After completing forklift operator training, driver performance scores improved by 61%, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and as reported by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). The critical need for, and proven effectiveness of, training was the key message at the fourth annual National Forklift Day hosted by ITA in Washington, DC, June 13, 2017.
(June 2, 2017) Global oil discoveries fell to a record low in 2016 as companies continued to cut spending and conventional oil projects sanctioned were at the lowest level in more than 70 years, reports the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). The agency warns that both trends could continue this year. Oil discoveries declined to 2.4 billion barrels in 2016, compared with an average of 9 billion barrels a year over the past 15 years.
Washington, DC (June 1, 2017) — According to the most recent "NPGA Reports," the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) announced in a brief statement on its website that it intends to postpone the November 10, 2017 compliance deadline for the Crane and Derricks in Construction regulation. OSHA has not announced the actual postponement or for how long the compliance deadline will be postponed.
Unless U.S. crude oil imports show signs of slowing down—in line with stated intentions from OPEC and non-OPEC suppliers alike—skeptical market bulls could continue to head for the exists, according to an S&P Global Platts survey of analysts and its preview of last week’s U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) oil stocks data.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, citing the Inside Sources news organization, reports that a group of pipeline protesters is selling an ecoterrorism manual to instruct others on how to fight energy infrastructure projects. DAM, short for Direct Action Manual, is being sold for $25 a copy by groups connected to the protest camp for the Mariner East 2 pipeline in Pennsylvania.
Hydraulic fracturing has not contaminated groundwater in northwestern West Virginia, but accidental spills of wastewater could pose a threat to surface water in the region, according to a new study by scientists at Duke University. “Based on consistent evidence from comprehensive testing, we found no indication of groundwater contamination over the three-year course of our study,” said Avner Vengosh, professor of geochemistry and water quality at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
Data from the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) show the majority of American households use one of three types of equipment as their main source of heat during the winter: natural gas furnaces, electric furnaces, or electric heat pumps. The range of equipment and fuels, however, varies across and within U.S. climate regions, as identified by the U.S. Department of Energy.
After reaching a record high of 79 Bcfd in 2015, U.S. marketed natural gas production fell to 77 Bcfd in 2016, the first annual decline since 2005, reports the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Texas, the state with the most natural gas production, fell by 2.5 Bcfd while Ohio and Pennsylvania each increased by about 1.2 Bcfd.
The American Petroleum Institute (API), along with the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL), has released the pipeline industry’s 2017-2019 Pipeline Safety Excellence Strategic Plan and 2016 Performance Report. The Performance Report shows the number of incidents dropped by 10% from 2015 levels, while the Pipeline Safety Excellence Strategic Plan summarizes the industry’s track record on pipeline safety and outlines steps taken by operators to advance safety efforts throughout the pipeline supply chain.
Rye Brook, NY (May 9, 2017) — Paraco Gas announced May 1st the acquisition of Island Propane, headquartered in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. The acquisition provides family-owned and operated Paraco with a strong, customer-focused service and delivery business and complements and extends its existing footprint on Long Island. Paraco has been serving Long Island since 1985 and provides propane services to residential and commercial customers throughout the region from three locations: Bay Shore, Bohemia, and Riverhead.
Addressing concerns about winter propane supply among its membership, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) April 28, 2017, outlined steps it is taking in cooperation with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to improve reliability. Observed was that more than 10 billion gallons of propane will be exported from the U.S. in 2017, this while domestic transportation resources remain virtually unchanged from the winter of 2013-2014, a heating season when supply and logistics problems were wide-ranging and severe.
Calgary, Alberta (May 4, 2017) — Pembina Pipeline Corp. (Calgary) has signed a non-binding letter of intent with Prince Rupert Legacy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the city of Prince Rupert, for the development of a west coast propane terminal on Watson Island, lands owned by Prince Rupert Legacy. Under the agreement, Pembina has commenced site assessment and engagement with stakeholders, including First Nations communities.
(Washington, DC) May 4, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said April 25 it had signed an order authorizing Golden Pass Products LLC to export domestically produced LNG to countries that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. Golden Pass is authorized to export LNG up to the equivalent of 2.21 Bcfd to any non-FTA country not prohibited by U.S. law or policy from its terminal near Sabine Pass in Jefferson County, Texas.
Qatar controls nearly 35% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, delivering nearly 20% of Britain’s annual natural gas demand. However, the country’s renowned energy sector is more focused on establishing the right balance between reserves and production, economic diversification, and the degree of depletion. This is being driven by Qatar Petroleum (QP), an integrated national oil corporation that stands at the forefront of efforts for long-term sustainable development, utilization, and monetization of oil and gas reserves in Qatar.
(Livonia, MI) April 6, 2017 — ROUSH CleanTech has announced a safety recall that affects approximately 2,000 vehicles equipped with ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel systems. The recall encompasses four solenoid coils that need to be updated with new coils. The service procedure is estimated to take under an hour.

ROUSH CleanTech has taken a proactive approach to notify vehicle owners affected by the recall and stated vehicles can still be driven and operated as normal until the new components are installed.
Canada is the largest energy trading partner of the U.S. Citing the latest annual data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports energy accounted for about 5% of the value of all U.S. exports to Canada and more than 19% of the value of all imports from Canada in 2016. While the value of bilateral energy trade with Canada has varied over the past decade, driven primarily by changes in the prices of oil and natural gas, the overall structure of bilateral energy trade flows has changed relatively little, and U.S.
The energy revolution continues to bring good economic news to an otherwise anemic economy, writes Karen A. Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy. And now there’s a new example to demonstrate just how true that is. Speaking at the recent CERAWeek 2017 conference, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods outlined a new 'Growing the Gulf' initiative to increase the company’s manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
(March 23, 2017) — In yesterday's “NPGA Report,” the National Propane Gas Association noted that in President Donald Trump's recently released budget proposal, the document detailing the White House's spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, would increase defense spending by $54 billion. This is paid for by cutting a commensurate amount from discretionary, domestic spending. It is important to note that this budget is only the President's suggestion. Ultimately, it is up to Congress to debate and pass the country's budget and spending bills.
After its recent introduction of new trucks that run on propane and CNG, Greenkraft Inc. (Santa Ana, Calif.) plans to expand to a bigger factory in 2017 and introduce a new line of trucks called the G3 and G4, which are larger-sized trucks in weights of 26,000 lb (Class 6) and 33,000 lb (Class 7), respectively.