GPA-Supported Legislation Signed Into Law with Federal Highway Bill
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
The Gas Processors Association (GPA) reports it secured a legislative victory when President Obama signed into law the federal highway bill, H.R. 22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act. GPA joined with a coalition of trade associations to support two separate permit streamlining bills, H.R. 348, the Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act and S. 280, the Federal Permitting Improvement Act of 2015.
Suburban Acquires Independent South Florida Propane Retailer
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Suburban Propane Partners LP (Whippany, N.J.) has acquired Propane USA, a propane marketer with headquarters in Margate Fla., and its affiliate companies for a reported $45 million. The purchase was funded entirely from cash on hand. Propane USA will add about 7600 residential and commercial customers to Suburban Propane and about 4.7 MMgal. of retail propane sales to the partnership’s Florida operations.
AltaGas Advances Plan to Develop Export Terminal
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
AltaGas Ltd. (Calgary) has entered into a definitive project agreement for the development of a propane export facility in British Columbia. The company reports it is negotiating formal agreements and working on consultations with First Nations and stakeholders to commence the regulatory and permitting process for the export terminal, a facility that will be designed to initially ship 1.2 million tonnes a year.
PERC Announces New Sales Training Program & Other Expenditures
Monday, December 28, 2015
WASHINGTON (December 21, 2015) - The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), announced via a conference call meeting Dec. 11 that it had approved $665,000 for the 2016 Marketer Technology and Sales Training Program for an estimated 60 classes to give marketers information and techniques that they can use to drive new demand for propane in traditional and emerging markets.
PERC logo
PERC Selects Dallas Agency for Consumer Marketing Campaign
Monday, December 21, 2015
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has selected The Richards Group (Dallas) as the agency for its multimillion-dollar consumer education campaign that will roll out in 2016. The Richards Group will assist PERC in carrying out an integrated campaign designed to persuade existing propane customers to buy additional propane-fueled equipment and prospective customers to switch to propane for a variety of applications in the home, including space heating, water heating, cooking, clothes drying, and fireplaces.
FMCSA Releases Final Rule Mandating Use of Electronic Logs
Monday, December 21, 2015
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released its final rule mandating the use of electronic logs. The regulation was published in the Federal Register Dec. 16. This started the clock on a two-year compliance deadline which will make the devices mandatory beginning December 2017, notes Land Line magazine, a publication of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).
Phillips 66 Starts Operations At Sweeny Fractionator One
Monday, December 21, 2015
Phillips 66 (Houston) has begun operations at its new 100,000-bbld NGL fractionator located at the company’s Sweeny Complex in Old Ocean, Texas. Sweeny Fractionator One supplies purity ethane and other liquefied petroleum gases to the petrochemical industry and heating markets. It is supported by 250 miles of new pipelines and a multimillion-barrel storage cavern complex.
Alliance AutoGas Pursues CARB Certification for 2016 Ford Transit
Monday, December 21, 2015
Alliance AutoGas is pursuing a California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification for the 2016 Ford Transit, commenting that official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing has demonstrated a 13% reduction in CO2 and a 33% reduction in methane emissions. EPA has identified these as the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
Emerson Process Management Introduces Smaller Fisher Residential Regulator
Monday, December 14, 2015
The new Fisher Type R222H first-stage residential REGULATOR from Emerson Process Management has a 40 percent smaller footprint for use in tight applications, such as underground tanks or limited dome space. It is UL-listed for high-pressure LP vapor service in two-stage LPG systems and designed for customers who require up to 2 MBtu/hr flow rates.
Propane People On The Move
Monday, December 14, 2015
Deanna Sherman, current vice president of the Energy Division, Dead River Co. (South Portland, Maine), was promoted to president effective Jan. 1, 2016, when president and CEO Robert Moore retires in July 2016. He has led the company since 2008. Moore joined Dead River Co.
American Voters Overwhelmingly Pro-Energy in Harris Poll for API
Thursday, December 3, 2015
One year before the national presidential election, 71% of voters say they are more likely to support a candidate who supports producing more oil and natural gas—64% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans—according to a telephone poll among registered voters conducted for the American Petroleum Institute (API) by Harris Poll.
Forbes Magazine Highlights How LPG Saves Many Lives
Thursday, December 3, 2015
LPG continues to save lives and could save many more if it were made available to more people, asserts Forbes magazine. The publication in November quotes the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease project that smoke from solid cooking fuel in poorer countries is the fourth most important risk factor impacting global health—just below smoking and just above alcohol consumption.
Hydraulic Fracturing Not at Fault for Contamination
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Extensive analysis in Colorado, which requires water sampling both before and after energy drilling, shows no evidence of groundwater contamination that can be attributed to hydraulic fracturing. Earlier, methane contamination was found in a few wells and attributed to oil and gas drilling. However, research revealed that the contamination was likely due to poorly sealed well bores, a practice referred to as cement bonding.
Oil Companies Write Down Significant Assets in 3rd Quarter
Thursday, December 3, 2015
International and U.S. upstream oil companies wrote down $38 billion in assets in the third quarter of 2015, the largest for any quarter since at least 2008, reports the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Low oil prices continue to have a significant effect on the value of companies’ assets and future prospects, as well as on current value.
API, ANGA Combine in Single Trade Association
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) will combine into a single trade association effective Jan. 1 following the approval of both of the boards of directors. The combined association will continue ANGA’s mission under API. “There is a natural synergy between our organizations,” said Jack Gerard, API CEO.
NAHB: Housing Construction Increases 4.1% in October
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Permits to build new homes increased 4.1% in October to a level of 1.15 million per year, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Both single-family and multifamily levels increased, by 2.4% and 6.8%, respectively. Year over year, total permits were up 11.9%, with single-family 8.6% higher and multifamily increasing 17.2% as the housing market continues its modest pace of recovery.
NPGA Participates in Fueling Standards Meeting
Thursday, December 3, 2015
National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) technical staff participated via teleconference in a recent meeting held in the Netherlands tasked with developing an international standard for LP-gas vehicle refueling connectors. The working group meeting was under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Port Commissioners Approve Sea-3 Propane Rail Facility
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Sea-3 of Florida Inc. has received approval from the Tampa Port Authority to amend its lease agreement and expand its propane operations to have the capability to import and export propane from its terminal facility. Commissioners approved Sea-3’s application to build a rail facility to serve its 12.4-acre site at the port, as well as extend rail track on an adjacent property.
Business Council Expresses Support for Storage Project
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, has sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in support of Crestwood Equity Partners’ (Houston) proposed Finger Lakes LPG storage project, commenting that the facility would bring jobs and tax revenue to Upstate communities and urging the governor to approve project permits.
Tax Extenders Get Big Push From Bipartisan Congressional Coalition
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reported that a bipartisan letter signed by 36 members of the House was sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan on Nov. 30, 2015, urging Ryan to "work towards a multiyear or permanent extension of the expiring tax and expensing provisions, more commonly known as 'extenders'."
Congress dome
Safety Advisory Issued by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a safety advisory for improperly installed emergency discharge control equipment on cargo tank motor vehicles in metered delivery service. Improperly installed emergency discharge control equipment may result in total power loss of the cargo tank, including steering and braking failures.
Study: Natural Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Benefits Farmers
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Approval of proposed natural gas pipeline projects is in the best interest of Ohio and Michigan agriculture, asserts new analysis commissioned by the Ohio State Grange. The study found that increased access to natural gas can benefit farmers by reducing the cost of fertilizer, providing cheaper fuel for farm machinery, and stabilizing the price of electricity.