Excel Industries Inc. said Aug. 30 it had entered into an agreement with Metro Lawn for propane conver­sions of its Hustler turf equipment and BigDog mowers. Metro Lawn, a division of AmeriGas, provides fuel system kits certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board for Kawasaki engines.
U.S. corn growers are expected to produce a record-high 13.8 billion bushels of corn in 2013, according to the August “Crop Production” report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The forecast production is up 28% from drought-hit 2012. NASS notes the early planting season this year was not favorable for corn growers, who were hampered by abnormally wet and cold spring weather.
Students in Chicago are riding in environmen­tally friendly propane autogas school buses thanks to local school bus contractor Sunrise Transportation. The Blue Bird Corp. Vision buses are providing lower fuel and maintenance costs and reducing the fleet’s carbon footprint. A key hand-over ceremony was held Aug. 28 attended by Chicago officials and representatives of Blue Bird, Central States Bus Sales, the Propane Education & Research Council, AmeriGas, and Chicago Clean Cities.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Western Energy Alliance (WEA), in comments submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding its second draft of a proposed rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing and well construction on federal lands, are calling the rule unnec­essary and a move to undermine state authority.

 

When you buy a propane company, you are really buying a book of customers. Those customers don’t see themselves as buying propane just from a company, however. They buy from people, namely employees.
‘Helping the Right People Make the Right Decisions’
FERC Approves Settlement
In Long-Running TEPPCO Case

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a settlement favorable to the propane industry in a long-running TEPPCO rate case. The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) notes the May 31 judgment caps more than a year of effort to ensure just and reasonable rates on the pipeline, and that through the agreement the industry will enjoy rate certainty for shippers for the two-year duration of the agreement.
Energy Transfer Affiliates Move
Forward with Exports-Imports

Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (Philadelphia), an affiliate of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, has secured long-term, fee-based agreements with Shell Trading (US) Co. (STUSCO, Houston) to proceed with an LPG export/import project. STUSCO has committed to the project, known as Mariner South, as an anchor customer.
Williams, Boardwalk, Form Joint
Venture for Bluegrass Pipeline

Williams (Tulsa) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (Houston) have formed a joint venture to continue the development of the Bluegrass Pipeline, a project that would transport NGLs from the Marcellus and Utica shale plays to the petrochemical and export complex on the U.S. Gulf Coast, as well as the developing petrochemical market in the Northeast U.S.
Enterprise Hosts Open Season
For ATEX Express Pipeline

Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) is hosting a binding open season through July 11 to determine shipper support for transporting propane to Mont Belvieu on the partnership’s Appalachia-to-Texas ATEX Express Pipeline. ATEX currently has long-term contracts in place for ethane transportation to Mont Belvieu. The addition of propane service will not affect Enterprise’s contractual obligations with existing ATEX ethane shippers.
BP Completes Sale of Refinery,
Retail Assets to Tesoro Corp.
Propane Inventories Gain 1.9 MMbbl

Total U.S. inventories of propane increased 1.9 MMbbl the week ended May 31 to stand at 47 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “This Week in Petroleum” report. The agency notes the nation’s stocks as of that reporting period the nation’s stocks were 10.9 MMbbl, or 18.8%, lower than during the same period a year ago.
Importance of Onshore Energy
Development Reinforced at Hearing

Witnesses at a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing May 22 stressed the importance of onshore energy development for economic and job growth and energy security. The hearing outlined four bills that would streamline government red tape and expand development of U.S. onshore oil, natural gas, and renewable energy resources as part of an all-of-the-above approach to energy production.
House Bill Calls for Drilling
Off Coast of Virginia

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) has introduced the Virginia Jobs and Energy Act (H.R. 1782) to open the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Virginia for energy development. Original cosponsors of the bill include Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Robert Hurt (R-Va.), and Morgan Griffith (R-Va.). Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and the state’s U.S. Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, have signaled their support of similar legislation.
Witnesses Stress Importance
Of Transboundary Agreement

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources in late April was examining steps needed for implementation and a legislative hearing on the Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act (H.R. 1613). The legislation would implement the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Agreement by lifting the current moratorium on drilling in the Western Gap area of the Gulf of Mexico.
Spire-of-Fire-Reno-3Workdays see the chief inspector of the Nevada LP-Gas Board traveling in his service vehicle surveying LPG systems, containers, and equipment and conducting safety and training programs to fulfill the board’s mission—to protect the health, welfare, and safety of Silver State residents.
art42Lawn mowers and agricultural irrigation engines are great “load leveling” technologies for the propane industry because consumers and farmers use them primarily in the summer, which is the low point of the year in propane consumption.
NL-p1Each week the Weekly Propane Newsletter brings its readers not only the latest posted and spot prices at all major terminals and refineries around the U.S., but a market analysis and commentary as well. Also featured is a center spread of posted prices, which includes hundreds of postings that are completely updated each week.
art43Air-operated hose reels on the back of propane delivery trucks are an emerging trend. Instead of an electric motor, drivers use the air from the air tanks on the truck to power an air motor to rewind the hose reel.
The air-operated reels are among various items that Roger Smith calls “new old” products.