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Feature Articles

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

  • ‘Be More Knowledgeable… Than the Guy Down the Road’

    The propane appliance business has been strong for Plantation Propane & Petroleum (Thomasville, Ga.). But if you ask Roy Setliff about whether the appliance business is profitable, he will tell you that isn’t the point. Being a “total service” propane company is more important. “I find it hard to believe that we would be as good a service provider for our customers if we did not offer the appliances and the service for them,” said Setliff, who oversees sales and marketing for the company and has been with the business since 1992. Monty Lewis owns Plantation Propane & Petroleum, which started out as Chastain-Clark Oil Co. and has been around for about 60 years. The company serves about 5000 propane customers and about 1000 petroleum…
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  • Jenna Bush Hager Advodate For Safe, Quieter & Cleaner Propane School Buses

    With back-to-school season now in full swing, parents are super-focused on shopping for school supplies and helping kids adjust from summertime fun to homework. But what about school bus safety? This is something Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush, mom to Mila and Poppy, NBC News correspondent and the founder of UNICEF’s Next Generation, wants parents to think more about. To do so, Hager recently partnered with the national nonprofit Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to share school bus safety tips and create awareness about the safety and environmental benefits of propane autogas school buses. What inspired you to partner with this nonprofit? Like all parents and teachers, we want to make sure kids get to school safely and that…
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  • NPGA Names New Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman

    WASHINGTON, DC (September 7, 2016) – Tom Jaenicke, long-time member of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Governmental Affairs Committee, will serve as committee Chairman for the 2016-2017 association year. Jaenicke, along with Cindy Platz-Belmont, Vice-Chairman, will lead this flagship committee as they address policy issues ranging from autogas market growth to enhanced agency outreach. Jaenicke is an active member of the National Propane Gas Association and has served in numerous volunteer positions, including: Conventions Committee Chairman, Energy Policy Task Force Chairman, PropanePAC Steering Committee, and the Women in Propane Council. In addition to his extensive volunteer service, Jaenicke serves as the Vice President of Propane Services at Warm Thoughts Communications. NPGA’s Governmental Affairs Committee is responsible for guiding the association’s legislative and regulatory advocacy…
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  • PERC Redesigned Website Includes New Look For Propane Marketer Catalog

    The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), along with industry volunteers, were busy this summer preparing the Marketer Propane Catalog for a new digital look online. The new website merges Propane MaRC, the Propane Catalog (propanemarc.com), with the Propane Education & Research Council’s website (propanecouncil.org) to provide propane marketers and propane industry-related businesses with more information about the Council’s programs, resources, educational and marketing products. The old url will continue to work for a few months, and will re-direct to www.propanecouncil.org. PERC recommends that propane industry professionals update the url for the Catalog to: www.propanecouncil.org Current Propane MaRC accounts will remain unchanged when checking out to purchase a product. And, PERC has announced it will retain past purchase history, shipping, and billing information. Below are…
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  • Delta Liquid Energy Announces 4th Generation Legacy

    PASO ROBLES, CA (August 31, 2016) – Delta Liquid Energy (DLE), a family owned and operated propane distribution business since 1936, is proud to announce the hiring of Allison Platz, great-granddaughter of DLE founders; the late Harry and Iva Platz of Atascadero, Calif. Platz is the first, fourth-generation family member to join the company with the intent of carrying on the family legacy. Allison begins her propane career as an assistant in the propane autogas division: ARRO Autogas, learning from the ground up. Platz is a 2010 graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Platz put into practice the skills she obtained while working her way through college in Sales and Marketing. Landing jobs in…
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  • Congressman Shimkus Tours Local Illinois Propane Business

    FLORA, Illinois (August 29, 2016) – Congressman John Shimkus, (R-IL), met with local propane business leaders and toured a full-service South Central FS facility last week. The tour focused on key points in propane transportation and distribution infrastructure, including pipeline transportation and bulk storage needs. Representative Shimkus was joined by: Flora Mayor, Bob Tackitt; Flora Economic Development Director, Dan Sulsberger; South Central FS Energy Marketing Manager; Gerald Witges; South Central FS-Certified Propane Specialist; Ron Kaufman; and other city and company representatives. There are more than 50 propane facilities and 30 propane companies servicing Rep. Shimkus’ congressional district, including South Central FS and Southern FS. Aaron DeWeese, Executive Vice President of the Illinois Propane Gas Association said “Congressman Shimkus has been a tremendous advocate for Illinois…
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  • Greenkraft, Inc. adds U.S. distributors to meet propane autogas truck demand

    Santa Ana, Calif. (08/24/2016) — Greenkraft, Inc. (OTCQB:GKIT), a nationally recognized player in the alternative fuel engine and vehicle market, announced today that the Company is currently adding more distributors to distribute Greenkraft trucks throughout the United States. In addition Greenkraft, Inc. will be adding new dealers in many States to expand the Company’s domestic distribution network and the overall revenue.

