Propane Autogas School Buses Win Awards, Earn A’

Did you hear that the National Association of Fleet Administrators gave the Houston Independent School District its 2013 Excellence in Public Fleet Sustainability award for its great work with propane autogas school buses?

Houston began operating 27 propane autogas school buses in 2011, and then added another 58 autogas buses and 27 autogas-fueled vans to its fleet, according to School Transportation News.

The award is the latest for the district’s transportation department, which had been named to the Top 40 Green Fleets and Top 100 Government Fleets in both 2011 and 2012. Congrats HISD, the largest school district in Texas.

Read more here.

Grant Program for Propane Vehicles Now Open

Starting today, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is accepting applications for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program, which Gov. Tom Corbett touted earlier this month.

The AFIG initiative has received a fresh injection of $10 million in funding, all of which will be steered toward providing incentives for the purchase or conversion of light- and medium-duty natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and other alt-fuel vehicles.

The DEP will accept applications for NGVs under 14,000 lbs. GVW, and for propane autogas, electric and other alt-fuel vehicles in any weight class. A wide range of fleets are eligible for the grants, from local transportation entities and municipalities to corporate and nonprofit fleets.

Applicants interested in purchasing or converting only one or two alt-fuel vehicles are encouraged to partner with other eligible applicants to aggregate vehicles into a single application, which will satisfy the grant's five-vehicle minimum, the DEP notes.

Applications are due July 26, 2013, by 4:00 p.m Eastern. Grants will be awarded this fall.

To access applications or for more details, click HERE.

Schools, Industry Embracing, Buying and Employing Propane Vehicles

Save the Date! The Lead the Way Event Sponsored by PERC

The Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo is the largest alternative fuel and clean vehicle technology trade show in North America. As a presenting sponsor of ACT Expo 2013 in Washington, D.C., the Propane Education & Research Council is hosting the Lead the Way pre-conference event on June 24.

This event is designed to give fleet managers and energy influencers an insider’s look at the advantages that have made propane autogas the nation’s most-used alternative fuel. The event will feature a lineup of engaging, topical discussions with leading fleet managers who have saved money, helped the nation, and helped the environment by choosing clean, American-made propane.

You and other members of your organization are invited to attend and network with these fleet and energy professionals. We encourage you to share the attached event invitation and details below with any fleet manager customers or prospects you know. You could also invite energy influencers such as sustainability officers or local energy officials.

WHO: Fleet managers and energy influencers

WHAT: The Lead the Way event. This free pre-conference event will feature a lineup of engaging, topical discussions with leading fleet managers who have found success switching to clean, American-made propane. Learn more and register atautogasusa.org/act.

WHEN: June 24, 2013; 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Washington D.C.; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

WHY: This event is designed to give fleet managers and energy influencers an insider’s look at the advantages of propane autogas, and the tools they need to put it to work for their organization.

Propane Autogas: Fueling Texas Makes an Impression at Police Fleet Expo

AUSTIN, TX, May 28, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Propane Autogas: Fueling Texas, the Propane Council of Texas' educational campaign, made an impression at the Police Fleet Expo Southwest. From May 22-24, hundreds of police officers gathered in Fort Worth to discuss the most efficient and innovative ways to manage vehicle fleets -- including converting to propane autogas, the world's most popular alternative fuel.

The Fueling Texas presence at the Police Fleet Expo included volunteers, educational materials, video presentations and a propane-powered Ford F-150 provided by Northwest Propane. Law enforcement officers had a chance to get up close and personal with the F-150, examining its bi-fuel system and asking questions about the benefits of propane autogas. Ford has announced that the 2013 F-150 will be available in special police, fire and rescue packages.

Law enforcement fleets that switch to propane autogas save 30-50 percent on fuel costs. Autogas's high octane rating means fleets spend less on maintenance costs and vehicle engines last longer -- all without sacrificing the performance and range law enforcement officers depend on. Autogas vehicles also produce fewer harmful emissions, contributing to cleaner air in the communities officers proudly serve.

Read more here.

Surging LPG Ship Rates Seen Breaking Record as U.S. Adds Exports

Costs to ship liquefied petroleum gas will exceed the 2008 record as the U.S. expands exports amid rising demand in Latin America and India, according to Exmar NV (EXM), the operator of 27 carriers.

Spot rates surged 47 percent this month to $70.86 a metric ton, according to the Baltic Exchange, the London-based publisher of shipping costs. The benchmark rate will set a new all-time high, Miguel de Potter, chief executive officer of Antwerp, Belgium-based Exmar, said by phone today.

Expanding natural-gas output in the U.S. is creating more LPG as a byproduct while shipments of the cooking and heating fuel to Latin America rise on winter demand, de Potter said. Congestion at Indian ports also is tying up ships for longer, leaving fewer available to compete for cargoes, he said. While rates rallied for one to three months around this time in the past three years, the current increase will probably last longer, he said.

“Some of my colleagues are more bullish this year because of the additional exports out of the U.S. and the additional imports into Latin America,” de Potter said. “It will definitely break the record.”

Rates reached $81.64 in July 2008, according to the exchange. The U.S. produced a record 29.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas last year and exported 71.9 million barrels of LPG, according to Energy Department data. Shipments rose 15 percent to 5.9 million barrels in the year to February, the most recent data show.

Original Article Here.

R.H. Foster opens first propane fuel retail pump manufactured by CleanFUEL USA

ELLSWORTH, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- Gas prices continue to keep the public's attention, but R.H. Foster in Ellsworth wants to offer residents an alternative form of energy. Monday the company unveiled its propane autogas retail pump, the first of its kind in Maine.

