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Feature Articles

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

  • Largest family-owned school bus contractor quadruples propane school bus fleet

    (Georgetown, TX) July 19, 2016 – CleanFUEL USA announced that Cook-Illinois Corporation, the largest family owned and operated school bus contractor in the United States and the sixth largest among all school bus companies nationwide, is quadrupling its current fleet of propane autogas school buses for next year and, for the first time ever, has not purchased any diesel buses. Its most recent order includes 50 Saf-T-Liner C2 units from Thomas Built Buses equipped with CleanFUEL USA Liquid Propane Injection (LPI) systems. School districts across the country are shifting their bus fleets from diesel fuel to propane autogas to stretch strained budgets and promote cleaner air. Roger Bannerman, fleet director for Cook-Illinois Corporation, is leading the trend and experiencing significant ROI. “We’ve had a big…
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  • Conquering the Challenges And Growing Your Business

    Seeing the big picture, maximizing the value of your business, developing banking relationships, and deciphering and understanding the “numbers” are four challenges that propane marketers must conquer to successfully grow their business in 2016. Mike Shilts, vice president of marketing and business development for energy management software company K&K Management Solutions (Indianapolis), notes that propane companies must know their “key business indicators,” also known as KBIs or “dashboards.” The first of the four challenges — “seeing the big picture” —means knowing exactly what those indicators are for your specific business. Shilts discussed the importance of key business indicators during a session titled “Growing Your Propane Business in 2016 and Beyond: Conquering Four Challenges” at the National Propane Gas Association Southeastern Convention in Nashville. The number of deliveries…
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  • Early Intervention Strengthens A/R Health

    By Diane Schumm… You may already be aware of the effect of delinquent accounts on your business, but you may not know that the age of delinquent accounts contributes to the overall success rate for recovery of lost income. As a delinquent account ages, the likelihood of collectability decreases, increasing the amount of income you’ll have to write off each year. Why Early Intervention Is Critical You rely on your customer relationships. They build your repeat business, provide referrals, protect your reputation, and guarantee longevity. Wouldn’t you rather focus on building even better relationships with your most valued clients instead of on clients avoiding your requests for payment? You may want to give your customers more time to pay their delinquent accounts, but the Department…
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  • Yellowstone’s Innovative New Propane Cylinder Recycling Program

    The Yellowstone Park Foundation and Bernzomatic, a hand-held torch and fuel cylinder company, launched a disposable camping fuel cylinder recycling program for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The program aims to help park visitors properly recycle propane containers commonly used to fuel lanterns, camping stoves, and grills. The Foundation notes that the containers are usually either left at campsites or placed in improper recycling containers. This recently introduced sustainability initiative includes the rollout of a new recycling vehicle, which park officials showed off at a special event on June 4, 2016. The Foundation notes that the sustainability initiative and the recycling vehicle “set [a] new industry standard for protecting natural resources and reducing waste in U.S. parks.” This program aims to solve an environmental…
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  • IC BUS FULFILLS LARGEST PROPANE BUS ORDER TO DATE

    (INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) July 15, 2016 – IC Bus announced it will fulfill an order by the Indianapolis Public Schools of 100 CE Series school buses, powered by the Power Solutions International (PSI) 8.8-liter LP propane engine. The buses will be delivered by the IC Bus dealer, Midwest Transit Equipment, in Whitestown, Indiana. “IC Bus is proud to partner with Indianapolis Public Schools and we look forward to helping them with their transportation needs for this school year and beyond,” said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager, IC Bus. “Additionally, this order demonstrates our customers’ continued confidence in our products and acknowledges the significant benefits of our propane engine offering.” Purpose-built for the school bus industry, the CE Series with PSI propane engine is designed…
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  • Industry Members Make Presence Known on Capitol Hill

    As Congress was busy preparing to break for the Memorial Day recess, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) was gearing up for its 12th annual Propane Days fly-in May 24 to 25. After taking care of NPGA’s internal business the previous day, the Propane Days attendees were eager to kick off the program. The day began with a breakfast briefing from NPGA’s legislative team on the issue “asks” for this year’s Hill visits. These included asking members to support the 34-hour restart provision for truck drivers; back propane autogas initiatives; oppose excessive entry-level driver training rules; and conduct a review of the Department of Transportation’s small pipeline system regulations. Following this briefing, Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) was welcomed to the stage by New York Propane…
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  • Industry Growth, Emergency Prep Among New NPGA Chair’s Goals

