(July 24, 2017) S&P Global Platts reports that very large gas carrier (VLGC) freight rates for routes out of the U.S. Gulf Coast have dipped to 10-month lows on an over-availability of vessels as propane cargo cancelations continue to plague the market. Freight rates to Northwest Europe from Houston have fallen to $20 a metric tonne, while the route to Japan was unchanged in mid-July at $43 a tonne. But both were at lows not seen since September 2016. “There’s lots of ships so the Gulf market will continue cratering,” a broker told S&P Global Platts. Rates to Japan have fallen $14 from the June high of $57 a tonne, while the route to Europe has lost $7.50. The consultancy reports that VLGC freight rates…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance has issued notices clarifying that although some states have passed initiatives to permit the use of marijuana for recreational or medical purposes, such legislation has no bearing on DOT’s regulated drug testing program. The office said it had received inquiries about whether state initiatives will have an impact upon the Department of Transportation’s longstanding regulation about the use of marijuana by safety-sensitive transportation employees—pilots, school bus drivers, truck drivers, train engineers, subway operators, aircraft maintenance personnel, armed transit security services personnel, ship captains, and pipeline emergency response personnel, among others. “The Department of Transportation’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation—49 CFR Part 40—does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including…

At its meeting in Denver, Colo., July 11-12, 2017, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved an increase in the assessment of odorized propane to $0.005 per gallon, an increase of half of one-tenth of a cent per gallon from the current rate of $0.0045 per gallon, effective Oct. 1, 2017. The additional revenue that will be generated from this increase is projected to be about $3.3 million that will be used to fund PERC programs. Also during the meeting, the Council approved the publication of its 2018 budget plan. The proposed PERC 2018 budget is now available online and the Council seeks public comment on its proposed 2018 budget at www.propanecouncil.org. Please review the budget and provide your comments regarding the budget plan…

Bernville Quality Fuels in Reading, Penn., takes a lot of pride in supporting the community. That means not only taking great care in serving customers, but also supporting local causes and helping out those in need. One of the company’s favorite causes is the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (DVGRR) in Reinholds, Pa. What began as a marketer-customer relationship turned into a long-standing partnership that benefits more than just the humans involved. After all, who wouldn’t want to help a golden ball of fur when it’s down on its luck? Bernville Quality Fuels (BQF) was founded in 1984 and provides fuels and services to residential, commercial, and farming communities across seven counties. It has been serving Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue since 2012. The rescue,…

(July 17, 2017) Superior Plus Corp. (Toronto) is acquiring substantially all the assets of Yankee Propane Inc. (Florida, N.Y.) and Virginia Propane Inc. (Ashland, Va.) for a reported $315 million. Yankee Propane serves residential and commercial customers in New York and New Jersey, while Virginia Propane serves residential and commercial customers statewide. The acquisition will add about 13,000 customers and about 7.6 MMgal. of retail propane sales to Superior Plus’s energy distribution operations in the Northeast U.S. Superior has two primary businesses. Energy distribution includes propane, distillates, and supply portfolio management, and specialty chemicals includes the manufacture and sale of specialty chemicals.  “The acquisition of the assets of Yankee and Virginia, which is expected to be immediately accretive to Superior, will complement our existing propane…

Washington, DC (July 10, 2017) — The White House has proposed elimination of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities program as part of its 73% cut of the department’s overall Vehicle Technologies program. The Clean Cities program is widely seen as one of the federal government’s most successful initiatives focused on increasing energy security through the deployment of alternative fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure—all domestically produced. Each federal dollar the program receives is turned into $10.60 of private investment. The work of Clean Cities coalitions helps stimulate local, regional, and the national economy by providing new jobs in the transportation and clean-energy sector, which includes propane autogas. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) reports that the total number of propane autogas vehicles has grown…

Frederick, Maryland (July 5, 2017) — ThompsonGas, Inc. has announced the company’s most recent acquisition of Clark Gas Co., of Florence, Alabama, from owners Jack and Kent Clark. Since 1972, Clark Gas Co. has served 20 counties in South Central Tennessee and Northwestern Alabama with propane services for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. ThompsonGas COO, George Koloroutis stated, “We are encouraged by the quality of the business that Jack and Kent have built. This transaction will provide an immediate contribution to our business and we are very proud to welcome the Clark Gas customers and employees to the ThompsonGas family.” ThompsonGas now serves more than 120,000 customers in 18 states (MD, VA, PA, WV, NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, MS, FL, MN, WI, MO,…