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Feature Articles

In-depth feature stories examining the trends, challenges and innovations shaping the propane and LPG industry.

  • One Recipe For Success: Study Whatever Interests You

    Years ago, when William (Bill) Young was asked by a manager why he was resigning a job, he answered, “I no longer whistled while driving to work in the morning.” That has been a theme throughout his long career in the propane industry and even in his college days: he has dedicated his time to conquering challenging projects and having fun while doing it. Young’s career in the propane industry started with a summer job painting cylinders while in college. A week after being hired, and after answering “yes” when asked if he could do mechanical work, he completed his first propane conversion on a lift truck. As the end of summer neared, his employer asked if he would consider staying on and going to…
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  • Forward Energy Purchases Propane Division of Hirschman Oil

    Forward Energy , a subsidiary of Forward Corp. (Standish, Mich.) has acquired the propane division of Hirschman Oil and Propane, an 85-year-old company headquartered in Reese, Mich. Details regarding the transaction were not released. Forward Energy said the purchase boosts its strategic growth, both in number of customers and service area. Now primarily serving customers in central and northern Michigan, the acquisition expands Forward Energy’s reach farther south and into the state’s Thumb region. Forward said it will now serve more than 6000 propane customers across 23 counties, making it one of the largest locally owned suppliers in Michigan. “This is a very exciting time for Forward Energy,” said Abby Moniz, president of Forward Corp. “Our propane division continues to thrive, and acquiring a quality,…
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  • Tech Recruitment Programs Growing Gallons, Propane Workforce

    Sharp Energy (Georgetown, Del.) has developed a program that will give students a close-up look at the workday of a propane service technician. The program also will give the company a chance to recruit, mentor, and perhaps hire a new generation of techs. A subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corp., Sharp Energy distributes propane in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It is also a partner of Alliance AutoGas. In this new program, the company is partnering with a local high school and two community colleges: Sussex Tech High School (Georgetown, Del.), Delaware Technical and Community College (Dover, Del.), and Wor-Wic Community College (Salisbury, Md.). In a part of the program that will be offered for the first time this summer, students will work full time, shadowing…
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  • Propane Tank Producers Applaud Injury Decision; Appeal Antidumping Determination for Thailand

    WASHINGTON (July 17, 2019) — U.S. producers of steel propane cylinders hailed today's final determination of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that imports of steel propane cylinders from China and Thailand are causing injury to the domestic industry. The Commission vote was unanimous, with four members of the ITC voting in the affirmative and one member recused. This was the final step in the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations filed by Worthington Industries, Inc. and Manchester Tank and Equipment on May 22, 2018. The ITC's decision follows the June 17, 2019 determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce ("Commerce") that imports of steel propane cylinders from China and Thailand were dumped and that imports from China were also subsidized. Imports from China and Thailand…
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  • Studies Show Propane Weed Flaming Best Organic Certified Method For Farmers

    The clean, green weed control that propane provides benefits organic farmers by reducing costs, increasing yields, and by giving farmers the ability to weed when the ground is wet, several new research studies report. When Randy Fendrich was invited to participate in a research project on flame weeding, he had never before used it at his organic farm. After joining the project and using a four-row flamer to kill weeds in his rows of corn, he was so pleased with the results, he built himself a 12-row flamer. He built it before the project was even complete and he is still using it today. Flame weeding uses heat for weed control. Equipment mounted to a tractor and fueled by propane sends out plumes of flames…
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  • 1939-1999: Celebrating 60 Years of Publishing

    To mark the 80th anniversary of BPN, we are reprinting here a comprehensive history of the magazine that first appeared in 1999. Written by then-publisher Bill Clark, this tells the story of BPN’s first 60 years. At the time he wrote this in January 1999, Clark had been with BPN since the end of World War II and had owned the magazine since 1969. Nineteen-ninety-nine marks Butane-Propane News’ 60th year. Or is it really its 68th? Or, if you are one to literally believe the volume number published on this page, only its 31st? All three ages have validity. BPN was actually born in 1931—68 years ago—as a section in a magazine, long defunct, called Western Gas. In fact, for many years after we became…
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  • Advocacy, Networking, and Much More in D.C.

