Alliance AutoGas (AAG; Asheville, N.C.), a national coalition of businesses providing the fuel, technology, and ongoing support to autogas fleets across the country, and AAG founder, Blossman Gas, will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new refueling station in Kingsport, Tenn., Sept. 29, 2020.

The ceremony will unveil a new autogas refueling location for Northeast Tennessee Rural Public Transportation (Net Trans). In 2016, Net Trans implemented an autogas program with AAG, and continues to support the surrounding community with their fleet of autogas transit vans. The regional public transit system serves a number of counties in northeast Tennessee, along with urbanized areas outside the city limits for Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City. The company, a not for profit, works as part of the First Tennessee Human Resource Agency. The agency’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Northeast Tennessee through effective delivery of social services.

This will be the third refueling center in the region for Net Trans, and is located at the U-Haul location in Kingsport, Tenn. U-Haul, which started refilling propane cylinders in 1984 for customers and currently supplies propane to thousands of people daily across North America, has identified a future in autogas and provides support for propane infrastructure for autogas programs nationwide. Happy Fox, alternative fuel consultant for Alliance AutoGas, says, “It is exciting to see how far Net Trans’ autogas program has progressed since coming on board with AAG. The East Tennessee region has emerged as a leading area in the movement towards alternative fuel use. AAG looks forward to helping more fleets make the transition to operating on autogas.”

Net Trans was named the 2017 winner of the annual Propane Autogas Fleet Award from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). This award recognized Net Trans’ strong commitment and successful transition to propane use as a member of fleet transit. Candace Gump, director of Net Trans, says, “We continue to see a need for our service, and autogas is helping us fulfill that need. Net Trans is proud to be adding a refueling location in Kingsport.”

SOURCE: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, September 24, 2020. Weekly Propane Newsletter subscribers receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes every week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere