COMMENTARY OMG
Sunday, January 26, 2014
A number of wholesalers had pulled their posted rack prices Thursday as price volatility and unprecedented demand continued to roil the propane markets. Principal postings, where available, have stretched higher by an astounding 15.5 to as much as 300 cents since Monday. Increases from 55 to more than 150 cents were common.


Chamber Leader Calls for Policies to Extend Prosperity
Sunday, January 26, 2014
U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Thomas J. Donohue declared in his recent annual “State of American Business” address that the American busi­ness climate is improving, but that despite some economic progress, he warned against policies and government actions that drive uncertainty. Donohue called for leader­ship to solidify the nation’s recovery, help generate stronger growth and job creation, and expand opportunity.
API Outlines Advocacy, Advertising Campaigns
Sunday, January 26, 2014
American Petroleum Institute (API) president and CEO Jack Gerard has outlined the institute’s advocacy and messaging priorities, issued a new report, and launched a new advertising campaign. The initia­tives were highlighted during Gerard’s “2014 State of American Energy” speech, which focused on the impact of future policy decisions on America’s energy revolution.
Truck Show 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Array of Autogas Vehicles Headed for Work Truck Show
Thursday Commentary 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Midwest Spikes

The big news was in the Midwest Thursday as postings spiked more than 20 cents in most cases following a 3.8-MMbbl inventory draw for the nation the week ended Jan. 10, 1.5 MMbbl of that at Conway, Kan. That left the Midwest hub with a total of only 11.5 MMbbl, with plenty of winter weather left to go.
Rest Break 1 20b
Sunday, January 26, 2014
FMCSA Publishes Guidance On 30-Minute Rest Break

The safety, regulations, and compliance consultancy J.J. Keller & Associates reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published regulatory guidance regarding the application of the hours of service 30-minute break rule for interstate drivers of commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA’s guidance addresses those who begin their duty days as short-haul drivers exempt from the break rule, but who occasionally exceed the short-haul distance or time limits.
Rest Break 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
FMCSA Publishes Guidance On 30-Minute Rest Break

The safety, regulations, and compliance consultancy J.J. Keller & Associates reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published regulatory guidance regarding the application of the hours of service 30-minute break rule for interstate drivers of commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA’s guidance addresses those who begin their duty days as short-haul drivers exempt from the break rule, but who occasionally exceed the short-haul distance or time limits.
MoveOn 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
MoveOn Launches National Effort to Ban Hydraulic Fracturing

MoveOn.org has launched an initiative to support 100 activist groups that are working to ban hydraulic fracturing in their communities. MoveOn has awarded $50,000 to the so-called “fracking fighters,” along with materials, training, and strategic support, the activist group said in a press release. The initiative seeks to slow down the hydraulic fracturing boom that is anticipated to occur across the U.S. in 2014 and beyond.
Mid Month 12 23
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Mid-Month to Mid-Month: Where’s the Market Headed?

With nary a minute to catch their collective breaths, propane dealers transitioned from strong crop drying demand to an Arctic Vortex that brought prolonged record-breaking temperatures to much of the nation. Without the time to replenish to their depleted supplies, many found themselves waiting in long lines for product, if it was to be had at all, and paying a higher-than-anticipated price. To say the least, this has been an indescribable period for many in the propane industry.
Inventory 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
U.S. Propane Inventories Plunge 3.8 MMbbl
Front Page 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Midwest Spots Spike on Inventory Draw
Freeport LNG 1 13
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Freeport LNG, IFM Investors Sign Equity Agreement

Freeport LNG Expansion LP and IFM Investors have entered into an agreement to invest about $1.3 billion of equity funding for Freeport’s proposed natural gas liquefaction and LNG loading facility on Quintana Island near Freeport, Texas. The project involves the development of three liquefaction trains.
Cold Refineries 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Arctic Temperatures Put Chill on Refinery Operations

Genscape, a global provider of data and intelligence for the commodity and energy markets, reports that as people throughout the U.S. continue to be affected by extreme cold temperatures, so do major oil refiners. Since Jan. 6, there have been four incidents at refineries directly linked to the cold weather.
Canada 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Canadian Inventories Post Steep Fall

Canadian propane inventories fell a sharp 24.1% in December compared to November levels, shedding 240.2 Mcm to stand at 756.2 Mcm—4.8 MMbbl—as of Jan. 1, according to the National Energy Board (NEB). In a year-over-year comparison, stocks were down a steeper 29.4%, or by 314.8 Mcm.
Calculator App 1 20
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Free Energy Calculator App Compares Costs, Emissions

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has introduced a free energy calculator app that gives construction professionals and propane marketers a faster way to compare fuel emissions and heating costs. The app is now available as a free download for Apple and Android mobile devices.
Various Applications Ahead for CARB-Certified Dual-Fuel Engine
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Michael Avery, CEO of California Clean Air Technologies (CCAT; Menifee, Calif.), noted some important reasons why the company chose stationary farm equipment as the first products to use its Dual Fuel Retrofit System (DFRS), which works with existing diesel engines in combination with propane.
An Entrepreneurial Spirit For 3 Generations
Monday, December 16, 2013
For the past 75 years, three generations of the Nicholson family have worked to make Eastern Propane the thriving propane business that it is today. Like many propane companies that were founded in the 1930s and '40s, it was the result of fulfilling a necessity, whether due to the population expansion that created more homes in rural locales or to facilitate the use of new appliances for cooking and water heating.
Steam Up the Big Muddy, Turn Right at the Ohio
Monday, December 16, 2013
What a voyage. Stillwater, Okla.-based Total Energy's heavy haul division earlier this year barged six 168-ft-long, 350,000-lb ASME propane tanks from Louisiana to Steubenville, Ohio, plowing the Mighty Mississippi River north through St. Louis to Cairo, Ill. where the Big Muddy meets the Ohio River. After hanging a right into the Mississippi's largest tributary, it was another long passage northeast to Steubenville, where the 175,000-gal. containers were offloaded for over-the-road delivery to a midstream operator in eastern Ohio's Utica Shale.
Preparing Bobtails for Winter: A Year-Round Job
Thursday, October 3, 2013
While some propane marketers are now preparing their bobtail trucks for the upcoming winter, Jim Krzywicki’s trucks are already done. Krzywicki, operations manager for Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil Co. (Atkinson, N.H.), starts preparing the trucks for winter earlier. A lot earlier.
He begins preparing his trucks the day after the previous winter ends.

“Things you do to prepare for winter you should be doing year-round for preventive maintenance,” said Krzywicki, who has been with Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil for 37 years.
Vehicle Barrier Protection Among New NFPA 58 Edition Updates
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committee’s work was complete last January for the 2014 edition of NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. The NFPA 58 committee had finished the document, and the appeals process had begun. By April, the committee had acted on all of the changes from the appeals process and finalized the document. The 2014 edition of NFPA 58 was set for publication in early September.