Propane Fuels America: New Hampshire

September 3, 2021 By Carly Bemer

LP Gas’ yearlong Propane Fuels America series takes a deep dive into how each state benefits from the propane industry. Here’s our report on New Hampshire.

Total odorized propane demand (2019): 182 million gallons

U.S. rank for gallons sold: 19

Gallon sales trend: New Hampshire sold 168 million gallons of propane in 2017 and 182 million gallons in 2019, an increase of 8 percent.

Census region/division gallons: Northeast: 1.69 billion/New England: 775 million

Propane autogas school buses/districts and contractors: 142/3

Market pointers

Sea-3 propane terminal port in New Hampshire Photo courtesy of Nearview

A port for the Sea-3 propane terminal is located in Newington, New Hampshire. Photo courtesy of Nearview

⦁ New Hampshire introduced an “energy choice” bill, which allows residents to select their own energy to fuel and power their homes. The bill specifically mentions propane as a fuel that won’t be eliminated, says Leslie Anderson, president and CEO of the Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE). It passed through the state’s House and Senate as of late July, and is waiting on the governor’s signature. Anderson expects the governor will sign it sometime in August.

⦁ One of the Sea-3 propane storage and distribution terminal’s two ports is located in Newington, New Hampshire. The facility is the only large-scale refrigerated propane storage facility in New England, with both inbound waterborne and rail access, according to Blackline Midstream, which acquired Sea-3 Inc. in 2017.

⦁ Like other states in the region, the residential sector is New Hampshire’s largest for propane usage. It makes up 63 percent of the state’s total gallon sales, and Anderson says there’s more residential propane per capita in New Hampshire than in any other New England state.

⦁ Eastern Propane & Oil, a 2021 LP Gas Top Propane Retailer, is one of New England’s largest propane companies. It delivers to customers in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont.

⦁ There are many PGANE member companies in New Hampshire, Anderson says, meaning the state’s residents have a wider-than-average selection of propane retailers with which to do business. This increases the competition between retailers to deliver the best prices and service to customers, as well.

Fast facts

State association affiliation: Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE)/pgane.org

Programs: PGANE is working on combining the new branding from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) with the association’s branding to regionalize PERC’s message that propane is a clean-energy solution.

Marquee events in 2021: PGANE will host its fall meeting Oct. 13-14 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In addition, PGANE is hosting regional meetings throughout the month of August, with one scheduled to take place Aug. 25 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Before COVID-19: The propane industry in New Hampshire had contributed more than $388 million to the 2018 state economy. It’s too early to assess COVID-19’s impact on the state’s gross domestic product.

“New Hampshire is very strong with propane. It always has been. That’s my state that has the most gallons that they sell, as well.” – Leslie Anderson, president and CEO, Propane Gas Association of New England

What’s the weather?

Average temperature (2020): 45.8 degrees F

Annual heating degree-days five-year average (2015-19): 7,161
U.S. average: 4,090

Sources: Propane Education & Research Council’s U.S. National and State Propane Market Profiles; Annual Retail Propane Sales Report; propane.com; Propane Gas Association of New England; U.S. Energy Information Administration’s State Energy Profiles