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Feature Articles

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

  • LPG, LNG Tankers Make Use Of Expanded Panama Canal

    With 2017 marking the first full year since the $5-billion expansion of the Panama Canal, shipments of LPG and LNG combined marked one of the largest uses of the enhanced waterway, Juan B. Sosa, consul of Panama and president and CEO of the U.S.-Panama Business Council, said Jan. 9, 2018, and as reported by S&P Global Platts. The transport of LPG and LNG cargos, largely from ports along the U.S. Gulf Coast to markets in Asia, has had a “tremendous impact” on the total volume of cargos transiting through the canal in the past year, Sosa said, speaking at a joint meeting of the American Petroleum Institute and the American Association of Drilling Engineers in Houston. The number of transits by LPG tankers nearly doubled…
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  • Sense of Adventure, Love of Learning Led to Propane Career

    Jennifer Jackson, the regional vice president of ThompsonGas–Mid Atlantic region, was born and raised in Montana. At age 19, she and her roommate loaded up her car and drove to Florida. “We wanted to go somewhere warm, and it [Florida] was called the Sunshine state,” she said. Jennifer sold vacuum cleaners door-to-door to make rent while looking for something else to do. “I always had two jobs. I loved hands-on learning, and I like to make money.” she said. “Selling vacuums was an adrenaline rush. I loved the skillset required to be successful at that type of sales. It’s not without challenges. For me that’s the adventure, trying something new and seeing where it takes you.” Her resourcefulness, sense of adventure, and love of learning…
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  • 10 Things That Can Put You Out of Business

    By Frank B. Thompson… Remember the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”? It starred Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. The film’s premise is that failure to meet another person’s expectations results in the dissolution of the relationship. I repeatedly hear propane marketers voice concerns about being put out of business because of a claim. The concern is that the insurance company that pays the claim will cancel their insurance, and in trying to find a replacement policy they will be unable to pay the greatly increased cost. These concerns are partially correct, but there are other things that can put a marketer out of business besides a large claim. So here is my list of 10 things that put you out of…
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  • Texas Best Global Jurisdiction for Oil and Gas Development

    Vancouver, Canada (January 26, 2018) — Canada’s independent Fraser Institute has once again identified Texas as the most attractive jurisdiction in the world for oil and gas investment, reclaiming the top spot from Oklahoma in an annual global survey of petroleum-sector executives. After Texas, Oklahoma was ranked second. The study was released Nov. 28 by the public policy think tank. “Texas and Oklahoma have, for years, been seen as the most attractive jurisdictions in the world for oil and gas investors—proof that sound regulatory policies and stable environmental protections help attract scarce investment dollars even when commodity prices are down,” said Kenneth Green, the Fraser Institute’s senior director of natural resource studies and co-author of the 2017 Global Petroleum Survey. This year’s survey ranks 97…
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  • ESA Satellite Powered by Butane Engine

    An engine not unlike a butane cigarette lighter will power the GomX-4B radio communications satellite, which will launch in February, reports Aerospace. Organized by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Danish Ministry of Defense, GomX-4A includes two butane thrusters supplied by the Swedish firm NanoSpace. The thrusters are designed to be small and simple. “Storing it as a liquid, like a cigarette lighter, allows us to pack as many butane molecules as possible inside the small available volume—its liquid form being some 1000 times denser than its gas,” said NanoSpace CEO Tor-Arne Gronland. The mission is a test to show that the miniature satellite can successfully change orbit and communicate with a second unit via a radio link at varying distances. The cereal box-sized…
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  • New York City to Sue Energy Majors, Divest from Fossil Fuels

    New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, comptroller Scott Stringer, and other trustees of the city’s $189-billion pension funds laid out a goal Jan. 10 to divest from fossil fuel investments within five years. The mayor also said the city has filed a lawsuit against the five largest investor-owned fossil fuel companies “as measured by their contributions to global warming.” The city is seeking damages from BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell “for the billions of dollars the city will spend to protect New Yorkers from the effects of climate change.” The compensation sought is for damages alleged to have already caused harm and to address additional harm expected over the course of this century. “New York City’s lawsuit seeks to recover the…
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  • NPGA Pushes for DOT Regulatory Rollback

