DeKalb County Schools Switch To Propane Autogas Buses
Friday, August 14, 2015
Three new school buses fueled by clean-burning and affordable propane autogas will be in operation for the 2015-2016 school year at Indiana’s DeKalb County Central United School District. DeKalb Central United Schools, DeKalb County’s largest school district, is replacing 12-year-old diesel buses with new Blue Bird propane Vision buses. The district purchased the Type C school buses from MacAllister Bus Sales, Indiana’s Blue Bird dealer.
Pierce Pepin Propane Sold to River Country Cooperative
Friday, August 14, 2015
Management of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS; Ellsworth, Wis.) and the board of directors have agreed to sell Pierce Pepin Propane Services to River Country Cooperative of Inver Grove Heights, Minn. The closing date will be Aug. 31. Details of the agreement were not released. PPCS notes it entered the propane business in 1999, positioning itself for the emerging fuel cell technology that was developing.
Connecticut Legislators Propose Killing Propane Gross Receipts Tax
Friday, August 14, 2015
A group of Connecticut’s Shoreline Republican state legislators are proposing legislation to eliminate the state’s gross receipts tax on propane, reports the office of state Sen. Paul Formica. Connecticut assesses a tax on fuel delivered to a customer who uses a propane tank connected to a generator. The 8.81% tax is assessed on the delivery ticket, even if the propane tank also supplies exempt uses such as a home’s space heating equipment, a cook stove, water heater, or pool.
PERC Joins Task Force Supporting Alt Fuel Vehicles
Friday, August 14, 2015
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has joined a national task force promoting the addition of alternative fuel vehicles to emergency response fleets. The Initiative for Resiliency in Energy through Vehicles (IREV) is one of 11 projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program to accelerate the growth of the alternative fuel vehicles market.
Obama Signs Legislation to Lower Propane Excise Tax
Friday, August 14, 2015
President Obama has signed into law a bill making it easier for Americans to use propane autogas. Included in the extension of the U.S. highway bill is an excise tax equalization provision that permanently reduces the tax rate on autogas and levels the playing field for all alternative fuels, notes the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). Highway use propane produces 72% of the energy output of gasoline, but was taxed at the same 18.3 cents per gallon rate.
U.S. Propane Inventories Gain Another 2.4 MMbbl
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
U.S. propane stocks the week ended Aug. 7 jumped 2.4 MMbbl to reach 92.8 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Aug. 12 “This Week in Petroleum” report. As of the last reporting period, volumes stood 22.5 MMbbl, or 32%, higher than a year ago. Nearly all of the overall inventory gain was in the Gulf Coast, which saw a 2.5-MMbbl increase. The Rocky Mountain/West Coast region stepped up just 0.2 MMbbl, while the East Coast declined 0.2 MMbbl and the Midwest remained unchanged.
Propane Inventories Jump 1.8 MMbbl
Friday, July 31, 2015
U.S. propane stocks gained another 1.8 MMbbl the week ended July 24 to rise to 89.4 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its July 29 “This Week in Petroleum” report. As of
Topping Off...
Friday, July 31, 2015
…AGA Systems LLC (Kaysville, Utah) is offering a new bi-fuel/propane conversion system for the General Motors direct-injection 5.3-liter engine. The DuraDrive DI-LPG uses the same technology that AGA Systems developed for its Environmental Protection Agency-certified CNG system for the 5.3-liter power plant. The propane system is designed to operate on the 2014 and 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, as well as Tahoe, Suburban, and Yukon sport utility vehicles…
Southcross Energy Partners Completes NGL Pipeline Projects
Friday, July 31, 2015
Southcross Energy Partners LP (Dallas, Texas) has completed a 60,000-bbld Y-grade pipeline connecting its Woodsboro, Texas processing facility to Southcross Holdings LP’s 63,000-bbld Robstown fractionator near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company has also completed a 20,000-bbld propane pipeline from its Bonnie View fractionator to the Corpus Christi area for delivery to end-use customers.
PERC Task Force to Plan Consumer Education Activities
Friday, July 31, 2015
Meeting for the first time since the end of a restriction on its consumer education activities, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has formed a task force to develop a comprehensive communications strategy designed “to inform and educate the public about safety and other issues associated with the use of propane,” a priority of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996, the legislation that created PERC.
