WASHINGTON (January 30, 2017) – More than a third of commercial landscapers are considering propane to power their equipment fleets, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Specifically, the survey found that 34 percent of landscape contractors answered they were somewhat or very likely to purchase a propane mower within the next three years. “We’ve seen solid growth of propane equipment in the commercial landscape market over the past four years, and this survey only reinforces our belief that the growth will continue its trend upwards as more commercial landscapers understand the financial and environmental benefits of operating a propane mower fleet,” said Jeremy Wishart, deputy director of business development for PERC. Commissioned by PERC and conducted by…

WASHINGTON (January 30, 2017) – More than a third of commercial landscapers are considering propane to power their equipment fleets, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Specifically, the survey found that 34 percent of landscape contractors answered they were somewhat or very likely to purchase a propane mower within the next three years. “We’ve seen solid growth of propane equipment in the commercial landscape market over the past four years, and this survey only reinforces our belief that the growth will continue its trend upwards as more commercial landscapers understand the financial and environmental benefits of operating a propane mower fleet,” said Jeremy Wishart, deputy director of business development for PERC. Commissioned by PERC and conducted by…

Ponte San Marco, ITALY (January 26, 2017) – The Cavagna Group recently announced it has finalized the acquisition of a business line of LPG valves and regulators by purchasing DVR’s assets, a Turkish privately-owned company based in Istanbul (Turkey), part of the ALTEK GROUP. Established in 1971, the DVR company has been delivering a wide range of LPG products including Self Closing Valves, Hand Wheel Operated Valves, Camping Cylinder Valves and Regulators for LPG to customers in mainly Turkey, Africa and Europe. Earlier this year the assets will be transferred from Turkey and installed in one of Cavagna’s plants in order to take advantage of Cavagna’s industrial synergy. In this way, these products could be manufactured with maximum efficiency and marketed throughout the Cavagna’s own…

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has finalized a new rule affecting timeframes pertaining to the requalification of DOT cylinders; the new rule took effect January 23, 2017. The rule affects the following areas of cylinder requalification: • Reduces the initial requalification period for DOT cylinders from 12 years to 10 years from the date of manufacture. • Reduces the requalification period for cylinders that are requalified using volumetric expansion testing from 12 years to 10 years. • Increases the requalification period for cylinders that are requalified using a proof pressure test from 7 years to 10 years. • Does not affect the 5-year visual inspection method for cylinder requalification. The new requalification periods apply to all DOT specification cylinders (4B, 4BA, 4BW, 4E) in the…

Global population growth of nearly two billion, a doubling of worldwide economic output, and rapid expansion of the middle class in emerging economies are all expected to contribute to energy demand growth of about 25% from 2015 to 2040, according to ExxonMobil’s 2017 Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040. Efficiency gains across economies worldwide will play a significant role in limiting the growth in energy needs. Energy demand in member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is likely to be flat to 2040, while demand in non-OECD nations is expected to increase 40% as prosperity expands and access to modern energy increases. Growth in global energy demand will be led by greater electrification of the global economy. Fifty-five percent of…

(January 23, 2017) — Effective today, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports that the requalification period for Department of Transportation (DOT) specification on cylinders has changed. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) changed the requalification period for DOT specification cylinders detailed in 49 CFR 180.209(e) of the hazardous material regulations as follows: The initial requalification period for DOT cylinders following volumetric expansion testing changes from 12 years to 10 years;
 The requalification period for DOT cylinders following a proof pressure test changes from 7 years to 10 years. NPGA Actions to Overturn This: Prior to the formal actions listed below, the NPGA was in contact with PHMSA at the staff-level via phone and e-mail. The NPGA attempted to pursue a staff-to-staff level…

LANCASTER, Penn. (January 17, 2017) — Cargas, a leading provider of mobile and back-office software for fuel delivery and HVAC service companies, announced today the launch of a new version of its mobile delivery software. Mobile Delivery is an application in the Cargas Energy solution that seamlessly integrates back office dispatching wirelessly to an on-board computer on the trucks, giving companies the capabilities of managing delivery operations in real-time. The new version is the industry’s first solution that offers the choice of running the software on Android or Windows devices. This gives fuel delivery companies the option to significantly reduce the cost of their hardware investment with lower cost consumer devices or invest in a more durable device. Evolution of Technology Hardware investments have been…

AUSTIN, Tex. (January 19, 2017) — Public fleets can now take advantage of incentives to help lower their carbon footprint in their communities. The Propane Council of Texas, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on clean-burning, domestically-produced propane recently announced funding for Texas public fleets to switch to propane autogas — the greener alternative. Since 2010, the Council has offered incentives for businesses to power their vehicles with propane autogas and has now expanded funding to public fleets, including city, county, law enforcement and school white fleet for 2017. The Propane Council of Texas offers incentives up to $7,500 per vehicle for fleets statewide for the purchase of new, dedicated original equipment manufacturer (OEM) propane autogas vehicles as well as conversions to propane….

Attracting new residential customers is a continuing challenge for propane marketers. Noting that sound market intelligence is important in helping propane marketers appeal to those customers, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and Metrostudy began the Residential Opportunity Insights program. The Residential Opportunity Insights reports provide propane marketers with information about current residential market conditions in various areas of the country and also shows them where the most home building and remodeling activity is taking place, how much of it is occurring away from the natural gas mains, projections of market conditions over the next few years, and where propane marketers should focus their marketing and sales efforts. Metrostudy and PERC launched the Residential Opportunity Insights reports last April at the National Propane Gas…

(January 18, 2017) — Clean-Power Innovator LEHR Holdings, LLC today announced the EPA certification of its propane powered 15hp 603cc Kawasaki engine, achieving 53% cleaner carbon monoxide emissions than all engines in its class. LEHR’s patented 3-Stage Pressure Regulator and Needle Jet Fuel Delivery Technology deliver precise fuel metering, producing the cleanest and safest emission levels at all engine speeds and loads, while also increasing power and reliability. In addition, LEHR Heat Vaporization Technology improves fuel economy while eliminating regulator failures caused from overfilled propane cylinders. “Our LEHR 603cc propane engine exceeds all OSHA requirements and is the safest, cleanest, and most dependable solution available,” said Jeremy Hahne, VP of Business Development at LEHR. “LEHR’s patented fuel system allows us to achieve ultra-low emission levels…

WASHINGTON, DC (January 18, 2017) — On the first working day of the Trump Administration, a rule imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) during the Obama Administration is set to impose $125 million in new costs on propane consumers. To date, The National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) petition for an emergency stay to protect the industry and propane consumers has gone unanswered. On Monday, January 23, 2017, approximately 5 million propane cylinders, including many that are used for home heating, forklifts, and even grill cylinders, will be out of compliance with DOT regulations. In 2016, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) made a major change to a decades-old regulation that, without explanation or justification, reduces the time propane marketers have to initially…