LP Gas timeline (1980-89): Industry comes together

LP Gas is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021. To commemorate the milestone, LP Gas editors have combed through magazine archives from the past eight decades to create a timeline marking the industry’s history through our own pages. Here we present the 1980s. You can also access these decades: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, 2000-09 and 2010-present.

A boon for butane (1980)

The Department of Energy’s Economic Regulatory Administration issues a final rule exempting butane and natural gasoline from federal pricing and allocation controls, effective Jan. 1, 1980.

Death of a leader (1980)

William C. Hill, chairman of the board of Pargas, dies following a battle with cancer. Hill, 55, is considered the industry’s most respected leader. He becomes an LP Gas Hall of Famer.

Energy labels are mandated.

New energy labels (1980)

All appliances covered under new Energy Guide labeling rules and manufactured after May 19 carry a mandated energy label. The labels are designed to assist customers in comparing energy costs of competing products.

Decontrol realized (1981)

Effective Jan. 28, President Ronald Reagan decontrols propane. The executive order removes propane from all allocations and price controls, which have been in place since 1973.

Cabinet heater battle (1982/1984)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission takes steps to halt sales of cabinet heaters, fueled by LP gas cylinders not designed for use in enclosed areas. The issue becomes a hot topic for the Technology and Standards Committee of the NLPGA. An attempt to revise the code allowing for redesigned 20-pound cylinders for use indoors with the cabinet heater is rejected by a National Fire Protection Association committee.

Industry golf tournament (1985)

LP/Gas magazine and the Commonwealth Petroleum Corp. agree to jointly sponsor the Propane Golfers Association’s inaugural LP gas industry championship tournament. The 54-hole medal event will be played in October on the Grizzly course at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center in Mason, Ohio.

World stage (1987/1988)

Stewart B. Kean, president of Utility Propane Co. in Elizabeth, New Jersey, is elected chairman of the World Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Forum. The primary objective of the forum, headquartered in France, is to promote the continued development of the LP gas industry worldwide. He becomes an LP Gas Hall of Famer. The first world convention is held in 1988 in San Francisco.

Becoming NPGA (1988)

The final name change to the National Propane Gas Association, or NPGA, is ratified by the membership.

Featured image credits: Cover 1: Robertshaw Thermostat Co.; Cover 2: Impco Carburetion; Cover 4: Photos courtesy of LP Gas Hall of Fame inductees and their families, and background photo by Istockphoto.com/Herbert Bias; Cover 5: LP Gas staff; USGirl/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; balipadma/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; spawns/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; Logo/background: Olha Huro/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Social media image credits: Cover 1: Robertshaw Thermostat Co.; Cover 3: Impco Carburetion; Cover 5: Photos courtesy of LP Gas Hall of Fame inductees and their families, and background photo by Istockphoto.com/Herbert Bias; Cover 6: LP Gas staff; USGirl/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; balipadma/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; spawns/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; Logo/background: Olha Huro/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images