Newsbriefs

Site promotes propane as transportation fuel

P38 Inc. launched www.propanefacts.ca, a comprehensive online resource for information on the use of propane as a transportation fuel. Through cooperative efforts among industry, government and academia, the goal of Propane Facts is to provide reliable, current and convincing research and facts about making propane Canada’s alternative transportation fuel of choice for high consumption, light and medium duty fleets.

Battelle requests previously used PRVs

Battelle is working to determine if there is an engineering basis for the service-life recommendations published in propane pressure relief valve (PRV) literature. Battelle is collecting and testing functional customer tank PRVs (not from cylinders, bulk tanks or transports) from various geographic locations around the United States that have been removed from service within the past month for reasons other than their malfunction. Battelle is interested in all brands, models and ages, both internal and external. Battelle is hoping to receive several hundred valves – as new as 1-year-old to as old as several decades.

If you are interested in helping with this project, contact Battelle directly: Stephanie Flamberg at (614) 424-3061, flambergs@battelle.org or Battelle, 505 King Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43201.

For all residential pressure relief valves that you can provide for this project, Battelle will send you a FedEx package containing packaging supplies (Zip-lock bags), information tags and shipping instructions. Simply place the PRVs within two of the Zip-lock bags and complete some basic information about the PRV on the information tag. After you fill out the information, pack the PRVs and ship them to Battelle.

Liberty Propane acquires Legacy

Liberty Propane acquired Legacy Propane, headquartered in Battle Ground, Wash. Legacy operates three retail branches in the western United States – Vancouver, Wash; Tacoma, Wash; and Phoenix. This marks Liberty’s 28th acquisition since the company’s formation in July 2003. Legacy Propane, the 30th largest propane retail marketer in the nation, represents an additional 10,000 customers to Liberty’s expanding presence across its western region. All three acquired service centers will retain the Legacy Propane name.

Michigan program promotes safety

The Michigan Propane Gas Association (MPGA), through a propane industry grant, is sponsoring a program designed to promote safety using liquid propane and propane equipment amongst the residents of the agricultural community and rural consumers. The goal of the Propane Safe Handling Program is to eliminate accidents by educating consumers on the proper usage of propane.

The MPGA has a history of successful public education programs designed to increase consumer and professional confidence in propane use. The Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs support MPGA’s efforts to promote the safe handling of propane. The MPGA continues to provide a free state-certified training program for first responders in preparing them for propane emergencies.

Minneapolis agency takes lead for PERC

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) selected Colle + McVoy of Minneapolis as its primary marketing communications agency at its July meeting in Washington, D.C. Colle + McVoy will support PERC’s programs from research and development through commercialization to consumer and trade outreach.

PERC also authorized the release of the 2009 budget plan (at $45.3 million) for public comment until Sept. 2 and received a report from the PERC task force studying ways to increase the demand for propane by commercializing new propane-fueled products.

The council also approved funding for the following grants:

• $607,735 to PERC for e-learning OSHA & DOT training program.
• $357,700 to PERC for testing of pressure relief valves for customer tanks.
• $350,000 to PERC for distributed generation demonstration program – year 2.
• $311,560 to PERC for communications agency transition and 2009 planning.
• $253,500 to PERC for propane emergencies partnership with states program.
• $218,000 to Diedrichs & Associates for farm cart for refueling agricultural equipment.
• $215,000 to Polar Power Inc. for advanced premium genset.
• $131,933 to California State University, Fresno for stinger efficacy and economics survey.
• $129,000 to PERC for Batchen Stinger steam weeder – fabrication.
• $128,325 to PERC for 2008-09 agriculture research and project evaluation.
• $127,000 to Central Texas Clean Cities for propane lawn equipment market development program.
• $107,500 to LOGAN Energy for molten carbonate propane-fueled fuel cell.
• $105,000 to PERC for testing of low emission fixed max liquid level gauge.
• $100,000 to PERC for PERA price determination support activities.
• $95,000 to Gas Technology Institute for tankless-propane air handler comparison study.
• $92,574 to Iowa State University for propane sub-base materials drying techniques and technologies.
• $59,300 to PERC for jurisdictional propane systems outreach.
• $35,210 to PERC for CETP e-learning – STARS marketing reel.
• $35,000 to Diedrichs & Associates for orchard heater – phase II.
• $27,997 to Iowa State University for a proposal for market analysis of hot in-place recycling of asphalt pavements.
• $25,000 to PERC for cotton defoliator logistical support 2008-09.
• $25,000 to PERC for 2008 Milford Therrell Award.
• $4,000 to PERC for update to operations and maintenance manual.

