USDA Spending $100 Million To Boost Renewable Fuel Use
Thursday, June 25, 2015
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Tom Vilsack reports his agency will spend up to $100 million in a biofuels partnership to support infrastructure improvements to make more renewable fuel options available to American consumers. Specifically, USDA will administer competitive grants to match funding for state-led efforts to test and evaluate “innovative and comprehensive” approaches to market higher blends of renewable fuel such as E15 and E85.
SMART Introduces Autogas Buses to Paratransit Fleet
Thursday, June 25, 2015
SMART, a southeast Michigan public transportation provider, has introduced 61 new Connector autogas paratransit buses manufactured by Champion Bus. Inc. (Imlay City, Mich.) to its fleet. The move makes SMART the second-largest propane-powered paratransit fleet in Michigan and one of the five-largest in the U.S. “SMART is committed to responsibly and eco-consciously serving the communities in southeast Michigan,” said John C. Hertel, general manager.
Energy Transfer Confirms Offer To Merge With Williams Cos.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE, Dallas) confirmed June 22 that it had made a proposal to merge with the Williams Cos. (Tulsa) in an all-equity transaction valued at $53.1 billion, including the assumption of debt and other liabilities. Under the proposal, ETE would acquire all outstanding Williams common stock at a premium to the closing share price as of June 19, 2015.
Prism Midstream Constructing Liquids Handling Facility in Texas
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Prism Midstream LLC (Houston) has begun construction of its Bedrock liquids handling facility in Crockett County, Texas. The facility will handle both on-spec and off-spec natural gas liquids and off-spec condensate, providing an outlet for those products, and is scheduled to be in operation by the end of the first quarter of 2016.
PSI Acquires Schwan Subsidiary Bi-Phase Technologies LLC
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Power Solutions International (PSI; Wood Dale, Ill.), a global alternative fuel engine company, has acquired electronic fuel injection system manufacturer Bi-Phase Technologies LLC (Eagan, Minn.), a privately held subsidiary of Schwan Food Co. (Marshall, Minn.), a national food marketer. Bi-Phase Technologies designs and manufactures fuel systems that enable gasoline engines to be fueled by liquid propane.
Propane Caucus Formed to Address Delivery Infrastructure
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
U.S. Reps. Robert Latta (R-Ohio) and Timothy Walz (D-Minn.) have formed the Congressional Propane Caucus in order to provide a bipartisan forum to engage members of Congress, staff, and the public on issues of importance to propane consumers and the propane industry. Additional founding members include Reps.
Flicker of Hope Portland Export Terminal Will Get City Hall Vote
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Construction of a $500-million propane export terminal at the Port of Portland late last week appeared to have garnered tentative support for a second chance at City Hall. The project was assumed dead when Portland, Ore. Mayor Charlie Hales yanked his support. But City Commissioner Nick Fish nonetheless has asked the city attorney to determine if Pembina Pipeline Corp. has a legal right to a hearing on a zoning change it is seeking to move the project forward.
Emissions-Certified Irrigation Engine Released by Origin
Friday, May 1, 2015
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and Origin Engines (Kearney, Neb.) said
April 13 that an emissions-certified, 9.1-liter propane irrigation engine has been released that will provide agricultural producers with a reliable and cost-effective alternative to expensive Tier 4 diesel models.
Increased Pipeline Transparency Sought by Industry Organizations
Friday, May 1, 2015
The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Liquids Shippers Group, which represents 11 large oil and gas companies, filed a petition April 20 asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for increased transparency related to reporting transportation costs and revenues on the nation’s petroleum products and natural gas liquids pipelines.
H&H Sales, Crenshaw Corp. Join Alliance AutoGas Network
Friday, May 1, 2015
Alliance AutoGas, a provider of comprehensive propane autogas solutions to medium- and heavy-duty fleets, said April 28 that Huntertown, Ind.-based H&H Sales Co. Inc. and Ashby’s Inc./Crenshaw Corp. of Richmond, Va. have joined the alliance as authorized conversion centers. “As high volume conversion centers, H&H Sales Co. and Ashby’s/Crenshaw Corp.
