Mid-Month to Mid-Month: Where Are Propane Prices Headed?
Thursday, September 17, 2020
History would show that propane prices usually rise with the beginning of heating season and the onset of fall and winter. However, in the more recent history, prices have fallen into a category putting them at the lowest prices of the year as blustery weather takes hold. So far, how does this year compare?
ThompsonGas Strengthens Propane Footprint in Minnesota
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
ThompsonGas (Frederick, Md.) confirmed Sept. 8 that it had acquired Pirkl Gas Inc., a propane provider based in Owatonna, Minn. Terms of the deal were not provided.
Pirkl’s customers and employees are welcomed into the ThompsonGas family. ThompsonGas is committed to serving the residential, commercial, and agricultural customers who have valued the Pirkl’s presence and service in the area for 61 years.
PERC Releases New Propane Safety Resources for Construction Industry
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), in observance of Construction Safety Week, released a collection of resources to help support the construction industry's ongoing commitment to safety.

The new resources include a variety of safety tips related to propane-powered light construction equipment and resources that construction professionals and safety advocates can download and use within their own organizations.

Some of the safety tips include:
Fossil Fuels Account For 80% Of Energy Production, Consumption
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Fossil fuels, or energy sources formed in the Earth’s crust from decayed organic material, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal, continue to account for the largest share of energy production and consumption in the U.S., according to the Sept. 14 U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Energy Review. In 2019, 80% of domestic energy production was from fossil fuels, and 80% of domestic energy consumption originated from fossil fuels.
DCP Midstream Joins Global Lighthouse Network
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The World Economic Forum announced Sept. 14 that DCP Midstream (NYSE: DCP) is one of 10 new additions to its Global Lighthouse Network, a community of world-leading companies that have succeeded in the adaptation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution at scale.

Of the 54 total sites and companies with the World Economic Forum’s Lighthouse designation, DCP Midstream is one of only five companies in North America and is the only U.S.-based oil and gas company to receive this distinction for its technological innovation.

 

Service Contracts Signed for Propane-Powered Microturbines
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Capstone Turbine Corp. (Van Nuys, Calif.), a leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, said Sep. 10 that Optimal Group Australia, Capstone's exclusive Australian distributor, recently signed a 2 MW 5-year factory protection plan (FPP) with a remotely located Oceana-based mineral water bottling facility.
Energy Transfer Completes Lone Star Express Pipeline Expansion
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Energy Transfer (Dallas) announced Sept. 1 the completion of its Lone Star Express Pipeline NGL expansion project, which was a major part of the company’s 2020 capital program. The expansion adds more than 400,000 bbld of NGL capacity out of the Permian and Delaware Basins in Texas.

The project was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule.
Energy North Group Expands Into Upstate N.Y. Market
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Energy North Group (ENG; Lawrence, Mass.) confirmed Sept. 1 that it has expanded into the Upstate New York energy market. ENG is involved in both wholesale energy distribution and retail operations in New England.

Since 1981, ENG has delivered branded and unbranded gasoline and diesel, and continues to grow its Haffner’s proprietary brand. Product will be pulled from the Albany, Marcy, Newburgh, Rochester, and Syracuse terminals in Upstate New York.
Simmons Exits Energy Solutions Business
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Simmons Foods Inc. (Siloam Springs, Ark.) reported on Sept. 1, 2020 that it had sold its propane business to MFA Oil Co. Simmons Energy Solutions is a small propane supply company with locations in Decatur, Ark., and Jay, Okla. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Hurricane Laura Narrowly Misses Critical Energy Infrastructure
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
In late August, Hurricane Laura made landfall near Lake Charles, La., as a Category 4 storm after gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico. Sustained winds of 150 mph were recorded and storm surge caused widespread power outages, lost water service, shredded homes, and extensive infrastructure damage.
DUC Well Inventory Will Support U.S. Fracking Into 2020
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
The recovery of fracking operations in the U.S. is happening in large part due to an unusually high inventory of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs), which is strong enough to sustain the current level of fracking deep into 2021 without the industry adding more rigs to expand drilling, a Rystad Energy analysis shows. After DUCs run out, rig activity in the five key oil regions needs to be in the 280-300 range to maintain flat oil output.
University of Pittsburgh Turns To Propane-Powered Shuttle Buses
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
As of July 1, 2020, the University of Pittsburgh has a new partner to shuttle students around campus. The Pittsburgh Transportation Group is now operating the University’s campus shuttles using an all-new fleet of 20 propane-powered shuttle buses equipped with passenger-counting technology and Wi-Fi.
Oilfield Services and Equipment Job Losses Exceed 100,000
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
U.S. oilfield services and equipment (OFS) lost approximately 2600 jobs in August according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the lowest total since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs in August and the unemployment rate fell to 8.4%.
ThompsonGas Acquires Northern California's Associated Propane Co.
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
ThompsonGas (Frederick, Md.) has acquired Associated Propane Co. (Petaluma, Calif.), a propane provider in Northern California. ThompsonGas is proud to welcome Associated’s customers and employees to the ThompsonGas family, and are committed to serving the residential, commercial, and agricultural customers who have valued Associated Propane Co.’s service in the area for more than 60 years.
Iowa Farmers, Suppliers Should Anticipate Increased Propane Demands
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Aug. 28 urged farmers and agribusinesses to start evaluating how much propane they’ll need to meet grain drying and home and livestock heating demands this fall and winter. The derecho that swept through Iowa on Aug. 10 created many unknowns for this year’s harvest. Propane users should anticipate, and suppliers should make plans to accommodate, increased propane demands this fall.
Winter Predictions for Coming Heating Season
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
For the United States, The Old Farmer’s Almanac for winter 2020-2021 predicts that recent warming trends will dominate in the eastern and northern parts of the U.S. in the coming months, with below-normal average temperatures limited to the western portion of the nation. Most of Canada will have a cold and snowy winter. Rising temperature trends may mean that the winter will not bring extreme cold, but instead, it will be closer to normal.
Operation BBQ Relief Supports Lake Charles Community
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Following the wrath of Hurricane Laura, Operation BBQ has deployed to Lake Charles, La., to provide hot, barbecue meals to families and first responders affected by the storm. This is Operation BBQ Relief’s 69th deployment since 2011 to support those in need following natural disasters.
U.S. Rig Count Holds Steady
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
The Baker Hughes rig count dated Aug. 28 shows no change in the total U.S. count of 254 rigs. Oil rigs were down by three to 180, while gas rigs were up three to 72, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at two.

The rig count is down 650 rigs from last year's count of 904, with oil rigs off by 562 units, gas rigs down 90, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at two.
Canada’s rig count decreased by two rigs from the week prior to 54, with oil rigs down one to 19, gas rigs down one to 35, and the miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at zero.
Speakers Announced for National Clean Energy Week Symposium
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) has announced its first round of confirmed congressional speakers for the 2020 Policy Makers Symposium, which goes virtual this year and expands to an entire week. U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE), and Congressmen Sean Casten (D-IL), John Curtis (R-UT), and Paul Tonko (D-NY) will deliver keynote addresses during the week’s programming, set for Sept. 21-25.
CVSA Releases 2020 Operation Safe Driver Week Results
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Operation Safe Driver Week, held from July 12 to 18, was the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) first enforcement initiative of the year. It was delayed as a result of the postponement or cancellation of other enforcement campaigns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, 3681 enforcement officers from 55 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions interacted with 29,921 commercial motor vehicle drivers.