    Stuart Weidie, president and CEO of Blossman Gas (Ocean Springs, Miss.), was sworn in as chairman of the board of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) on May 23, 2016, in Washington, D.C. He laid out various goals for his term, including development of additional energy infrastructure and enactment of legislation to ensure that propane is not exported during emergency situations. After taking office along with a new slate of officers ahead of Propane Days, Weidie addressed attendees at the association’s board meeting and listed three goals that he described as “general objectives, but they need to be transferred into specific actionable items.” He expanded on those goals in an interview with BPN after the meeting, listing his first goal as “identifying and advancing specific…
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  • CHS Acquires Lucky’s Propane in Minnesota

    (STARBUCK, MINN.) July 10, 2016 – Deciding to retire after 12 years of service, the owners of Lucky’s Propane, Randy and Jackie Elmer, have sold their propane delivery and service company to CHS Inc., the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative. The Lucky’s Propane business will become part of CHS Prairie Lakes, a full-service ag retail business for CHS based out of Starbuck, Minn. The transaction was finalized on June 23, 2016. Financial details were not disclosed. “We have been blessed to have spent these past twelve years working with such wonderful customers, and we have confidence that they will be in good hands with CHS Prairie Lakes. We will miss working with everyone, but we are excited for this next adventure!” says Lucky’s owners, Randy and…
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  • Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Celebrates New Sharp Energy Headquarters, Autogas Fueling Station

    (Dover, Delaware) July 7, 2016 — Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE:CPK) (Chesapeake) and Sharp Energy Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, have opened the new Sharp Energy headquarters building and AutoGas fueling station in Georgetown, Delaware. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held June 30, 2016 at 22945 East Piney Grove Road, Georgetown, Delaware. The event was hosted by Chesapeake and Sharp Energy and attended by state, local and Company officials. The new 18,000-square-foot building provides a central location for both customers and employees and consolidates Sharp Energy’s operations. With the construction of this new modern facility, Sharp Energy is able to house its retail and supply functions in one location, increase its storage capacity and offer a public dispensing center for AutoGas. In addition, 20 positions have moved…
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  • Alliance AutoGas Introduces Ram ProMaster® Van Conversion System

    Swannanoa, NC (June 24, 2016) The Alliance AutoGas engineered single-plug connector, no cut or drill fuel system, installed on a RAM ProMaster® was recently displayed at the Government Fleet Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ram ProMaster® is in great demand in the government and service sectors, and also the second most popular European-style van on the market. The Ram ProMaster® features a 16-gallon underbody autogas tank with the conversion system. This adds to the Ram ProMaster’s front-wheel-drive system, and a 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine. Alliance’s EPA and NFPA 58 compliant conversion system featured on the RAM ProMaster® can be installed on new or in-service vehicles in half the time of other products. These systems do not require any permanent vehicle modifications. Ed Hoffman, President of…
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  • Canadian Autogas Partnership Expands Alliance AutoGas Network

    MONTREAL, QUEBEC (June 22, 2016) Rock Boulianne and Marquis Grégoire Jr., co-presidents of Alliance Autopropane Inc., are pleased to announce that a long-term agreement with Canadian company Maxquip has been signed. This agreement will make Maxquip an integral distributor of conversion equipment to Alliance Autopropane’s growing network. “With this partnership, we want to work together to promote conversion to hybrid propane-gasoline systems on a national scale. Our parts will benefit from Maxquip's excellent distribution network, and we can offer consumers accessible and affordable systems,” explained Mr. Boulianne. “We are pleased to enter into an agreement with a professional and highly respected distributor in the propane industry. On our end, we have acquired significant expertise in vehicle conversion and are happy to make it available to…
    Read More →: Canadian Autogas Partnership Expands Alliance AutoGas Network

  • Iranian LPG Exports Soar

    (TEHRAN, IRAN) Jun. 20, 2016 – An official has announced that exports volume of Iranian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) hit 80 thousand tons in the first two months of the current Iranian year (that began March 20, 2016). Amir Vakilzadeh, Director of the Exports and Imports Office at National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) remarked, “In the current year, no amount of liquid gas has been burned by domestic refineries. All produced LPG inside the country has been deployed to foreign markets in the present year,” underscored the official. “Overall, more than 80 thousand tons of Iranian LPG were shipped to foreign countries in the first two months of the current year spanning from March 20 to May 20,” added Vakilzadeh. Vakilzadeh pointed out…
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