Propane Industry News

LIBERTY, Mo. (March 24, 2022) — Blue Rhino announced it has expanded its home delivery service to four new markets: Brooklyn, New York, as well as Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville, Florida. 

MACON, Ga. — Blue Bird Corporation announced the appointment of Britton Smith as senior vice president, electrification, and chief strategy officer, with immediate effect.

In his current role, Smith is responsible for further strengthening Blue Bird’s leadership in electric-powered school buses, expanding the company’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, and establishing strategic partnerships to drive performance.

TORONTO — Superior Plus Corp. announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the equity interests of Kamps Propane Inc., High Country Propane Inc., Pick Up Propane Inc., Competitive Capital Inc. and Propane Construction and Meter Services (collectively, Kamps Propane) and Kiva Energy Inc. (Kiva Energy) for a purchase price of approximately US$240 million (CDN $302 million). The purchase price was paid with funds drawn from Superior’s existing credit facility.

During the latest mid-month period, prices at Mont Belvieu continued to mostly increase as we get further from winter. The posted prices decreased by 1 cent/gal, from February mid-month to March mid-month while the spot prices increased 4.5 cents. Conway, Kan., postings ended with a 0.25-cent increase and spots increased 5.5 cents over the month.

This year, Rural Computer Consultants Inc. (RCC) is celebrating a milestone with its Mobile Office on the GO (MOGO), a delivery system for propane, fuel, cylinder, service work and meter readings. 

MOGO was born from a customer’s desire for everything to be under one roof.

Over the past 10 years, the system has grown into RCC’s mobile solution for real-time communication between the office and the drivers, wherever they are en route.

NATIONAL (March 11, 2022) — TerraVest Industries Inc. and Mississippi Tank and Manufacturing Co. have announced the two companies are joining forces as LPG and compressed gas manufacturers of storage tanks, transports and bobtails, as well as providers of repair, service, and supply centers across North America.

Celebrating its 77th year in business, Mississippi Tank has been a mainstay in the LPG equipment manufacturing business since its inception.

Canada's primary underground propane inventories decreased by 43.27% in March, Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a month-to-month decrease of 457.8 Mcm. Compared to 2021, stocks were lower, with 550.2 Mcm, or 47.83%, less product on hand. 

Otodata is pleased to announce the promotion of Gregory Bronner to a senior role as marketing and communications senior director. Bronner joined the company in 2016 and has played a key role in Otodata's success by overseeing and implementing the company's marketing strategy.

NATIONAL — The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report forecasting crude oil prices to be higher than $100 per barrel over the coming months. The energy industry saw a sharp increase in Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices after the invasion of Russian forces into Ukraine.

WHIPPANY, N.J., (March 10, 2022) — Suburban Propane Partners L.P. announced it purchased a 25% equity stake in Independence Hydrogen Inc. a veteran-owned and -operated supplier of gaseous hydrogen solutions, for $30 million. The partnership also announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Suburban Renewable Energy LLC, as part of its long-term strategic goal of building out a renewable energy platform. 

NATIONAL — Sonariot, provider of Mopeka Products Sonar Tank Monitoring Solutions, and Rutherford Equipment have announced the signing of their partnership.

This partnership will extend Rutherford Equipment’s product offerings to their extensive customer network across the Southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.

KENT, Conn. (March 10, 2022) – Cetane Associates LLC is pleased to announce that Lakes Gas Co., a Minnesota corporation headquartered in Wyoming, Minnesota has acquired the propane and refined fuels delivery business of Foss-Johnson Oil LLC based in Walcott, N.D. The transaction closed on March 1, 2022.

West Palm Beach, Fla. (March 1, 2022) — Blue Peak Resources announced the sale of Economy Energy LLC of Peekskill, New York, to Durkin Propane of Brewster, New York, owned by Ray and Andy Durkin.

Founded in 2010 by Henry Seger and Patty McGrath, Economy Energy is a family-owned propane company that services Westchester and Putnam counties and the surrounding areas of New York. Both Henry and Patty have been entrenched in the propane industry for more than 50 years.

Washington (March 3, 2022) — Medium-duty fleet owners looking to invest in an alternative energy source that provides clean, affordable and reliable benefits have new technology to turn to with the Cummins B6.7 Propane. The 6.7-liter displacement engine will be built on Cummins' recently announced fuel-agnostic B-series platform and powered with propane autogas. Backed by data and support from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), the new engine offers fleets a path to decarbonization without compromising on performance or range.

Houston (Feb. 1, 2022) — Crestwood Equity Partners LP and Oasis Midstream Partners LP announced today that the companies have successfully closed the transactions contemplated by the previously announced merger agreement. As a result of the combination, Crestwood has significantly enhanced its scale and competitive position in the Williston and Delaware Basins, enabling the company to capture expected operational and commercial synergies of approximately $45 million and driving enhanced financial strength and flexibility.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a shift to remote working, which has boosted the adoption of virtual reality (VR) by oil and gas companies for training, collaboration and data visualization, says GlobalData. The data and analytics company notes that this shift will persist even though most employees have now returned to offices.

Canton, Mass. — Hank S. Wolfson has been elected a partner at Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP, a consulting, business advisory and accounting firm based in Canton, Massachusetts. Wolfson has served as the firm’s chief operating officer since 2015 and will continue in that role.

Rutherford Equipment Inc. has announced the hiring of Brian Atwood as sales and marketing manager for the company. Atwood will manage overall sales efforts and work with the sales team to grow relationships with current customers and prospects.

Lisle, lll. (Feb. 10, 2022) – Propane retailer DCC Propane LLC finalized its second deal of a Colorado-based company in as many months with the acquisition of JC Propane. The deal for the Delta, Colorado-based company was completed on Dec. 20, and comes just seven weeks after DCC acquired Affordable Propane, which is located approximately 350 miles east in Fort Morgan.

DOVER, Del. (Feb. 24, 2022) — Chesapeake Utilities Corporation announced the publication of its inaugural Sustainability Report, which affirms the company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. The company also announced two new organizational changes to advance its ESG strategy and environmental sustainability initiatives.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 24, 2022) — Organizers of the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT) Expo announced Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc., as a keynote speaker for the annual show, taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California from May 9-12, 2022. Linebarger’s keynote will take place on the ACT Expo main stage on Wednesday, May 11.