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Beyond the Mains

BPN column on the market forces, policy shifts and supply trends shaping propane use beyond the natural gas grid.

  • NPGA 2021 Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo Returns to Atlanta

    Attendance down, spirits up at first NPGA Southeastern Expo since the COVID-19 pandemic began
    Read More →: NPGA 2021 Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo Returns to Atlanta

  • PERC Celebrates 25th Anniversary

    The council behind the ‘energy for everyone’ has a new brand & an adapted mindset
    Read More →: PERC Celebrates 25th Anniversary

  • How Should the LPG Industry Consider Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

    Oil & gas veteran provides a broader industry view on carbon capture, the potential for rDME/propane blends & the breakdown of emissions by fuel type
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  • The Colonial Pipeline Shutdown and its Implications for the Oil and Gas Industry

    Cybersecurity expert Damon Small discusses the closure of the major U.S. pipeline and how to mitigate cyberthreats
    Read More →: The Colonial Pipeline Shutdown and its Implications for the Oil and Gas Industry

  • Beyond The Mains: Welcoming Newcomers

    (November 4, 2020) — For Natalie Peal, one of the most valuable parts of industry events has been the informal get-togethers she’s shared with other women who own propane businesses. She has learned a great deal while talking over dinner with her peers. “Having dinner with others is an easy way to sit and brainstorm,” she says. “In a casual atmosphere, you can ask questions and not feel someone is going to roll their eyes at you. You can have an informative discussion.” Today, as publisher of BPN and an active member of industry organizations, she tries to extend that same sort of welcome and camaraderie to other women as they join the propane industry. On Oct. 22, Peal was recognized for this with an…
    Read More →: Beyond The Mains: Welcoming Newcomers

  • Beyond The Mains: Stay home, in comfort…

    When there’s trouble in the world, many people will seek to add comforts to their homes. The propane industry is well positioned to meet that demand by offering fireplaces, fire pits, cooking equipment, hot water heaters, and similar propane appliances. Casey Harvey has seen this in the past, and he is seeing it again during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is director of sales at Ray Murray Inc. (RMI; Lee, Mass.), a distributor of gas equipment and heating, hearth, and outdoor living products. “We are absolutely seeing an increase in interest in both outdoor kitchens and fireplace products as people stay home, improve their quality of life at home, and look for ways to feel comfortable,” he tells BPN. “Fireplaces and outdoor living are really comfort…
    Read More →: Beyond The Mains: Stay home, in comfort…

  • New Resources Help Propane Marketers Fight Forced Electrification

    What are the real costs of a move to an all-electric world? To start discussions with local or state decision makers on the impact of forced, policy-driven electrification, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) recently released a collection of communications tools for the industry. The new Fight Electrification Issue Kit tells the data-based story that electric isn’t always better. The electrical grid is extremely inefficient. At most power plants, only 1/3 of the energy used to generate electricity actually arrives to consumers in the form of useable electricity. That means almost 2/3 of the energy is being lost and wasted. That much waste creates an opportunity for propane. Propane is a direct use energy. Direct use means there is no loss of propane from the…
    Read More →: New Resources Help Propane Marketers Fight Forced Electrification

  • 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…
    Read More →: Greenhouses A Growing Business, Propane Marketers Say

  • College Propane 101 With Ted Johnson Propane

    Professionals from Ted Johnson Propane Co. (Baldwin Park, Calif.) recently introduced local college students to the propane industry and the career opportunities it offers. Owner Julie Johnson delivered a classroom presentation at their school and then, the next day, she and operations manager John Weigel led students on a tour of the company’s bulk plant. Johnson’s presentation to the Operations Management Society and Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) lasted 45 minutes. Her presentation began with a sort of “Propane 101”—what it is, how it is produced, and how it is distributed. For these particular student organizations, a slide from NPGA showing the propane supply chain was especially helpful. Johnson also covered propane’s role as an…
    Read More →: College Propane 101 With Ted Johnson Propane

  • House Heating Fuel: Propane Makes Big Gains in Northeast, Census Bureau Figures Show

    Consumers in the Northeast have been moving away from fueloil and many are instead using propane to heat their home. Estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau show that, between 2012 and 2017, the eight states and federal districts with the highest percentage growth in the number of occupied housing units in which the most-used heating fuel is in the “bottled, tank, or LP gas” category are in the New England and Central Atlantic PADD regions. (“This category includes liquid propane gas stored in bottles or tanks that are refilled or exchanged when empty,” the Census Bureau explains.) Those eight states and federal districts are Rhode Island (+40.4%), Maine (+37.5%), Connecticut (+29.1%), Massachusetts (+27.9%), New York (+20.2%), District of Columbia (+19.8%), New Hampshire (+17.0%), and…
    Read More →: House Heating Fuel: Propane Makes Big Gains in Northeast, Census Bureau Figures Show

  • Propane Education & Research Council CEO Discusses 2019 Priorities

    Nearly a year and a half into his role as president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), Tucker Perkins isn’t shy about trying new approaches in a dynamic and ever-evolving marketplace. His commitment to “rethink” everything when taking the top job at PERC has resulted in many changes. For instance, a new IT strategy is being implemented; a new auditing firm is being hired; a new cultural change is taking place to make PERC staff more consultative; new events such as the first “Can-Do Conference” held in July are being introduced; a more regional focus to marketing is being implemented; and the concept of “thought leadership” to improve propane’s story in the national energy conversation is being introduced. These are probably…
    Read More →: Propane Education & Research Council CEO Discusses 2019 Priorities

  • 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…
    Read More →: PERC Memories — A Flood of Friendly Faces

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