Propane Industry News

During the latest mid-month period, prices at Mont Belvieu, Texas, decreased. The posted prices decreased 10.5 cents/gal, from April mid-month to May mid-month, and the spot prices decreased 11 cents. Conway, Kansas, postings increased 8.7 cents/gal, and spots decreased 8 cents over the month.

Prairie Hills Transit will showcase its new low-emission buses equipped with advanced propane autogas technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to view a fuel demonstration and ride in one of the new propane buses. 

The event highlights a shift in the transit industry away from diesel and gasoline toward buses powered by environmentally friendly alternative fuels. Vehicles that run on propane autogas emit fewer greenhouse gases, smog-producing hydrocarbons, and particulate emissions than conventional fuels. 

Birmingham, Ala. (May 15, 2024) — Butane-Propane News (BPN) announced the opening of its third annual BPN Industry Innovators contest. BPN's 2024 Industry Innovators is a special section dedicated to showcasing those who are working every day to grow and improve the industry. What does an Industry Innovator look like? This nominee:

Liberty, Mo. — May 13, 2024 — Ferrellgas has announced that Michelle Bimson Maggi has joined its leadership team as vice president of Corporate Affairs. Bimson Maggi will oversee several departments in her new role, including Safety and other matrix divisions. 

Ma Propane Association met at Lin’s Propane Trucks last week to hear from area propane and oil marketers on proposed DEP regulations. The regulation discussed would cause a disastrous financial impact to the people of Massachusetts as well as industry professionals

Detroit, Mich. — April 30, 2024 — Icom North America, a provider of patented Alternative Fuel Systems, tanks and components, has announced the sealing of distribution agreements with General Motors (GM). This collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of propane, natural gas and other alternative fuels across a wide spectrum of industries, including OEM and aftermarket fleets, power generation, marine, agricultural, off-road vehicles/equipment and the performance sector. 

RICHMOND, Va. (May 9, 2024) — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has released the 2023 results of its Propane Construction Research Program. The program collected data directly from 1,673 homebuilders for homes built in 2023 to generate updated research findings on the benefits and usage of propane in the residential construction industry.

Morris, MN — Westmor Industries LLC, recently promoted Colton Hayes as territory manager in their Southwest Sales Region. In his new role, Hayes will serve the propane and petroleum industries, providing bobtail, refined fuel truck, and crane service truck expertise to his customers. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Report as of April 29, 2024 shows promising developments in corn and soybean planting, crucial information for the propane and renewable fuels sectors. Corn planting has climbed to 23% across the 18 states, which accounts for 92% of the corn acreage. Tracking corn progress is important for propane demand, as corn drying relies heavily on propane during the harvest season. Similarly, soybean planting in the 18 states, representing 96% of the soybean acreage, has also commenced with 16% already planted.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— In support of President Biden’s "Investing in America" agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $26.9 million to nine states, 27 local governments and one tribe for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and managed by DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). 

On May 1, the Department of Energy (DOE) published its final rule concerning new construction "Clean Energy for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings." The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has been engaged in this rule since DOE issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking in December 2022. 

NEW MILFORD, Conn. — April 25, 2024 — Cetane Associates is pleased to announce that Whitney Parsley has joined its financial advisory firm as an associate, effective April 15, 2024. Parsley provides paralegal support to the firm’s M&A deal execution team. She will be based at Cetane’s Houston, Texas office. 

Canada's primary underground propane inventories decreased by 7.6% in April, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a month-to-month decrease of 59.4 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks were higher, with 225.2 Mcm, or 45.7%, more product on hand.

Propane storages in the West started April a bit lower at 547.3 Mcm, which corresponds to 3.448 MMbbl, the agency reported. From March to April, volumes decreased by 14.5 Mcm, or 2.6%, and were 280.1 more the year prior's level of 267.2 Mcm.

San Diego (April 24, 2024) — Oberon Fuels, a renewable fuels producer, and Sunvapor, a renewable heat provider, commissioned a solar steam project under the first purchase agreement in the United States for industrial solar steam. This agreement will eliminate upfront capital requirements to deploy solar steam, while enabling Oberon to as much as double output capacity and slash the carbon intensity of renewable fuels — critical for industrial customers seeking renewable fuels to achieve pressing net-zero commitments.