DOT Publishes Entry-Level CDL Applicant Driver Training Rule
Friday, January 13, 2017
(January 13, 2017) — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has published a final rule detailing minimum training requirements for commercial drivers’ license (CDL) applicants and CDL holders who seek endorsements, including the hazardous materials endorsement, reports the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). The compliance deadline is Feb. 7, 2020. Therefore, those seeking a CDL or an endorsement after that date must complete the recently published minimum training requirements before taking the CDL exam or endorsement exam.
NGL Energy Partners to Acquire Assets from Murphy Energy Corp.
Monday, January 2, 2017
TULSA, Okla. (January 2, 2017) — NGL Energy Partners LP (Tulsa) has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as the high bidder for certain assets of Murphy Energy Corp. (Tulsa). The assets include a Port Hudson, La. natural gas liquids terminal that supports refined products blending, and a Kingfisher, Okla. natural gas liquids and condensate facility. The combined purchase price is about $51 million.
Oklahoma Overtakes Texas as Most Attractive Jurisdiction for Investment
Friday, December 23, 2016
Oklahoma has beaten out Texas as the most attractive jurisdiction around the world for oil and gas investment, according to an annual global survey of petroleum sector executives by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank. The survey ranks 96 jurisdictions worldwide based on their barriers to investment—taxation, costly regulatory obligations, and uncertainty over environmental regulations—and on the volume of oil and gas reserves.
Pennsylvania School District Approves 52 New Propane-Powered School Buses
Thursday, December 22, 2016
EAST STROUDSBURG, Penn. (Dec. 22, 2016) — The East Stroudsburg Area School District in Pennsylvania will steer its transportation program in a new direction. School board officials on Monday approved the purchase of 52 propane-powered school buses and vans.

"We're moving to convert our bus fleet from diesel to propane," said district Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Bader on Tuesday. "It's a more environment-friendly fuel option that will save money down the road in service costs."
Pennsylvania School District Approves 52 New Propane-Powered School Buses
Thursday, December 22, 2016
EAST STROUDSBURG, Penn. (Dec. 22, 2016) — The East Stroudsburg Area School District in Pennsylvania will steer its transportation program in a new direction. School board officials on Monday approved the purchase of 52 propane-powered school buses and vans.

"We're moving to convert our bus fleet from diesel to propane," said district Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Bader on Tuesday. "It's a more environment-friendly fuel option that will save money down the road in service costs."
Scientific Evidence in Catalyst Study Confirms Hydraulic Fracturing Safety
Monday, December 19, 2016
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a new report by Catalyst Environmental Solutions showing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finding of no widespread effects to drinking water quality due to hydraulic fracturing operations is supported by state and federal regulatory reviews—and dozens of recent peer-reviewed case studies. API commissioned the report. It is available for review on the institute’s website, api.org.
ExxonMobil to Increase Beaumont Plant Capacity by 65%, Add More Than 1200 Permanent Jobs
Monday, December 19, 2016
ExxonMobil (Irving, Texas) will add a new production unit at its Beaumont, Texas polyethylene plant that will increase capacity by 65%, or by about 650,000 tonnes a year, to meet growing demand for high-performance plastics. Construction has begun at the plant, where current polyethylene production capacity is one million tonnes a year. Startup is expected in 2019.
Propane People In The News
Thursday, December 15, 2016
People EasonC. Michael Eason has joined the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC; Washington, D.C.) staff as director of budget and finance. He will replace Jim Harris, PERC’s CFO and vice president of administration for the past 11 years, who will retire at the end of 2016. Most recently, Eason was CFO at Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
Energy Distribution Partners Welcomes General Manager Jordan Landrum
Thursday, November 17, 2016
(November 17, 2016) Chicago, Illinois-based Energy Distribution Partners (“EDP”) is pleased to announce that Jordan Landrum has joined the company as General Manager for Quality Propane in Burnsville and Kellogg, Minnesota. Having started his energy industry career with Ferrellgas in 2006, Landrum comes to EDP with more than 10 years of increasingly responsible operations and management experience in the propane and compressed gas businesses. Landrum graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision.
