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Feature Articles

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

  • Propane Cylinder Requalification Changes And Clarification Update

    On Oct. 30, 2020, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule announcing its approval of the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) petition on the requalification of DOT-specification cylinders by hydrostatic testing, also known as volumetric expansion testing method.  In 2017, PHMSA changed the requalification period for the hydrostatic and proof pressure testing methods without providing any rationale or substantiation for the changes or addressing them in any form as required by the Administrative Procedures Act, according to Sarah Reboli, NPGA’s senior counsel, regulatory and industry affairs. “NPGA engaged PHMSA immediately because the altered requalification periods negatively impacted millions of propane cylinders in the marketplace, and the change was without any safety basis,” Reboli said….
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  • Look Ahead To 2021: State Associations, PERC Review 2020

    Like everyone else, state propane gas associations have dealt with a lot of COVID-19-related challenges this year. These challenges just added to those they had seen on their radar for a longer period of time such as the “electrify everything” movement, workforce development for the propane industry, and finding more ways to increase propane sales across the United States. COVID-19 CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE “MPGA ( Missouri Propane Gas Association ) and MOPERC ( Missouri Propane Education and Research Council ) replaced in-person meetings with video conferencing or conference calls,” said Steve Ahrens, president/CEO of MPGA and MOPERC. “We plan to continue with online board meetings in the future, with a couple of exceptions, as it saves travel time for our volunteer leadership, some of whom…
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  • Grants Available For Propane Autogas Projects In Missouri

    The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) State Grants Program until Friday, Jan. 15 at 5:00 p.m. This is a cost-share program allowing both private and public entities to apply for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding. The department matched the DERA grant with Volkswagen Trust funds earning a bonus resulting in $803,869 of project funding for state fiscal year 2021. Projects must fall under one of the following Eligible Diesel Emission Reduction Solutions: 1. Diesel Engine Retrofit Technologies. 2. Engine Upgrades and Remanufacture Systems. 3. Clean Fuels and Additives. 4. Idle Reduction Technologies. 5. Aerodynamic Technologies and Verified Low Rolling Resistance Tires. 6. Engine Replacement. 7. Vehicle and Equipment Replacements. 8. Clean Alternative Fuel Conversion….
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  • The Important Role Of Customer Service Representatives

    “There are some in propane who believe that training only needs to be given to people who handle propane, but what about people who handle people?” In the June webinar series hosted by Virtual Propane Expo (VPE), Paula Laney, director of safety for Energy Distribution Partners (EDP; Chicago), discussed the important role customer service representatives (CSRs) play in the propane industry. Her webinar was titled, “5 Critical CSR Mistakes Every Propane Company Makes and How to Fix It.” Laney listed five common mistakes a CSR can make: Making assumptions about the caller’s situation before getting all the facts. Failing to treat an emergency or priority call as an emergency. Not remaining calm during emergency calls and not delivering the necessary and complete safety message to…
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  • Suburban Propane, Oberon Fuels Bring New Fuels To Market

    While continuing to promote propane autogas as a clean fuel for transportation, Suburban Propane Partners LP (Whippany, N.J.) is also supporting the development of an even cleaner, renewable alternative. The company has acquired a 39% stake in Oberon Fuels (San Diego, Calif.), a development-stage producer of renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) transportation fuel. Suburban Propane has also committed to provide additional funding to support continuing development efforts to begin commercializing an rDME/propane blended product. The company will have the exclusive rights to work with Oberon to market and sell rDME and rDME/propane blends in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The initial customers for the blends are likely to be over-the-road transportation fleets, especially those that are in California and those that are already fueled by…
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  • Gagne Leads NPGA During Year Of Uncharted Territory

    (November 25, 2020) — When Denis Gagne accepted the election to the role of treasurer of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) three years ago, he knew he was making a five-year commitment as an officer, including a year as chairman in 2020. Typically, the role of chairman is a big year of travel, but nobody told Gagne he would not have to travel much. A people person who enjoys face-to-face meetings, he had no early indication 2020 would involve almost no such meetings. Gagne was prepared for a lot of travel and in-person discussions with industry members all over the country, but the COVID-19 outbreak had other plans. “I’ve been on a lot of video meetings in the past seven months,” he said. “We’d…
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  • Bringing Families Together Video Cooking Series: Propane Can Do That!

