Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) Undergoes Exciting Changes In 2020
Sunday, December 15, 2019
(December 17, 2019) — The industry’s long-standing Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) is undergoing exciting changes in the way it delivers safety education and compliance material to the propane industry workforce. In a letter to industry professionals, Eric Kuster, vice president of safety, education and compliance at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), announced plans underway to make workforce training and certification better, faster, and cheaper.
Growmark Acquires Terminal From Plains LPG Services
Sunday, December 15, 2019
(December 16, 2019) — Retail and wholesale propane customers in the tristate area of Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri will soon see a new name on the terminal outside Fort Madison, Iowa. Growmark Inc. (Bloomington, Ill.) has reached an agreement with Plains LPG Services LP to acquire the facility. Growmark, a farmer-owned cooperative, owns five other terminals in Iowa, South Dakota, Ohio, and Missouri.
Wisconsin Attorney General Supports Line 5 Shut Down
Thursday, December 12, 2019
(December 13, 2019) — Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) reports that two attorneys general are supporting Michigan’s legal moves to shut down Enbridge Inc.’s (Calgary) Line 5 pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac. They include Wisconsin Attorney Gen. Josh Kaul and California’s Xavier Becerra. They join fellow Democrat Dana Nessel, Michigan’s attorney general, in support of a lawsuit asking a state court to rule that operation of Line 5 under a 1953 easement agreement with Michigan violates the public trust doctrine.
Propane Industry Urges Administration To Complete Review Overhaul
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
(December 11, 2019) — More than 30 industry groups have called on the White House to finish a regulatory overhaul that would make it easier to clear federal environmental approval for large infrastructure projects such as pipelines and road expansions, Reuters reports. The 33 organizations, including the U.S.
2020 Marks Changes For Autogas Refueling
Monday, December 9, 2019
(December 9, 2019) — Alliance AutoGas notes that big changes are coming for autogas refueling in 2020. For decades there have been a variety of valves available, such as the ACME, which have been used for fueling propane vehicles. However, new NFPA 58 guidelines for next year specify that the propane industry will adopt the K15 connection for all future autogas vehicles reinstated into service, purchased, or converted after Jan.
U.S. Oil Production Growth Heading for Major Showdown
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
(December 4, 2019) — U.S. shale production, the chief source of the rapid growth that made the U.S. the world’s largest oil producer, is slowing down fast, says a new report by the business information provider IHS Markit. Noted is that shale production, the engine driving rapid growth in recent years, is entering a new era of moderation in growth as producers focus on greater capital discipline and shareholder returns.
NPGA and State Associations Collaborate to Support Propane Marketers
Monday, December 2, 2019
(December 2, 2019) — The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports it has joined with state association leaders to communicate the efforts of the industry to ramp up propane deliveries. The effort is in response to weeks-long high demand for propane across the Midwest. Marketers in the region have been experiencing heavy calls for fuel from both agricultural and residential customers.
Farmer Woes: 2019 Corn Harvest Tremendous Struggle for Some
Monday, December 2, 2019
(December 2, 2019) — With a significant amount of corn still in the fields of the U.S. Northern Plains in mid-November, the harvest nonetheless threatened to stall, MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett told the agriculture news publication Western Producer. Burnett noted the corn harvest was being slowed in some cases by propane transportation constraints that in turn caused issues for farmers trying to quickly acquire fuel for their grain dryers.
Higher Propylene Prices Have Flex-Feed Crackers Favoring LPG
Thursday, November 21, 2019
(November 21, 2019) — The petrochemical market information provider ICIS reports that a number of flex-feed crackers are likely to continue favoring LPG as a feedstock because costs for propane and butane remain at a relatively small spread to those for ethane, and because of higher coproduct prices for propylene.
Enbridge Wins Legal Fight, Attorney General Appeals
Monday, November 18, 2019
(November 18, 2019) — The Michigan Court of Claims has handed Enbridge Inc. (Calgary) a first-round victory in its legal battle to fund and construct a utility tunnel buried 100 feet beneath the bottomlands of the Straits of Mackinac. The reinforced concrete tunnel would encase Enbridge’s twin Line 5 pipelines, which transport light crude oil, light synthetic oil, and natural gas liquids, including propane.
Proposal Calls for Transport Of LNG on DOT 113 Railcars
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
(November 13, 2019) — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing a change to the Hazardous Materials Regulations to allow the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on railcars, reports Transportation Today. The overture builds on an executive order by President Donald Trump issued earlier this year.
