Propane industry news roundup: July 2007

July 1, 2007 By LP Gas

Successful Propane Days reaches attendance high

WASHINGTON, D.C . – Propane Days drew more than 300 attendees this year to Washington, D.C., its highest mark since the program began in 2005. The event attracted 154 last year.

Propane Days is an annual forum allowing the industry to collectively educate Congress and federal policymakers about its businesses. Activities this year, held June 11-13, coincided with the national energy debate in Congress.

The industry applied pressure on Congress to force the Department of Homeland Security to ease its chemical security regulations; extend favorable tax incentives for propane and alternative fuel vehicles; and direct the Small Business Administration to raise the size threshold used by the Department of Transportation to levy the bobtail tax.

“We could not have asked for a better event,” NPGA Chairman Keith McMahan said afterward.

This year’s keynote speakers were Tucker Carlson, MSNBC political commentator, and Andy Card, former White House chief of staff and former U.S. secretary of transportation. Former U.S. Rep. Max Sandlin, D-Texas, and Marc Spitzer, commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, also spoke during the program.

This year’s event also marked the first time the NPGA board meeting was held in conjunction with Propane Days. The board had been meeting as part of the annual Pinnacle Conference, which was terminated last year due to declining attendance and a desire to consolidate meeting travel.

NPGA announces pluses of propane tax treatment

On the heels of Propane Days, the NPGA also announced positive developments in lobbying for favorable tax treatment for propane.

The Senate Finance Committee is voting on the energy tax provisions that will be made part of the energy bill now being considered on the Senate floor.

As a result of committee Chairman Max Baucus’ amendment, the “Energy Advancement and Investment Act of 2007” now includes propane-specific provisions. They are:

Extension through 2012 of the alternative fuel tax credits for vehicles, fuel and infrastructure.
Inclusion of bio-propane as a qualifying fuel.
Technical correction fixes (a) allowing the filing for the fuel tax credit multiple times during the year rather than just at the end of the year (also applies to bio-propane) and (b) clarifying that the infrastructure tax credit can be taken per facility and not just one credit per year for a single facility.

NPGA is confident these provisions will not be tinkered with on the Senate floor when the entire bill is voted on.

C3Bio Energy wins prize for renewable propane technology

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS – C3Bio Energy was a third-place winner of the Ignite Clean Energy Business Competition for its work to manufacture renewable propane and a hydrogen byproduct from biomass feedstocks.

The three-month-long competition for start-up companies was sponsored by MIT Enterprise Forum Energy Special Interest Group.

C3Bio Energy, a company composed of three Massachusetts Institute of Technology students, won $5,000 and one year of office space from Cummings Properties, a prize valued at $10,000. The team also landed a $6,000 scholarship for the Advanced Invention 2 Venture in August. Student participants are Andrew Peterson, Curt Fischer and Tracy Mathews.

State prepares propane reference documents

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Industrial Relations has provided the Western Propane Gas Association with two reference documents for propane marketers.

Circular Letter PV-2007-1 summarizes the state’s regulatory role with the propane industry for installations in places of employment. Among other things, the letter specifies that an employer must notify the state before installing a tank greater than 2,000 gallons.

The second document, the Liquid Propane Gas Inspection Reference, offers a reference checklist summarizing state and NFPA 58 requirements for 23 inspection areas.

Sponsorship openings announced for world forum

PARIS, FRANCE – The World LP Gas Association has announced sponsorship opportunities for the 20th World LP Gas Forum to be held Oct. 24-26 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Sponsorship of the forum allows companies to reach key industry decision-makers at the highest level from all over the world. Early sponsors get the most recognition and value out of sponsorship.

CETP appliance installation manual available

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Propane Education & Research Council announces that the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) Book 6.0 Appliance Installation now can be downloaded at propanesafety.com.

PERC’s Safety & Training Advisory Committee is finishing the updated Appliance Installation book, which is expected to be available for purchase at www.propanecatalog.com later this year.

Retailers can encourage grilling safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the summer grilling season in full swing across the country, the Propane Education & Research Council is encouraging retailers to use materials from its annual safe-grilling campaign.

Grilling tips can be downloaded at www.usepropane.com or ordered through the Propane Resource Catalog by calling 866-905-1075. The Small Cylinder Brochure offers tips about what to do if you smell gas and how to transport and store small cylinders.

Propane Emergencies textbook is available

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The third edition of the Propane Education & Research Council’s textbook Propane Emergencies can be ordered through the Propane Resource Catalog.

