COLUMBIA, Mo. (January 3, 2017) – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announced it has acquired the propane operations of Keiser Oil & LP Gas Co., an independent propane retailer based in Keiser, Arkansas. “We continue to build on our presence in northeast Arkansas and this acquisition will strengthen our position in the region,” says Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing. “We plan to maintain the bulk propane plant in Keiser and integrate Keiser’s propane business into our existing operations in the area.” Kesier Oil and LP Gas Co. has serviced the energy needs of local residents for more than 50 years. This is second acquisition MFA Oil has made in the company’s 2017 fiscal...

America’s energy security is at its strongest point in two decades, according to the latest edition of the Institute for 21st Century Energy’s Index of U.S. Energy Security Risk. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce affiliate’s index employs 37 different energy security metrics in four major areas of risk. The seventh annual edition covers 1970-2040 and incorporates the latest historical data and forecast models. In 2015—the most recent year available—risk dropped three points to 78.0, the lowest level since 1996. “It is not a coincidence that American energy security has shown vast improvements at the same time that America’s innovative energy industry was able to ramp up oil and gas production,” said Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy,...

(January 2, 2017) — Rising propane exports from the U.S. at large discounts to naphtha are pointing to the increased use of LPG for Asian petrochemical production in 2017, according to www.argusmedia.com. U.S. LPG supplies to the global market have surged since late 2015 as new export terminal capacity has been developed. U.S. producer Enterprise Product Partners expanded its LPG export terminal in the Houston Ship Channel from 9.3mn t/yr to 15.5mn t/yr in late 2015, while Phillips 66 has brought on line a new 4.6mn t/yr LPG export terminal in Freeport, Texas. The rise in supply has come in tandem with a surge in new deliveries of very large gas carriers (VLGCs), leading to shipping oversupply and a collapse in LPG freight rates. The...

HELENA, Mont. (Dec. 30, 2017) — Montana Governor Steve Bullock issued an executive order Wednesday declaring a state of emergency and temporarily exempting truck drivers from “Hours of Service” (HOS) regulations due to harsh winter conditions and an increased short-term demand for propane. "Montana's winter weather can pose a serious threat to the livelihood of Montanans who depend on propane and heating oil," Bullock said. "This Order will ensure the timely and necessary delivery of petroleum products so that Montanans keep warm in their homes and continue to work, even in the harshest of winter conditions." According to a press release from the Governor's office, the signing of the Executive Order temporarily suspends “hours of service” regulations for carriers actively involved in transporting propane, heating...

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in the State of Vermont issued a summary of propane rights and responsibilities to remind its citizens of the law and their rights in a news release the AGO recently issued. “Vermont has a robust set of propane rules, both to protect consumers and to promote fair competition among propane dealers. With another heating season upon us, we want to remind consumers of their rights and what to expect from a propane dealer,” said Attorney General Bill Sorrell. For example, there are numerous protections against unfair or hidden fees. Consumers may not be charged: (i) a minimum usage fee; (ii) a fee for fuel not actually delivered; or (iii) any fee related to termination of service if a tank has...

Washington, DC (Dec. 26, 2016) — The Department of Energy (DOE) announced a grant of $18 million recently to help fund five specific projects that further the use of alternative fuels including the research, development, and demonstration of innovative light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles that operate on fuels such as propane autogas, biodiesel, electricity, E85, hydrogen, and natural gas. Projects include direct injection propane engine technologies and plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels. According to the DOE, public investment in advanced, energy efficient transportation technologies and systems will improve our nation’s energy security, support energy independence, reduce transportation emissions, and strengthen U.S. economic competiveness. The following five projects were selected by the DOE to help...

When team members at Shaffer’s Bottled Gas (Hooversville, Pa.) decided to build a new propane appliance showroom, they had to decide whether to remain at the company’s Hooversville location or move closer to one of the nearby more-populated towns. They decided to stay in Hooversville, a small town of about 700 people that had been historically a coal mining area and has become somewhat of a bedroom community to the two larger metropolitan areas of Johnstown to the north and Somerset to the south. “We felt it was strategically placed to take advantage of both of those customer sets, as well as a much more economical operating environment in a small town,” said company president Jeff Shaffer.  After months of preparation, the company officially moved...

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) recently approved an $8.24-million Consumer Education campaign for 2017 ( BPN , December 2017, page 24) aimed at continuing goals to maintain gains in familiarity and favorability of propane with its "Blue" the dog and "Proudly Propane" advertising campaign. The Council also approved the following project dockets at its November 2016 meeting in Naples, Florida.

Roy Willis, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) who has led the staff since March 1998, announced that he is retiring effective July 31, 2017.