The council also approved rebates to 23 states totaling $2,438,983. About half of the rebates requested were used for safety and training programs. These states applied for consumer education partnership funds totaling $119,719. The council will next meet Oct. 9-10 in New York City.

American Welding & Tank increases prices

American Welding & Tank LLC (AWT) announced price increases, effective Aug. 4, covering all new propane tanks. Adjusted price schedules for AWT’s signature line of recycled tanks, refurbished and pre-owned, were to be issued by the end of July.

The price schedules will reflect new-tank increases of about 7.5 percent as a result of escalating steel costs. Orders placed on or after Aug. 4 for delivery on or before Sept. 30 will be subject to the new price increases.

Transportation surcharges have been rolled into the new price schedules and will be eliminated from invoices applicable to tanks purchased under the Aug. 4 pricing structure, AWT noted.

Pennsylvania PGA

The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association announced its 2008-09 board of directors:

Members of the executive committee are Jeffrey Shaffer, Shaffer’s Bottled Gas, Hooversville, Pa., president; Ed Gorzkowski Jr., Modern Gas Sales Inc., Avoca, Pa., president elect; Mark Delehanty, Lehigh Valley Propane, Allentown, Pa., vice president; Mike Mutter, Eddinger Propane, Bally, Pa., secretary; Phil Smith, P.B. Associates Inc., Downingtown, Pa., treasurer; Dan Messett, Penn Fuel Propane, Chambersburg, Pa., immediate past president; James Ressler, Ressler Propane, Mountville, Pa., national/state director; Walter Cressman, Cress Gas, Richlandtown, Pa., District 9 director; and Dan Balmer, Penn Valley Gas Inc., Telford, Pa., district director representative.

District directors are, for District 1, Hugh A. Rich and Hugh Rich III, Rich Gas Inc., Kane, Pa; District 2, Glenn Beatty, Beatty’s Gas Inc., Home, Pa., and Robert Klasen, Klasen Oil Co., Cochranton, Pa.; District 3, Mark Lesney, Liberty Propane DBA Action Gas, Ebensburg, Pa., and John Maruska, Algas Co., Gallitzin, Pa.; District 4, Norm Cupples, Penn Fuel Propane, Columbia, Pa., and Ken Lundy, Sunoco/Montour Home Comfort, Harrisburg, Pa.; District 5, Glenn Danenhower, Bernville Quality Fuels Inc., Reading, Pa., and Paul A. Gardner, Heller’s Gas Inc., Berwick, Pa.; District 6, Greg Smith, Bluhm’s Gas Sales, Laceyville, Pa., and Andrew J. Burick, Heller’s Gas Sales, Effort, Pa.; District 7, Jerry Stanco, Penn Fuel Propane, Stroudsburg, Pa., and Michael Gorzkowski, Modern Gas Sales Inc., Edwardsville, Pa.; District 8, Beth Donavon, Penn Fuel Propane, Lancaster, Pa.

Directors at large are Dale Aldrich, Bergquist Inc., Toledo, Ohio; Jay Gorzkowski, Modern Gas Sales, Reeders, Pa.; John Murray, Ray Murray Inc., Bensalem, Pa.; Patrick Shay, Tarantin Tank and Equipment, Camp Hill, Pa.; and Bob Troop, Diversified Energy, Mount Joy, Pa.