The 303-page, full-color textbook includes information on how to safely respond to propane emergencies and also covers standards, codes and regulations. The new edition provides improved sections on mitigating rollover incidents and container damage assessment.

Inergy acquires assets of Connecticut business

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – Inergy has acquired the propane assets of The F&S Oil Co. Inc. in Waterbury, Conn.

F&S Oil delivered propane to about 4,500 customers. Inergy plans to operate the business under the name F&S Propane. The acquisition is Inergy’s 67th since its founding in 1996.

FMCSA anticipates hours-of-service ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing options in case a federal court overturns the federal agency’s hours-of-service rules for commercial drivers, according to published reports.

The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is reviewing two challenges to the agency’s changes to the 60-year-old rule. The revisions include rules over the 11th hour of driving and the 14-hour consecutive clock for work time.

FMCSA Administrator John Hill says the agency would complete work on its proposal to require electronic devices to record hours of service on certain trucks during 2008. However, he added, an unfavorable ruling from the court could delay other rules, including the electronic device regulation.

Members of Congress lobby Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The propane industry continues to request a small business size standard change from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In a letter dated June 15, 2007, members of Congress submitted another request on behalf of the propane industry and also asked the SBA to provide a timeline by June 28 with milestones for accomplishing the change.

“LP-gas businesses pay fees to the Department of Transportation that are based on whether the business is small as defined by the SBA,” the letter states.

The National Propane Gas Association has been petitioning the SBA to revise the standard used for LPG dealers from $6 million to $10.5 million. The NPGA argues that propane dealers could easily exceed $6 million in annual receipts, forcing a designated small business to exceed the threshold level set by the SBA without ever changing the size of its business.

World LP Gas Forum moves to South Africa

PARIS, FRANCE – The World LP Gas Forum will celebrate its 20th anniversary this fall in Cape Town, South Africa.

The central theme for the Oct. 24-26 gathering will be “LP Gas — Fueling for Life” to emphasize the role LP gas can play in improving living conditions across the planet. More than 700 participants are expected at the forum.

This year, the forum has added a third day to study the use of propane for African development. This portion is supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank and will discuss practical solutions to overcoming barriers to market development.

Survey examines propane use by ‘rural lifestyle residents’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Propane Education & Research Council has invested in a Rural Lifestyle Survey conducted by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and Ag Media Research to learn more about “rural lifestyle residents.”

According the the U.S. Census, nearly 26 percent of all households are located in rural America. The survey found that 25 percent of residents from 2,000 households living in the rural lifestyle segment of the population use propane to heat their homes or outbuildings.

2007 PROPANE GOLFERS ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Kendall snags LPG golfers crown again

Firing a three-round total of 71-76-73—220, Denny Kendall of AmeriGas ran away from the field in capturing his fifth victory in the Propane Golfers Association’s 23rd annual medal-handicap tournament June 14-16 at the Westin Innisbrook Resort in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Last year’s champion, Johnny Williamson of Four Point LP Gas, finished second with a 242.

The 54-hole event is sponsored by LP Gas Magazine and the Propane Golfers Association. Propane industry suppliers, producers and retailers from across the nation participate in the annual competition, which was founded by retired LP Gas Magazine Publisher and Editor Zane Chastain and propane industry colleagues 23 years ago.

This was the first year Chastain could not attend the event after suffering a stroke during the first week of June.

Final Flight Standings (54 Holes) Championship Flight

Denny Kendall (AmeriGas, Cincinnati, Ohio) — 220
Johnny Williamson (Four Point LP Gas, Woodbury, Ga.) — 242
Jeff Tenbrook (Tenbrook Gas, Hawkinsville, Ind.) — 242
Ken McLeod (BP Products NA, Houston, Texas) — 245
Doug Mayer (Blossman Gas, Asheville, N.C.) — 249
Kirk Bailey (Diversified Energy, Yadkinville, N.C.) — 250
Clyde Hall (Hall Oil & Propane, Walnut Cove, N.C.) — 252
David Fletcher (Manchester Tank, Cumming, Ga.) — 255

First Flight

Dan Grimm (Grimm Propane, Morton, Ill.) — 252
Van VanDever (Guest) — 259
Tom Tharpe (ExxonMobil, Monroe, Ga.) — 262
Joe Havens (Economy Gas, Spring, Texas) — 265
David Reynolds (Blossman Gas, Ocean Springs, Miss.) — 272
John Geiger (Trinity Containers, Tampa, Fla.) — 273
Paul Harris (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.) — 277
Harold Fletcher (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.) — 285
Ed Cackowsky (Actaris/Neptune, Yardley, Pa.) — 281