Bill Would Lift Crude Oil Export Ban, Provide Revenue Sharing
Friday, July 31, 2015
Combined energy legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act (OPENS Act), would lift the ban on crude oil exports, provide for revenue sharing in the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and increase access to additional resources by requiring a minimum of three lease sales in each of the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Cook Inlet planning areas during any five-year period.
Housing Construction Trends Improve in June, Says NAHB
Friday, July 31, 2015
Total housing starts expanded 9.8% month over month in June, reaching a 1.174 million annual starts pace, which was led by a surge in multifamily development, the National Association of Builders (NAHB) reports. Single-family starts were effectively flat, recording a 0.9% monthly decline to a 685,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, but were up 14.7% year over year.
Enterprise Signs Additional Commitment for Aegis Line
Friday, July 31, 2015
Enterprise Products Partners LP said in July that it had executed a long-term agreement for incremental ethane transportation capacity on its Aegis pipeline. With the agreement, total capacity commitments for Aegis will ramp up over the next four years to more than 300,000 bbld.
Iran Deal Disadvantages U.S. Oil Producers, IPAA Asserts
Friday, July 31, 2015
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) is challenging the Obama administration’s deal with the Iranian government over its nuclear program, noting the agreement includes provisions that will soon lift global sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Reports, confirmed by Iranian officials, have surfaced that Iran intends to double its crude oil exports soon after sanctions are lifted, which could lead to about 1 MMbbld of additional crude entering the world market.
Enterprise Expands Propylene Pipeline System, Converts Lines
Friday, July 31, 2015
Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) said in July 9 had launched a series of projects to convert and expand segments of its petrochemical pipeline network to increase throughput for polymer-grade propylene (PGP) and enhance system flexibility and reliability. The company’s North Dean pipeline will be converted from refinery-grade propylene (RGP) service to PGP service. The conversion is scheduled for completion in January 2017.
Gov. Tomblin Establishes Oil and Gas Safety Panel
Friday, July 31, 2015
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has formed the West Virginia Commission on Oil and Natural Gas Industry Safety through an executive order. The commission will be chaired by the governor or his designee and includes secretaries of the departments of Environmental Protection, Commerce, Transportation, and Military Affairs and Public Safety. The commission also includes 10 industry and labor representatives and four legislators.
Utica Shale May Be Next Big Natural Gas Producer
Friday, July 31, 2015
Driven in part by production from the Marcellus and other shale plays, natural gas has surpassed coal as the leading fuel source for U.S. electricity generation. And now a West Virginia University-led study suggests there’s more to come underneath the Marcellus.
Data Confirms Cost Advantage For Blue Bird Propane Buses
Friday, July 24, 2015
School districts across the nation are analyzing how they purchase, service, and fuel their bus fleets to make the best economic decisions for their communities, reports Blue Bird Corp. (Fort Valley, Ga.). By studying total ownership costs—for the life of the bus—school districts can make a more informed decision on how to manage their lifetime fleet expenses.
Canadian Propane Inventories Rise 6.8% in June
Friday, July 24, 2015
Canadian underground propane inventories in June climbed 6.8% to post a month-over-month increase of 87.0 Mcm, according to the National Energy Board (NEB). As of July 1, stocks stood at 1368.6 Mcm, the equivalent of 8.6 MMbbl. Compared to a year earlier, volumes were higher by a sharp 30.7%, advancing 321.2 Mcm.
Westport Innovations Offering Dedicated Liquid Propane Systems
Friday, July 24, 2015
Westport Innovations Inc. (Vancouver, B.C.) said July 7 it will begin offering dedicated, liquid propane fuel systems for 2016 Ford 5.0-liter F-150 pickup trucks. The new system will be in addition to Westport’s CNG package for the Ford F-150. Both fuel option packages are part of the company’s WiNG Power System and are expected to be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board.
45 U.S. Senate Democrats Release Letter to Governors
Friday, July 24, 2015
Forty-five U.S. Senate Democrats have released a letter to all 50 state governors requesting their comments on national energy policy. The senators outlined their priorities for a national energy policy as investing in clean energy, empowering consumers, modernizing infrastructure, cutting carbon pollution and waste, and investing in research and development.
Virginia Clean Cities Commends Governor for Extending Incentives
Friday, July 24, 2015
Virginia Clean Cities is commending Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe for increasing access to funds to help accelerate the conversion of public-sector fleets to alternative fuel vehicles in areas with some of the highest air quality issues in the state. At its June meeting, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved expanding access to the Virginia Alternative Fuel Vehicles Program to local governments.