First responder training among two new PERC dockets

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved two funding requests at a virtual meeting in February: $1.5 million for first responder training, in partnership with state associations, and $1.35 million for a services agreement with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).

The first responder training will provide propane marketers with resources to train first responders on handling propane emergencies. The program includes three tiers and offers matching funds through PERC to participating state entities.

According to PERC COO Bridget Kidd, the project team “worked really hard to craft this program in a way that they think will be most effective in providing training to these first responders and engaging the states in a way that they will participate and get behind the program.”

The program offers a dollar-for-dollar match, Kidd explains, with the state entities providing a dollar of funding for every dollar of PERC funding.

“This is an ongoing program that we’re trying to make states that already do it [to] do it even better … and states that don’t have such a program to consider such a program,” says Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC.

PERC’s agreement with NPGA fosters a strategic alignment between the organizations in accordance with the Propane Education & Research Act to enable them to better protect and promote the interests of the propane industry, consumers and the public, according to the council docket. The agreement supports work in industry communications and activities, allied partner advancement and engagement, codes and standards advancement and education, agency outreach and education, emergency/disaster preparation and response.

“This is where NPGA is performing so many of the functions that only NPGA is uniquely prepared to execute – largely codes and standards but also work with a lot of the trade associations that they take the lead on,” Perkins explains.

The council will meet April 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.