 Sosi Bardakjian, CFO of Greenkraft, Inc. said the following about the expansion. "Greenkraft has experienced tremendous growth in recent years with a 500% increase in total revenue in the last year alone. However, this sets the bar very high for Greenkraft and if we are going to keep up that level of growth; then it is imperative to expand our distribution network to new…
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  • PERC Announces New Senior Manager, Social and Digital Media

    The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has announced the newest addition to its staff, Ryan Dutcher, who will serve as Senior Manager, Social and Digital Media. Dutcher has more than 10 years of experience in the digital communications and marketing realm. He comes to PERC from having recently worked in Beijing as Senior Communications Manager and Chief Digital Strategist at The American Chamber of Commerce in the People’s Republic of China. Dutcher holds a Master Degree in International Public Policy from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, one of the world’s leading graduate schools devoted to the study of international relations, where he focused on energy and environmental policy. Dutcher will be involved with PERC’s new…
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  • Crestwood Midstream Revises Finger Lakes LPG Storage Facility Proposal

    Crestwood Midstream Partners LP (Houston) is making voluntary concessions in its proposal to store propane in salt caverns in Schuyler County, N.Y. The long-delayed project has been the subject of repeated and vitriolic protests by residents and environmentalists. They assert quality of life issues, pollution concerns, and negative impacts on tourism should prohibit it. A letter from the Albany, N.Y. law firm DLA Piper to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) outlined that Crestwood would: • Reduce storage capacity from 2.1 million barrels to 1.5 million barrels; • Eliminate the storage of butane; only propane would be stored in the salt caverns; • Ship propane in and out only by pipeline, removal of both railroad and truck options; and, • Eliminate two of three…
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  • Alliance AutoGas, Sharp Energy Partnership Marks Company’s 7th Public Propane Autogas Fueling Station

    Swannanoa, NC (August 10, 2016) — Sharp Energy, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE.CPK) recently opened the new Sharp Energy headquarters building in Georgetown, Delaware, that includes an autogas fueling station. The autogas fueling station was developed in partnership with Alliance AutoGas, a national network of more than 120 companies that deliver alternative fueling solutions, including EPA-certified autogas vehicle conversions, on-site fueling infrastructure, fuel supply, safety and operational training, and on-going technical support. Ed Hoffman, President, Blossman Services, Inc., notes, “It is encouraging to see continued investment in propane autogas. With affordable dispensing infrastructure and easy-to-adapt conversion technology, fleets are able to experience a positive ROI in a year or two, and help clean the air by utilizing the cleanest fossil fuel…
    Read More →: Alliance AutoGas, Sharp Energy Partnership Marks Company’s 7th Public Propane Autogas Fueling Station

  • Canadian School Division Switches Entire School Bus Fleet to Propane

    REGINA, Saskatchewan (Aug. 10, 2016) — École St. Mary, Regina Catholic School Division (RCSD), which serves about 12,000 students in 30 Canadian schools, unveiled its has upgraded its entire school bus fleet to Blue Bird Vision Propane buses, in partnership with LP3 Transportation Solutions. The Catholic School Division’s fleet will become the largest fleet of propane buses in Saskatchewan. Propane is an economical alternative fuel that will allow the school district to save money in maintenance and fuel costs, and to reduce its carbon footprint. “Our new fleet of school buses fueled by propane means cleaner air around our students and drivers, and within our community,” said Domenic Scuglia, director of education for RCSD. “At Regina Catholic Schools, we always consider our students’ needs first…
    Read More →: Canadian School Division Switches Entire School Bus Fleet to Propane

  • Assessment Rate Increase To Help Fund Consumer Ed

    To help fund its new consumer education program, along with its Partnership With States program and commercialization projects, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) at its meeting July 12 and 13 in Napa, Calif. approved an assessment rate increase from 0.4 cents/gal. to 0.45 cents. The increase is part of PERC’s 2017 budget. Council president and CEO Roy Willis said the Nov. 1, 2016 effective date for the new rate will allow the council to collect the assessment during a typically high-demand season rather than wait until the beginning of 2017. Willis stressed that the council was “deliberate” in only keeping “must-haves” in the budget, rather than approve an assessment rate higher than 0.45 cents/gal. The additional revenue is projected to be about $3…
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