Propane Industry News

Charleston, S.C. (April 12, 2021) — On April 5 and April 12, Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. teamed up with Tanger Outlets and the Charleston Riverdogs Minor League Baseball Organization, to shop and package clothing, shoes, face masks, plush toys and other essentials for children ages 5-18 for the Lowcountry Orphan Relief, a nonprofit organization that provides goods and services to children who have been abused or neglected.

LEWISTOWN, Mo. (March 25, 2021) — Lewis County C-1 School District in northeast Missouri has taken a big step forward to substantially reduce harmful emissions and costs by adding four propane autogas school buses to its fleet. 

The district purchased four 2022 IC Bus propane buses in fall 2020, which operate on regular routes that span 410 square miles and five counties.

NATIONAL — Otodata Technologies USA is pleased to announce it has acquired Wise Telemetry, a provider of remote monitoring devices and services for the industrial gas industry.

Founded in 2008, Otodata designs, develops, and manufactures remote level monitoring products and technologies for a variety of industries. Otodata's monitoring software allows users to monitor their tanks remotely, providing insightful, real-time data to drive asset and labor productivity in their business.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) announced the Boston/Cape Cod KOA Campground as 2020’s Commercial Propane Project of the Year, an annual contest that recognizes the best residential and commercial projects being powered by propane. The campground is a popular tourist destination for people visiting Boston, Cape Cod and Southeast Massachusetts.

ThompsonGas, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, announced the acquisition of certain bulk propane assets of Airgas USA LLC, located in Maryland, Southeastern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. “This acquisition is important to us as it strengthens our footprint around where this all began 75 years ago.” said Jeff Kerns, chief executive officer. “We are happy to gain talented employees that we can give the tools and guidance to continue to grow our service area.

Matrix Capital Markets Group Inc. announced that David Corbett, CFA, has joined the firm as a director of the company’s downstream energy and convenience retail investment banking group, and Kyle Tipping has been promoted to associate. Corbett has more than 15 years of experience advising companies in the downstream energy and multisite retail sectors, including convenience retailing, petroleum marketing and distribution, propane distribution, heating oil distribution, lubricants distribution, and petroleum logistics.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation announced the promotion of Cheryl Martin to senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs for the company. Martin is responsible for overseeing the corporation’s regulatory, legislative, communications and community affairs initiatives throughout several states. She is also responsible for leading the equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts throughout the organization. Martin currently serves on the Florida Natural Gas Association (FNGA) Board of Directors.

Paul DiLeo Sr., the founder of DiLeo Gas Inc., headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts, has retired after more than 30 years of service in the propane industry. DiLeo Sr.

John William Ketchum, of Saint Charles, Missouri, passed away March 12, 2021, at the age of 74. Ketchum was the sales and marketing manager for Gas Equipment Company Inc. for 25 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church of St. Charles.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Department of Labor announced an initial award of $3,120,612 to the Texas Workforce Commission to provide employment and training services to communities affected by severe winter storms in February 2021. High winds, heavy snow and historically low temperatures knocked out power for millions of residents, and state officials estimate the storms led to nearly 60 deaths.    

ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 7, 2021) — CHS Inc. released results for its fiscal second quarter ended Feb. 28, 2021. The company reported a net loss of $38.2 million versus net income of $125.4 million in the same quarter in fiscal 2020. Significant year-over-year earnings increases in ag and nitrogen production segments and corporate and other businesses were offset primarily by ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-related impacts in Energy.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (April 6, 2021) — Energy Unplugged with Stuart Weidie is a new podcast series exploring modern energy solutions in the United States and abroad.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the North America market, 2020 forklift truck sales were reported down compared to 2019. The market decline can be partially attributed to the impact of COVID-19, with truck sales decreasing overall by 5.1% from the previous year.

WHIPPANY, NJ (April 7, 2021) — Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. announced its role in the reforestation efforts in the North Bay region of Northern California, spearheaded by Santa Rosa’s Downtown Action Organization, through a sizable monetary donation.

Santa Rosa’s Downtown Action Organization will utilize this donation towards reforestation efforts, which have been ongoing since the devastating wildfires of 2019 and were delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Baker Hughes United States rig count is up six from last week at 417 with oil rigs up six to 324, gas rigs unchanged at 92, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at one.

Ferrellgas interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jim Ferrell released the following letter this week concerning the company's plans for recapitalization and some of the actions taken by the executive team over the past few months. The United States-based propane supplier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2021. 

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2021 — The American Petroleum Institute issued the following statement from Senior Vice President for Policy, Economic and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola regarding the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan:

Energy North Group (ENG) has announced the recent purchase of 22 gas station, convenience store and car wash locations, one heating oil and HVAC company and a food-service partnership to strengthen its presence in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Over the past decade, the company has grown rapidly because of its acquisitions and is plans to complete more of this type in the future.

Runnion Equipment Company has announced a new addition to its sales team — Jake Regnier.

Customers in Central and Southern Indiana as well as Central Illinois interested in equipment solutions will be able to take advantage of Regnier’s knowledge and experience in providing truck-mounted equipment to contractors and municipalities. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 29, 2021) — Six South Dakota school districts received Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) funding to purchase emissions-reducing propane autogas school buses.

The Baker Hughes Rig Count increased by six from last week's 417 in the United States, with oil rigs up six to 324, gas rigs unchanged at 92, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at one.