    (July 11, 2019) — For a group of industry delegates from New England, Propane Days 2019 opened with a full day of visits to legislators’ offices and closed with a member of Congress coming to visit them. Propane Days, the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) annual event in Washington, D.C., draws members to meet with legislators and their staffs. This year, nearly 250 registered attendees participated. Among them were eight members of the Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE) who formed a delegation representing Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. During the first day of the event, the group visited the offices of four senators and three representatives. Six other PGANE members formed a delegation representing Connecticut and visited the offices of the two senators…
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  • Using Experience To Deal With Natural Disasters

    For many people in the Midwest, lessons learned during the flooding of 1993 are not easily forgotten. In that year of record-setting rain levels, many people were taken by surprise at how fast heavy rain could cause large, valuable items to simply float away. “Those like me who spent time in 1993 in a canoe with a rope rescuing tanks on the Kaw River are much more likely to avoid a situation like that again,” said Greg Noll, executive director of the Propane Marketers Association of Kansas (PMAK). “There is plenty of information on flood preparation available from PERC, but those in our industry who lost tanks and other equipment during heavy flooding are extra vigilant about preparing for keeping their assets from being washed…
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  • Small Business Outlook Rebounds, Health Care Complexity Challenges

    Data from the MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index the second quarter 2019 indicate that employers are experiencing a boost in confidence about the state of the national economy and their financial future. The overall index score increased to 68.7, up from 65.6 the prior quarter, indicating that nearly 69% of small business owners currently have a positive outlook about their companies and the small business environment. This 3.1-point rebound follows a drop during the first three months of 2019 and matches the largest quarter-to-quarter increase in economic confidence since the index began in 2017. The Chamber of Commerce remarks that it is hard to pinpoint what is behind the uptick. The survey doesn’t ask respondents why they feel the way they…
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  • EPA Issues Final Clean Energy Rule

    (July 8, 2019) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued its final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, replacing the previous administration’s “overreaching” Clean Power Plan with a regulation it says restores the rule of law and empowers states to continue to reduce emissions while providing affordable and reliable energy for all Americans. The June 19 action was the culmination of a review of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), which was done in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 13873—Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth. The move also follows challenges from a large number of states, trade associations, rural electric cooperatives, and labor unions, who argued the CPP exceeded EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act. Writing of a new final…
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  • Efforts Underway To Recruit Propane Service Techs

    To grow gallons, the propane industry must recruit and develop technicians who can service and sell propane appliances. So says Mike Davis, president of Davis Propane (Cochran, Ga.). He says the industry must introduce students to propane when they are in middle school and high school, and must provide a curriculum for propane appliances they can study when they are in technical school or community college. Davis has been doing just that by working with schools throughout the state of Georgia. He began this effort four years ago. His company, an independent propane company serving middle Georgia, had been losing business to heat pumps. “I went to a local HVAC dealer and asked why they weren’t selling gas units,” Davis told BPN. “He said they…
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  • Capturing More Gallons Year-Round With Autogas!

    Over the past few decades, new propane liquid injection systems and other technological advancements have helped revitalize propane autogas’ performance, and improved its reputation, as a clean, alternative fuel option for vehicles—public and private fleets, school buses, and other transportation sectors. There has never been more opportunity for propane marketers who want to grow their gallon delivery and enjoy year-round revenue than by securing autogas accounts. This starts with propane marketers converting their own vehicles so prospective clients will see firsthand how well vehicles run on autogas. With major advancements in vehicle propane technology; cultural shifts toward environmental stewardship; financial incentives for clean, alternative fuel and vehicles; and propane autogas market development groups such as United Propane Autogas Solutions (UPAS) eager to help marketers seamlessly…
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