Second Flight

Ed Varney (Fisher Controls, Dallas, Texas) — 283
Sean Carr (LP Gas Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio) — 284
Stan Jones (Courtesy Gas, St. Augustine, Fla.) — 285
Nancy Williamson (Four Point LP Gas, Woodbury, Ga.) — 285
Rhett Lyons (LPG Insurance Specialists, Lawrenceville, Ga.) — 285
Johnny Patrick (Rutherford Equipment, Conyers, Ga.) — 287
Dale Gardner (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.) — 290
Nick Grant (Fisher Controls, Dallas, Texas) — 298

Third Flight

Bill Burkardt (Burkardt’s LP Gas, Polo, Ill.) — 289
Brian Kanaba (LP Gas Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio) — 301
Harry Lyons (LPG Insurance Specialists, Lawrenceville, Ga.) — 305
James Havens (Economy Gas, Spring, Texas) — 307
Ross Sorrentino (Liquid Controls, Lake Bluff, Ill.) — 311
Brian Richesson (LP Gas Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio) — 316
Russ Bartels (AmeriGas, Houston, Texas) — 316
Scott Weatherford (Guest) — 317
Steve Martaus (Guest) — WD

Fourth Flight

Pat Hyland (LP Gas Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio) — 312
Jim Alderman (American Welding & Tank, Mechanicsburg, Pa.) — 318
Bob Mayer (Blossman Gas, Ocean Springs, Miss.) — 326
Rick LaDue (Rochester Gauges, Dallas, Texas) — 329
Butch Mayer (Guest) — 334
Jim Ham (International Trucks, Fort Wayne, Ind.) — 338
Rick Pyle (Corken Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla.) — 344
Rich Glassman (International Trucks, Warrenville, Ill.) — 351
Brian Davidson (ECII/RegO Products, Elon, N.C.) — 352

Trinity Containers Long Drive Contest

David Fletcher (Manchester Tank, Cumming, Ga.)
Sean Carr (LP Gas Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio)
Paul Harris (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.)

H&H Sales Senior Long Drive Contest

Stan Jones (Courtesy Gas, St. Augustine, Fla.)
Tom Tharpe (ExxonMobil, Monroe, Ga.)
Dale Gardner (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.)

Courtesy Gas Putting Tournament (18 holes)

Ken McLeod (BP Products NA, Houston, Texas) — 36*
Paul Harris (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.) — 36
Harry Lyons (LPG Insurance Specialists, Lawrenceville, Ga.) — 37

*Won putt-off.

Liberty Propane Closest to Pin

HIGHLANDS NORTH: Kirk Bailey (Diversified Energy, Yadkinville, N.C.) — 37 feet, 3 inches; Dan Grimm (Grimm Propane, Morton, Ill.) — 8 feet, 10 inches; Bob Mayer (Blossman Gas, Ocean Springs, Miss.) — 6 feet, 3 inches; Harold Fletcher (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.) — 10 inches and 7 feet, 10 inches

COPPERHEAD: Johnny Williamson (Four Point LP Gas, Woodbury, Ga.) — 4 feet, 11 inches; Nick Grant (Fisher Controls, Dallas, Texas) — 23 feet, 7 inches; Kirk Bailey (Diversified Energy, Yadkinville, N.C.) — 12 feet, 8 inches; Ross Sorrentino (Liquid Controls, Lake Bluff, Ill.) — 14 feet, 11 inches; Ken McLeod (BP Products NA, Houston, Texas) — 17 feet

ISLAND: Paul Harris (Gardner-Marsh Equipment, Raleigh, N.C.) — 3 feet, 1 inch; Ed Varney (Fisher Controls, Dallas, Texas) — 17 feet, 4 inches; Van VanDever (Guest) — 5 feet, 1/2 inch; Ken McLeod (BP Products NA, Houston, Texas) — 6 feet, 1 inch

Burkardt’s LP Gas Longest Putt

HIGHLANDS NORTH: Jim Alderman (American Welding & Tank, Mechanicsburg, Pa.) — 5 feet; COPPERHEAD: Pat Hyland (LP Gas Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio) — 23 feet, 4 inches; ISLAND: Brian Davidson (ECII/RegO Products, Elon, N.C.) — 8 feet, 4 inches