    (November 23, 2020) — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has partnered with popular chef Michael Voltaggio to cook up a new video just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday to show how easy it is to cook up his delicious holiday turkey recipe on a propane grill — in just half the time. It is part of PERC’s Bringing Families Together Campaign with Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, best known as Top Chef reality television standouts and owners of numerous highly-respected restaurants. They’ve created a series of recipes using propane outdoor cooking equipment that can easily be recreated, including a quick and delicious turkey and gravy recipe made in half the normal time on a propane grill. To watch the video click https://bit.ly/39aV9HI New…
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  • U-HAUL Buys Its First Million Gallons Of Renewable Propane

    U-Haul has made a big addition to its efforts to promote propane as a clean-burning energy source. The company has purchased its first million gallons of renewable propane. This is now available to customers at U-Haul autogas facilities across Southern California. The company says it plans for this product offering to be ongoing. “California’s goal is net zero emissions, and propane gets us there,” John Barnett, U-Haul propane program manager, tells BPN. “Going the renewable route makes a major change to emissions with no change to the engine.” Renewable propane is identical to traditional propane—it’s C3H8—so it can be used in propane engines and other equipment, he explained. At the same time, its carbon intensity (CI) score is lower. While traditional propane has a CI…
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  • Blind Ad Leads Dixon To Propane Career And PERC Chairmanship

    Daniel Dixon responded to a blind ad placed by a headhunter for a financial consultant position in 1997 while living in Kansas City. He had no idea the industry was propane and the company was Propane Resources (Mission, Kan.). “Turned out to be a great opportunity for me at the time and I have loved the propane industry ever since,” Dixon said, speaking to BPN about his new role as chairman of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “The industry is full of great companies, people, and principles. I’ve been fortunate to meet people from all over the country in my time at Propane Resources and AmeriGas.” Having earned an undergraduate degree in accounting and an MBA, Dixon first applied his financial background in…
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  • Navigating The Challenges Of COVID-19, Winter 2020-21

    Chris Caywood, owner and president of Caywood Propane Gas, Inc. (Albion, Coldwater, and Hudson, Mich.) was attending an NBA basketball game with National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Benchmarking colleagues last March in Texas when a notice he saw on his cell phone told him that the basketball season was coming to an abrupt halt. A player on another NBA team had tested positive for the coronavirus. The game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets continued to its completion and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was caught on television at the game learning about the suspension of the season on his cell phone just as Caywood had. “I told my benchmarking colleagues that we were attending the last basketball game of the year,” Caywood later…
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  • NPGA To Launch $435,000 Environmental Outreach Campaign

    Propane industry advocates will soon launch a campaign to debunk the misperception of propane as anything other than a clean energy solution. During the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) 2020 fall board of directors meeting, NPGA chair Denis Gagne said bans that prohibit propane use present an “existential crisis” to the industry. He added that, in response, NPGA will collaborate with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to reach different audiences. Some initial details were laid out during the meeting, which was held virtually on Sept. 30. NPGA will invest $435,000 in this effort during the first year. Its outreach will be directed at policymakers, while PERC’s will be aimed at consumers, marketers, and thought leaders. After the first year, to help fund NPGA’s…
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  • Record-High 20,000 Propane Autogas School Buses Transporting Students This School Year

    WASHINGTON (November 12, 2020) – For the first time ever, more than 20,000 propane autogas buses were at the ready in public and private school districts across the United States at the start of the school year in 2020, according to new figures from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). This is a 10 percent increase from 2019 vehicle numbers and it’s also the first full school year with propane autogas buses in use by more than 1,000 school districts or contractors. “It’s encouraging to know that more than 1,000 districts from coast to coast are realizing just how clean, quiet, and affordable their fleet can be with propane autogas,” said Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development at PERC. “Propane’s benefits impact everyone:…
    Read More →: Record-High 20,000 Propane Autogas School Buses Transporting Students This School Year

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