One of the data points we want to keep a close eye on is propane production. The decrease in drilling activity for both natural gas and crude oil could cause decreases in propane production this year. For the week ending Jan. 8, there were 148 rigs drilling for natural gas in the United States, down from 329 rigs drilling during... read more
A race to establish market share is brewing among competing biopropane developers eager to commercialize a technology that is gaining support among global government policymakers and private sector entrepreneurs as an effective method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting sustainability targets. “This cutting-edge process has the potential to revolutionize the production of biofuel, forgoing the environmental issues associated with... read more
Warmer temperatures and lower energy prices contributed to a reduction in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) current average heating expenses forecast for the 2015-16 winter compared with that in its October 2015 Winter Fuels Outlook. EIA produces a Winter Fuels Outlook each October that projects heating fuel expenses for the coming winter season based on forecasted fuel prices and... read more
Alkane Truck Co. will produce a liquid propane autogas-powered Class 8 cab-over for the long-haul trucking industry, following the introduction of its LP gas-powered Class 7 cab-over and Dominator vehicle in 2015. In November 2015, the LP gas-powered Class 7 cab-over completed Department of Transportation certification, Alkane says. It was the first alternative fuel-powered cab-over to be introduced in that... read more
MFA Oil Co. acquired R&S Propane Inc., a propane supplier based in Dibble, Okla. According to the company, the acquisition strengthens MFA Oil’s position in central Oklahoma. Mark Fenner, MFA Oil president and CEO, says this purchase gives the company entry into the Norman, Okla., and Oklahoma City markets. R&S Propane is MFA Oil’s third acquisition of the fiscal year,... read more
Thirty-six years have passed since Steve Moore got his start in the propane industry. Most of those years were spent at Mutual Propane, a family-owned Southern California retail company. Moore has dedicated the last 10 years to Expo Propane, his own company based in Bellflower, Calif. Now, following Expo Propane’s 2014 merger with Energy Distribution Partners (EDP), a fast-growing propane... read more
Eleven propane autogas school buses will roll out this month for the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, Ind. The fleet represents the largest deployment of propane autogas school buses in the state of Indiana. The Blue Bird Propane Vision buses were purchased through MacAllister Transportation and include 10 78-passenger models, with one bus including a wheelchair lift. These buses... read more
This is the second of a three-part blog series about the LP Gas State of the Industry report. Read the first part here. What’s the most pressing business concern for propane retailers at the moment? LP Gas asked this question to retailers in its annual State of the Industry survey. Retailers offered a variety of responses. Here are a dozen... read more
In the case of Wilmes v. Consumers Oil Co. of Maryville, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District reversed the trial court dismissal of this propane explosion case that had favored the propane company. Yet the case was sent back to the trial court for further proceedings. The Wilmes v. Consumers Oil Co. case arises out of a... read more
This is the first of a three-part blog series about the LP Gas State of the Industry report. What’s the single, most-effective way for propane retailers to grow gallons? LP Gas asked this question to retailers in its annual State of the Industry survey. Retailers offered a variety of responses. Here are a dozen that caught our attention: “Autogas. Propane... read more
