LP Gas timeline (1990-99): Laying the groundwork

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 1990s. You can also access these decades: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s.

National Propane Safety Week (1990) 

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) designates the first National Propane Safety Week from Sept. 3-7 to heighten propane consumers’ awareness of their propane systems and commemorate the five-year anniversary of NPGA’s GAS Check, a national effort to provide safety and maintenance inspections of all residential propane systems.

Propane-fueled buses (1990)

As discussions around “cleaning the air” begin to circulate the nation, two new propane-powered transit buses are introduced for a test conducted by the Orange County (California) Transit District to determine which alternative fuel delivers the most miles per gallon. 

New technology (1994)

The annual Southeastern Convention and Trade Show draws hundreds of propane retailers, where they are met by several computer and software companies aiming to help retailers become more “computer literate” and maximize efficiencies using the newly introduced World Wide Web.

Record-breaking usage (1994)

U.S. propane consumers set a new usage record in the second half of the 1993-94 winter heating season, drawing down more than 27 million barrels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The previous record was 26 million barrels during January and March 1977.

Midwest Propane Gas Convention (1996)

The first annual Midwest Propane Gas Convention and Trade Show is held in Indianapolis from March 9-11, replacing the Midwest Expo. LP Gas deems the event “a big hit” with 167 exhibitors and more than 2,300 total attendees.

Propane Education & Research Council (1996) 

Congress authorizes the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) with the passage of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996, which President Bill Clinton signs into law on Oct. 11. 

New editor (1997) 

Pat Hyland is named as the new editor of LP Gas, following Zane Chastain’s 23-year career as editor and publisher, the latter of which Chastain remains.

Pinnacle 2000 (1998)

NPGA hosts Pinnacle 2000, a convention that attracts more than 600 attendees, to discuss the changing state of the propane industry in the late ’90s and look ahead to a new millennium.

Y2K preparations (1999)

As the millennium concludes and fears about Y2K grow, all eyes are on websites, computers and the electrical power grid. LP Gas contributing editor James Guyette encourages retailers to communicate with customers directly and fill up tanks as early as possible.

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