    With a divergent, pro-business administration arriving in Washington, D.C., an executive order soon followed from President Trump calling upon departments and agencies to reconsider regulations that burden the production and transportation of domestic energy, like propane. In response, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) submitted a list to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for it to review and reevaluate. NPGA called upon DOT to suspend and repeal several burdensome regulations, among them the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) entry-level driver training requirements. The association also proposed regulation modifications to streamline efficiency, and echoed its proposal for prospective hours-of-service waivers and expansion of the short-haul operation exemption. “In response to the requests, NPGA wanted to submit comments for high-priority items,” said Sarah Reboli, director…
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  • OPEC Cuts, World Propane Demand Support Prices

    The heating season is well underway into late January 2018 and continued OPEC and non-OPEC crude oil production cuts, combined with strong demand for propane in the U.S. and overseas, have all eyes focused on wholesale supply issues. While OPEC and non-OPEC countries confirmed their expected plans on November 30 to keep their output curtailment strategy in place through the end of 2018, propane has more of its own fundamentals also supporting it this season. In late November, we saw propane top 100.00 cents/gal. for the first time since November 2014. Crude futures back then were at around $75/bbl. Propane was trading near 47% of crude, a far cry from the 76% in late November 2017. By mid-December 2017 propane had backed off to 68%…
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  • Opportunity Expands for Propane Irrigation Systems

    While new government regulations are often an annoyance to the propane industry, some new mandates may actually drive customers to propane and away from energy sources that are more hazardous to the environment. Aside from the recent Volkswagen settlement bringing national attention to the environmental advantages of propane, the fully implemented Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emission standards for off-road engines are also increasing awareness of its positive aspects. Tier 4 emission standards, which put stringent restrictions on diesel engines that require deep reductions in pollutants and particulate matter, went into full effect in 2015. In addition, California has elevated its standards, and they are more rigid than those of the federal government. These requirements are making propane an easy-to-implement, more cost-effective alternative to…
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  • Propane Mowers Cut Steady Market Share

    While December and January are usually busy months in the propane industry, Jeremy Wishart, director of off-road business development at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), points out it is also the best time of the year to be talking to lawn and landscape professionals about switching to propane mowers. Decisions will be made between now and April or May, he said. “By the time the mowing season starts again, it is likely too late. ”Wishart has witnessed the evolution of propane lawn mowers from holding virtually no market share six years ago to now capturing 5% for models with 36- to 72-in. decks. While market growth has been steady and incremental, he said he believes it may be heading for a major growth…
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  • IC Bus Awarded School Bus Contract by Franklin Schools In Alabama

    Lisle, Ill.-based IC Bus will provide 44 CE Series propane school buses to Franklin County Schools in Alabama under a contract award. The buses will have Power Solutions International’s (PSI; Wood Dale, Ill.) 8.8-liter LP engine. Purpose-built for the school bus industry, the CE Series with a PSI propane engine is designed to provide diesel performance with higher torque at lower engine speeds. “IC Bus is honored to partner with Southland International Trucks in providing Franklin County Schools environmentally friendly, reliable, and safe transportation,” said IC Bus vice president and general manager Trish Reed. “We are seeing strong sales of our propane-powered school buses throughout the country and this sale is another example of continued interest in our alternative powertrains to transport students to and…
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  • Missouri Propane Council Elects Industry Leadership

    Several local propane professionals were recently elected to serve as Directors and Officers of the Missouri Propane Education and Research Council (MOPERC).The Council recently installed its new leadership at the group’s winter meeting January 4, 2018 in Ridgedale, Mo. The slate was approved at the MOPERC fall meeting in Jefferson City, Mo., and includes representatives from across the state who serve in various capacities. Officers elected were: • Chair –Roger Hoff, Hoff Brothers LP-Gas, Perryville, Mo.; • Vice Chair—Luke Fitzpatrick, MFA Oil, Jefferson City, Mo.; • Treasurer—Nick Goodrich, Goodrich Gas, Crocker, Mo. Five incoming Directors were appointed or reappointed to three-year terms: • Luke Fitzpatrick, MFA Oil, Jefferson City (reappointed); • Marty Lerum, Propane Resources, Mission, Kansas (reappointed); • Kevin Pearson, Ferrellgas, Nixa, Mo.; •…
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