RRC Chairwoman Testifies on Local Hydraulic Fracturing Bans
Friday, May 1, 2015
Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) chairwoman Christi Craddick testified recently before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology in Washington, D.C. on local hydraulic fracturing bans. The hearing, titled “Hydraulic Fracturing: Banning Proven Technologies on Possibilities Instead of Probabilities,” raised concerns Texas and other states are facing relating to local bans of the oil and gas drilling technique, hydraulic fracturing.
Regency Unit Holders Approve Merger With Energy Transfer
Friday, May 1, 2015
Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP and Regency Energy Partners LP said April 28 that unit holders had approved a merger agreement between the two companies. Balloting was reported to have shown 99.6% of the units voted in favor of adopting the agreement. The merger therefore was expected to close on April 30.
ExxonMobil President Calls for Urgent Action on LNG Exports
Friday, May 1, 2015
The U.S. is at risk of losing economic opportunity and the ability to solidify its role as a global leader in energy production unless the government moves to approve LNG exports, Rob Franklin, president of ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Co., said April 20. “If policymakers don’t revisit and redress some significant legal and regulatory problems then the U.S.
U.S. Now Largest Producer Of Petroleum, Hydrocarbons
Friday, May 1, 2015
The U.S. remained the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons in 2014, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates. Hydrocarbon production continues to exceed that of both Russia and Saudi Arabia, the second- and third-largest producers, respectively. For the U.S. and Russia, total petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbon production, in energy content terms, is nearly evenly split between petroleum and natural gas.
Scientists a Step Closer to Developing Renewable Propane
Friday, May 1, 2015
Researchers at England’s University of Manchester say they have made a breakthrough in the development of synthetic pathways that will enable renewable biosynthesis of propane. The research is part of a university program aimed at developing the next generation of biofuels. Their findings were published in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels.
The Rapid Introduces Propane Buses Into Its GO!Bus Fleet
Friday, May 1, 2015
The Rapid has introduced four new vehicles into its GO!Bus service. The buses will be fueled by clean-burning, domestically produced propane autogas. GO!Bus is available for seniors and those with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route services, and offers smaller cutaway vehicles for door-to-door trips.
First Student to Roll Out 150 Propane School Buses
Friday, May 1, 2015
New propane-powered buses will be transporting students in the Council Rock School District in Newtown, Pa. beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. The school district recently approved a new contract with First Student (Cincinnati, Ohio) to provide transportation services for the next seven years. As part of the agreement, the company will replace the district’s current fleet with 150 propane-fueled buses.
Common Sense Fix Sought To Remove Faulty CSA Data
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
In comments filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the American Trucking Associations (ATA) again urged the agency to make a common sense change to its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) safety measurement system—the removal of crashes trucking companies and their drivers did not cause.
Without Cochin, Canadian Propane Seeks New Outlets
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) recounts that a year ago, after 35 years of shipping propane from western Canada to the Upper Midwest, the Cochin pipeline was removed from propane service. Following the April 2014 closure, in July the line was reversed and repurposed to ship light petroleum liquids north from Illinois to western Canada.
Student Transportation Bringing 92 Propane Buses to Colorado
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Ninety-two propane-fueled Blue Bird school buses will be serving the youngest and largest green fleet of school vehicles in Colorado. Student Trans­portation of America Inc. (STA; Wall Township, N.J.) has been awarded a new $6-million annual contract with Mesa County Valley School District 51 in Grand Junction, Colo. to provide school transportation services.
Enterprise CEO Creel Retiring, Teague Elected As Successor
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) said March 30 that Michael A. Creel, CEO of Enter­prise’s general partner, intends to retire as of Dec. 31. A.J. (Jim) Teague, COO, has been elected to suc­ceed Creel upon his retirement. Teague has served as a director of Enterprise’s general partner since 2008 and as COO since 2010. He joined Enterprise in 1999 and is a retiree of Dow Chemical Co. following a 23-year career.