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.
MFA Oil Buys Independent Propane Retailer in Arkansas
Thursday, April 2, 2015
MFA Oil Co. (Columbia, Mo.) has acquired Cunningham Propane, a family-owned propane retailer based in West Helena, Ark. Details of the transaction were not released. The purchase is MFA Oil’s fifth acquisition of its fiscal year that began Sept. 1, 2014 and the tenth in the last 12 months.
Duplicative BLM Rule Could Slow U.S. Energy Renaissance
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) hydraulic fracturing rule imposes new costs and delays on energy development without improving on exist­ing state and federal regulations, asserts the American Petroleum Institute (API). The agency on March 20 released its final rule regulating hydraulic fracturing activities on U.S. public and tribal lands.
IHS Study Shows Lifting Ban On Oil Exports Is Beneficial
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Building on earlier research, a new supply chain study by the consultancy IHS asserts that lifting the U.S. crude oil export ban would result in increased economic activity that would benefit every state and nearly every congressional district—even those far removed from the oil patch. The study maintains that for every job created in oil production, three jobs would be created in the supply chain and six more in the broader economy.
Interior Department Releases Final Hydraulic Fracturing Rule
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell March 20 released the final rule regulating hydraulic fracturing activities on U.S. public and tribal lands. The rule will take effect in 90 days. Jewell noted there are more than 100,000 oil and gas wells on federally managed lands. Of wells currently being drilled, more than 90% are hydrauli­cally fractured.
U.S. Propane Inventories Gain 2.4 MMbbl
Thursday, April 2, 2015
U.S. propane stocks jumped by 2.4 MMbbl the week ended March 27 to stand at 57.4 MMbbl, accord­ing to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its April 1 “This Week in Petroleum” report. As of then, volumes were 30.8 MMbbl, or 115.9%, higher than a year ago. Gulf Coast supplies increased by 1.4 MMbbbl and the Midwest by 1 MMbbl. East Coast inventories fell 0.2 MMbbl, while the Rocky Mountain/West Coast region was unchanged.
WSPA Opposing Mandates to Force 50% Reduction in Petroleum
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) is strongly opposing legislative or regulatory mandates designed to force a 50% reduction in the amount of petroleum products California consumers and businesses use by 2030. “Legislative mandates to force reduction in gasoline use are not climate change policies. They are an attack on an important industry in California designed to create conflict and contro­versy,” said WSPA president Catherine Reheis-Boyd.
Petition for Review of Federal Hydraulic Fracturing Rule Sought
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Wyoming March 27 took action against the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) effort to regu­late hydraulic fracturing. At Gov. Matt Mead’s direc­tion, the state attorney general, Peter K. Michael, filed a petition for review of final agency action in federal court.
Independent Producers File Suit Against Hydraulic Fracturing Rule
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Western Energy Alliance have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), challenging the issuance of regulations related to hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands.
U.S. Crude Oil Storages Reported at 60% of Capacity
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Crude oil inventory data for the week ended Feb. 20 showed total utilization of storage capacity in the U.S. standing at about 60%, compared to 48% at the same time last year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports. Most crude oil stocks are held in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, where storage tanks were at 60% and 56% of capacity, respectively, as of Feb. 20.
New DOE Energy Factor Standards Kick In April 16
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Beginning April 16 there will be significant changes to water heater energy factor (EF) require­ments as a result of updates to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a final rule for amended standards for residential water heaters on April 16, 2010, which become effective April 16, 2015. The 2015 DOE energy efficiency mandates will require higher EF ratings on virtually all residential gas, elec­tric, and oil-fired water heaters.
U.S. Representatives Introduce Alternative Fuel Tax Parity Act
Thursday, April 2, 2015
U.S. Reps. Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) have introduced the Alternative Fuel Tax Parity Act, H.R. 1665, legislation aimed at ensuring that excise taxes on LNG and propane for highway use are levied at a rate consistent with their energy output relative to diesel and gasoline, respec­tively.
Topping Off...
Friday, March 13, 2015
...The entire set of Propane Education & Research Council Safety Talks, designed to be a brief training tool to refresh or supplement, but not replace, formal train­ing, is available free for download on the Propane MaRC. Sessions, which include discussion topics and learning activities, can be presented in 10 to 15 minutes to keep employees sharp…
TransCanada Letter Refutes EPA Comments on Keystone Analysis
Friday, March 13, 2015
TransCanada Corp. (Calgary) has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State refuting assertions in a Feb. 2 letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the State Department’s final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) for the Keystone XL pipeline. “TransCanada disagrees with any suggestion that the Department of State has not fully and completely assessed the environmental impacts of Keystone XL,” said Russ Girling, TransCanada’s president and CEO.
Additional Tax Could Stunt Job Growth in Pennsylvania
Friday, March 13, 2015
The executive director of the Associated Petro­leum Industries of Pennsylvania, a division of the Amer­ican Petroleum Institute, is criticizing newly elected Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget plan for including an additional severance tax on natural gas development in the Keystone State. Stephanie Catarino Wissman asserts that an additional severance tax will harm job growth and weaken the state’s economy.
Senators Introduce Bill to Repeal Ethanol Mandate
Friday, March 13, 2015
U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are working to repeal a law they assert drives up the cost of everything from gasoline to groceries. The Toomey-Feinstein Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015, introduced Feb. 26, abolishes the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Stan­dard (RFS).
EPA Approves Climate-Friendly LPG Refrigerants
Friday, March 13, 2015
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasing the options for refrigerants used in various kinds of refrigeration and air condition­ing equipment in the U.S. The final action addresses refrigerants under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan that calls on EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program to identify and approve addi­tional climate-friendly chemicals.
Propane Council Approves Funds for Direct Injection
Friday, March 13, 2015
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), meeting via conference call Feb. 19, approved $600,000 in funding to pursue emissions certifica­tion for a direct-injection engine.
Environmentalists File Suit Against Propane Recovery
Friday, March 13, 2015
Environmentalists in California have filed a lawsuit against Contra Costa County over its February approval of a plan to increase propane recovery at Phillips 66’s Rodeo refinery. Communities for a Better Environ­ment (CBE) asserts the county’s environmental review did not take into account the broader impact of the project. The 78,000-bbld Rodeo refinery is located in the San Fran­cisco Bay area, and currently recovers no propane.
PERC Seeks Comments for Forklift Engine Development
Friday, March 13, 2015
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is soliciting comments on a proposed initiative that would provide $2 million in funding for forklift pro­pane engine development. Under Docket 20465, Power Solutions International (PSI; Wood Dale, Ill.) would develop and commercialize an advanced propane engine as a replacement to the Tier 4 diesel and electric models in the 3- to 6-ton fork truck market. PSI would contribute $3 million toward the $5-million project.
DEP Releases Revised Rules For Oil and Gas Well Sites
Friday, March 13, 2015
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) March 9 released the latest draft revisions to its environmental protection performance standards for oil and gas well sites, proposing amendments the agency describes as improving protection of water resources, adding public resources considerations, protecting public safety, addressing landowner concerns, and enhancing transparency and improving data management.