Propane People in the News
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
(Nov. 8, 2016) Lori Murawski has joined Energy Distribution Partners (EDP; Chicago) as a general manager for CMP Energy in Phillipsburg, Pa., and Robert Mitchell has joined as operations manager of CMP Energy, which was recently acquired by EDP. Murawski, a CPA, has been with CMP Energy since 2012, most recently as its CFO, where she led an experienced team of industry professionals, including Mitchell.
Navistar Extends Engine Supply Agreement with PSI Through 2021
Friday, October 28, 2016
Power Solutions International (PSI; Wood Dale, Ill.), a designer and manufacturer of emissions-certified alternative fuel power systems, said Oct. 19 that Navistar (Lisle, Ill.), parent company of IC Bus LLC, has extended its engine supply agreement with PSI to run through 2021. The agreement, originally set to run through 2018, covers PSI’s supply of 8.8-liter propane and gasoline engines for IC Bus.
Tecogen Developing Emissions Technology for Forklift Market
Friday, October 28, 2016
Tecogen Inc. (Waltham, Mass.) has been awarded a research grant from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to aid in its development of Ultera ultra-clean emissions control technology for the propane-powered fork truck market.
Energy Distribution Partners Buys Pennsylvania’s CMP Energy
Friday, October 28, 2016
CMP Energy, a privately owned company based in Philipsburg, Pa., has been acquired by Chicago-based Energy Distribution Partners (EDP). CMP Energy provides propane, fueloil, and HVAC services to about 8000 residential customers across central Pennsylvania. CMP Energy was founded by Robert Mitchell in 1954 as the Mitchell Oil Co. Mitchell’s son, Jeff Mitchell, took over the business in 1984 and his son, Robert Mitchell, continues to be involved in day-to-day operations.
IEA: Global Oil Supply Rises, While Demand Growth Slows
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Global oil supply rose by 0.6 MMbbld in September, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) October Oil Market Report. Non-OPEC supply was up nearly 0.5 MMbbld on higher Russian and Kazakh flows and OPEC supply was at an all-time high. World oil output of 97.2 MMbbld was up 0.2 MMbbld from last year due to strong OPEC growth. Non-OPEC supply is forecast to drop by 0.9 MMbbld in 2016 before rebounding by 0.4 MMbbld in 2017.
BATA Adds Cost-Efficient Propane Buses to Fleet
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Michigan’s Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) has added five propane-fueled vehicles to its fleet. BATA’s new propane-powered buses have multiple benefits that will help make its vehicle fleet more environmentally friendly and save on fuel and maintenance costs in the long run.
Propane Mower Incentives Back Just in Time for Buying Season
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has reopened online applications for its Propane Mower Incentive Program. Since it began in 2012, the program has helped commercial propane mower operators save up to $1000 on the purchase of a new unit, which doesn’t factor in the long-term benefits of using propane.
EIA Projects Higher Household Heating Fuel Costs this Winter
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is projecting average U.S. household expenditures for natural gas, fueloil, electricity, and propane will increase this winter—Oct. 1 through March 31—compared with last winter.
Updated Forecast Implies Slower Path to Global Oil Market Balance
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) October Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) indicates that oil market conditions are somewhat looser by the end of 2017 than previously projected. Although the annual average spot prices for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent are similar across the current and previous outlooks, quarterly WTI and Brent spot prices were revised more significantly.
Chinese Propane Imports Seen Rising With 2 PDH Startups
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Chinese propane imports are likely to climb faster in the fourth quarter owing to the expected startup of two new propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plants, Platts reports. Commissioning of the facilities is seen as giving a much-needed boost to the recovering LPG market in Asia.
San Diego MTS Introduces Propane-Fueled Transit Buses
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
In another step forward to reduce regional air pollution, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has rolled out the first of 77 buses powered by clean propane at its Copley Park facility. The buses are the first propane-fueled buses in San Diego’s transit fleet and are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two million pounds per year.