Author

Steve Relyea

Steve Relyea has written for B2B publications for more than 30 years. He has specialized in reporting on skilled trades, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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  • Feature Articles

    Emergency Response Team Adjusts To COVID-19

    As the threat of COVID-19 began to be known in this country, Foster Fuels (Brookneal, Va.) responded in many ways. For one, a trailer normally used as a mobile command unit during emergencies was stationed outside its headquarters and used as a medical checkpoint. There, a nurse conducts daily temperature checks on Foster Fuels team members to spot any early signs of the virus. Foster Fuels transports fuel across the nation and provides full propane services in Virginia. Adapting to challenging circumstances is nothing new to the company’s team members and its dedicated standby emergency division, Foster Fuels Mission Critical. Mission Critical provides emergency fuel supply services nationwide and is the prime emergency fuel contractor for the federal government. It has been responding to hurricanes,...

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  • Products

    Generators Require A Complete Package Of Products, Services

    There has been a surge of interest in propane-fueled standby generators as the price has decreased, consumer awareness has increased, and more homeowners have experienced electrical power outages. To ensure these new customers are satisfied with their purchase in the long run, they should be made aware that the generator is part of a complete package of products and services. “Some of the people who have been jumping into the standby generator business focus on the sale of the generator and say, ‘You’ll never notice a loss of electricity. It will be easy. Sign here,’” says Josh Simpson, vice president of marketing with Kamps Propane (Manteca, Calif.). “But the conversation should include, ‘Let’s find you a fuel supplier and make sure you understand what they...

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  • Feature Articles

    Supply Situation Good Through 2020, But Watch Exports

    Despite the volatility in the oil and gas markets, and in spite of expected declines, albeit slowly, in production, propane inventories should be in good condition for the remainder of 2020. So said an industry analyst, reporting on the supply situation after the first few weeks of turmoil caused by the oil price war and the COVID-19 pandemic. Darryl Rogers, vice president, midstream oil and NGL, at IHS Markit, spoke with BPN April 21. The oil price war between the Saudis and the Russians had begun in early March, evidenced by a surge in production. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic was expanding, leading to a drop-off in consumption. The results could be seen in the price of crude oil. As a point of...

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  • Feature Articles

    Propane To The Rescue Providing Heat, Hot Water To COVID-19 Responders

    When temporary facilities began springing up to deliver services to communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, propane marketers were there to supply the fuel needed to provide warm air and hot water. Examples include temporary housing facilities, RVs, and tents: The AmeriGas New Orleans office delivered propane to temporary facilities set up for quarantined residents. The propane-fueled appliances included shower stations, food trailers, washers, and dryers. Suburban Propane’s location in Newark, N.J., responded to a request to provide heat and hot water for RV units used by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff in New York City. FEMA obtained special permission for Suburban’s bobtails to deliver propane to the NYC area. Ferrellgas locations across the country set up temporary heat at pop-up testing and...

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  • Feature Articles

    Speaking Up For Propane — A Clean American Energy

    (April 6, 2020) — When Ben McWhorter of Sequoia Gas Co. learned that a plan was being developed to phase out the use of natural gas and propane in Arcata, Calif., he made sure others in the community learned this too. While the proposal was still being discussed in the energy committee that advises the city council, he made a presentation to the council. City council meetings can be watched live and viewed on demand on television and on the city’s website, so he knew he would reach an audience far beyond those in the room. Sequoia Gas has offices in Arcata and Fortuna, Calif., and McWhorter is the Fortuna branch manager. Before making the presentation, he reached out to others. He went to two...

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  • Feature Articles

    NPGA Board’s Agenda: Eliminating Roadblocks, Helping Industry Thrive

    (April 3, 2020) — In recent months, the industry has faced several challenges having to do with decarbonization and has scored several successes positioning propane as clean energy. These were among the many issues reported on during the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Board of Directors Meeting held Feb. 11, 2020 in Scottsdale, Ariz. At the meeting, Steve Kaminski delivered his first president’s report. In it, he highlighted some of the work the association has done since he became its president and CEO in late October. He began by defining what NPGA should mean to the propane industry: “We should eliminate roadblocks to help your business thrive,” Kaminski said. “If there are roadblocks we need to eliminate that we don’t know about, let us know....

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  • Safety

    Popular New Safety, Comfort Options on Truck Chassis

    (March 17, 2020) — Those looking for a new bobtail, service truck, or cylinder delivery truck have some new options to consider when selecting a chassis. These include higher-displacement gasoline and propane motors, Allison transmissions backed by a longer warranty, and, in July, new medium-duty trucks from Mack Trucks. BPN spoke with several truck builders who work with any and all of the chassis available to build bobtails and service trucks. They shared news of the currently available chassis; longer-term trends on the equipment options being chosen by propane marketers; and tips for working with a truck dealer and a truck builder to develop a truck that will best do the job over the long haul. Among the Class 7 (33,000 GVWR) chassis commonly used...

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  • Feature Articles

    40-Year Propane Veteran Shares Valuable Career Lessons, Free Book

    (February 28, 2020) — At the age of 20, while still a student, Chris DeCarlo started his first business. In the 40 years since then, he launched a couple more, the principal business being Fairfax Propane (Fairfax, Va.). He also married and, with his wife, is raising five children. Over the last year or so, he has also piloted a new project—writing, publishing, and now promoting a handbook for teenagers. In it, he shares his experiences in business and in life, and explains how today’s teens can think strategically, prioritize the right things, and recognize opportunities to build a career and a meaningful life. “What Now? The Teen Handbook” is primarily written for young people between the ages of 16 and 22, but DeCarlo says...

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  • Beyond the Mains

    Greenhouses A Growing Business, Propane Marketers Say

    (February 26, 2020) — When a customer is operating a greenhouse, the propane marketer’s service is a key to success. Proper installation of the heaters and the system that fuels them, a steady supply of fuel, and the availability of service around the clock are needed for the customer to keep those plants alive. “During the winter, the grower’s business is in the propane marketer’s hands,” says Sam Fox, director of business development at McCraw Propane (Bonham, Texas). “If they lose heat, they can lose their crop. For the same reason, it is also very important to be available for emergency services after hours.” McCraw Propane offers a turnkey program for growers that includes site planning, permitting, system design, installation, and training. “An improperly designed...

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  • Feature Articles

    Emergency Action Plans Must Be Written, Reviewed, Distributed

    (February 11, 2020) — There’s an emergency and your facility has been evacuated. Employees have gathered outside, but someone is missing. Is that person still in the building, or was the person absent today? That scenario is an example of why “accounting of employees” is one of the many required elements of an emergency action plan. At a recent meeting of the Western Propane Gas Association (WPGA) , the association’s safety consultant, Rob Scott, explained that propane marketers should know each day who has shown up to work and who hasn’t. An emergency action plan isn’t something that’s created once; it’s something that must be reviewed on a regular basis. “There’s always an accident waiting to happen,” Scott said. “The question is: Are we ready...

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