Executive Order Extends Hours of Service for Propane Delivery Until Nov. 30th
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
DES MOINES, Iowa (November 12, 2019) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, thanked Gov. Reynolds for signing an Emergency Executive Order on Oct. 31, 2019, which will help resolve delivery challenges resulting from increased seasonal propane demands. The proclamation exempts drivers of commercial motor vehicles delivering propane from the Hours of Service (HOS) requirements outlined in Iowa Code, beginning on Nov. 1 and running through 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2019.
U.S. LPG Entrenched as India's Propane Supply Source
Monday, November 11, 2019
(November 11, 2019) — U.S. LPG is being shipped to India this month, establishing the country as a regular supplier to Asia’s second-largest importer. Stepped up flows commenced in April 2019 and accelerated after traders widened their sources to meet spot or term commitments after the September attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities disrupted supply, market sources tell S&P Global Platts.
U.S. Crude Oil Exports Set to Double by 2022
Monday, November 4, 2019
(November 4, 2019) — U.S. crude oil exports could grow from current levels of 2.9 MMbbld to nearly 6 MMbbld by 2022, according to a new forecast from Rystad Energy. With U.S. production expected to increase by 1.2 MMbbld year over year in 2020, and with domestic refineries already maxing out capacity to absorb shale growth, Rystad Energy expects oil exports to bal- loon and reach 4.7 MMbbld by the end of 2020 and nearly 6 MMbbld by the end of 2022.
EIA Cuts Oil Prices Owing to Demand Growth Uncertainty
Monday, October 28, 2019
(October 28, 2019) — S&P Global Platts reviews that the Energy Information Administration (EIA) this month sharply lowered its oil price outlook for early next year. The agency cited increasing uncertainty about economic and oil demand growth, factors it sees more than offsetting the higher risks of supply disruptions after a Saudi oil facility attack.
USGS Hikes Appalachian Estimates for Natural Gas
Thursday, October 24, 2019
(October 24, 2019) — The Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant/Utica Shale formations in the Appalachian Basin contain an estimated 214 Tcf of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas, according to new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessments. The Marcellus, Point Pleas- ant, and Utica are extensive formations that cover parts of Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Gas Price Forecast Falls to Levels Not Seen Since 1970s
Monday, October 21, 2019
(October 21, 2019) — A persistent oversupply of natural gas will drive the 2020 average price at the Henry Hub down to a level not seen in decades, according to a new report from IHS Markit. The oversupply, to be reinforced by a new surge in associated gas production from the Permian Basin, will push the average price down below $2/MMBtu for the year, the market intelligence provider maintains. That is the lowest prices have averaged in real terms since the 1970s. In nominal terms, the last time prices dipped under $2 was in 1995.
Enterprise Building 2nd Mont Belvieu PDH Plant
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
(October 15, 2019) — Affiliates of LyondellBasell Industries NV (Rotterdam) and Enterprise Products LP (Houston) have signed long-term contracts supporting construction of Enterprise’s second propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant. PDH 2, to be located in Mont Belvieu, Texas, will have the capacity to consume up to 35,000 bbld of propane and produce up to 1.65 billion pounds of polymer-grade propylene (PGP) a year.
NPGA Sells CETP Training To Propane Council
Friday, October 11, 2019
(October 11, 2019) — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) have reached agreement on terms to transfer the certification assets of the industry’s Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) from NPGA to PERC effective Dec. 31, 2019. The action was mutually agreed upon by the officers and leadership of both organizations to help improve safety and training in the propane industry by moving all assets under one roof.
Rhoads Energy Announces Plan to Upgrade Vehicle Fleet to Propane
Thursday, October 10, 2019
(October 10, 2019) — The Rhoads Energy Family of Companies, has plenty of first-hand experience helping school districts convert bus fleets to clean propane autogas: they’re quieter, cleaner and cost significantly less to operate.

In fact, Rhoads found the advantages so compelling that the company decided to commit to expanding its own propane-powered service fleet of more than 20 vehicles over the next year.
Natural Gas Production Reaches New Record Despite Low Prices
Monday, October 7, 2019
(October 7, 2019) — U.S. natural gas production continued to rise in August, setting a new daily production record of 92.8 Bcfd on Aug. 19, according to estimates by IHS Markit and as reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Natural gas output also set a new monthly record in August, averaging more than 91 Bcfd for the first time.
Oil Price Next Year Relies on 3 Factors
Friday, October 4, 2019
(October 4, 2019) — Three essential factors will determine the direction of the oil price and market balancing next year, according to Oslo, Norway-based Rystad Energy. In a market update, BjØrnar Tonhaugen, head of oil market research at the business intelligence company, argues that a balanced oil market in 2020 is contingent on three pillars: no global recession, continued OPEC production cuts, and the effect of stricter new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations effective Jan. 1, 2020 on vessel bunker-fuel emissions.