almost 8 percent in 2016 compared with 2015 sales figures, according to data compiled by the Propane Education & Research Council. The more than 14,000 vehicles sold in 2016, comprising light-, medium-, and heavy-duty propane autogas trucks (OEM dedicated or aftermarket conversions), constitutes the most vehicles sold in a single year since 2012. In fact, over the past four years, the total number of propane autogas vehicles on the road has grown by more than 35 percent. As of 2016, there are nearly 200,000 vehicles now being used in U.S. private and public fleets. “We’re thrilled to see so many new fleets take advantage of all propane autogas has to offer,” said Michael Taylor,...

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