Executive Vice President Robert Tracy with R.H. Foster said, "What we have here is a public access, full use for anybody that's interested in auto gas fueling."

Regular, unleaded gasoline averages around $3.58 a gallon compared to propane topping out at $2.14.

CEO Roy Willis with the Propane Education Council said, "It's a positive step forward for the community and the country. Propane is growing in supply here in the United States. It is affordable. It is clean and it has multiple applications."

Read more here.

Big State Support for Natural Gas, Propane and Other Alt-Fuel Vehicles

The State of Pennsylvania continued to show significant support for natural gas vehicles (NGVs), with the announcement that $6.7 million would be funneled toward incentives for heavy-duty NGVs.

Also, Gov. Tom Corbett announced new funding of $10 million for the state's Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant (AFIG) program, designed to help fleets purchase new alt-fuel vehicles or convert existing fleet assets.

The $6.7 million that was mobilized this week is a part of the state's $20 million Natural Gas Energy Development program, which provides incentives for compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or bi-fuel vehicles that exceed 14,000 lbs. GVW. Awardees include companies such as Crossett Inc., which received $500,000 to convert 25 tractors to run on CNG, and Birkmire Trailer Co., which is also using $500,000 to convert 15 trucks to dual-fuel CNG/diesel technology and to buy six new CNG trucks.

Read more here.

City of Springfield, Illinois Converts 24 Vehicles to Propane Autogas

City predicts annual fuel cost savings of more than $82,000 with propane
autogas.

GEORGETOWN, Texas - May 21, 2013

CleanFUEL USA has partnered with the City of Springfield, Ill., to convert 24 police patrol cars and pickup trucks to clean burning propane autogas.

These vehicles, which hit the road last week, will help the City save significantly on fuel costs in a short period of time, according to the City’s return on investment analysis.

“We estimate our fuel savings in the first year alone to be more than $82,000,” said Bill McCarty, director of budget and management for the City of Springfield. “Transitioning our fleet to propane autogas was an extremely easy decision to make because we are saving taxpayer dollars, improving the environment through cleaner auto emissions and supporting a domestically produced fuel source.”

A recently installed on-site refueling station featuring aCleanFUEL USA CFT Pro 2100 autogas dispenser will fuel the vehicles, used by the City’s public works department. The infrastructure for propane autogas refueling is less expensive than any other alternative fuel.

As part of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Smarter Cities Project, Springfield, Illinois has been named among a list of 22 municipalities that are leading the way as “top energy performers” in green power, energy efficiency and conservation. When compared with gasoline, vehicles fueled by propane autogas emit 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, 60 percent less carbon monoxide and up to 25 percent less greenhouse gases.

“Municipalities around the country like the City of Springfield are doing their research, talking to other fleets, calculating the savings and realizing that propane autogas is a winner,” said Curtis Donaldson, founder and CEO ofCleanFUEL USA. “With minimum upfront costs and substantial fuel savings, CleanFUEL USA’s propane autogas fuel systems and dispensers are clear solutions for fleets looking to achieve both budget and sustainability goals.”

The project was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Energy Department’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Texas State Technical College serves as the lead grantee of the funds, which support the development of a national propane autogas refueling network, incentives to convert school buses and other fleet vehicles to alternative fuels, and training for green jobs. This initiative will help displace millions of gallons of petroleum annually.

Propane autogas is the leading alternative fuel in the United States and the third most commonly used vehicle fuel, following gasoline and diesel. Propane autogas, which costs an average of 30 to 40 percent less than gasoline and about 50 percent less than diesel, burns cleaner in engines, resulting in reduced maintenance costs. More than 90 percent of U.S. propane supplies are produced domestically.

According to McCarty, savings from these initial 24 vehicles will influence the City’s decision to add more vehicles fueled by propane autogas to its fleet, including police patrol cars.

About CleanFUEL USA:
CleanFUEL USA, the nation’s first developer of liquid propane fuel injection systems, is a leading manufacturer of propane autogas dispensers and refueling infrastructure. Headquartered in Georgetown, Texas with an engineering division in Wixom, Mich., CleanFUEL USA celebrates more than 20 years of innovation. Setting industry standards with a complete alternative fuel solution, CleanFUEL USA products offer unsurpassed economic and environmental advantages. Learn more at cleanfuelusa.com.

Alternative fuels' best friend: Buses

Public transportation is going green.

People who want to celebrate Earth Day week by commuting in a vehicle powered by a cleaner-burning fuel should hop on the bus.

More than a third of the nation's city transit buses are now powered by fuels other than diesel. That's up from fewer than 10% a decade ago, according to the American Public Transportation Association citing January 2011 data.

That compares with about 9 million passenger automobiles in the USA that ran on alternative fuels in 2010, according to the U.S. Energy Administration; that's less than 3% of the total.

Transit agencies across the nation, spurred by federal incentives for buying and using greener vehicles and by the potential savings of switching from diesel, are transitioning to buses that run on compressed natural gas, propane, diesel-electric hybrids and biodiesel. In total, there are more than 66,200 city buses in the country.

Read the full article here.

See you at the Western Propane Trade Show and Convention!

The 64th annual Western Propane Trade Show and Convention, the largest propane event west of the Mississippi River, will be held May 16-18 in Reno, Nevada. This year, for the first time, the Western Propane Convention welcomes the Pacific Propane Gas Association as a partner in the event, joining with the Arizona, Nevada, Rocky Mountain and Western Propane Gas Associations. Together, we are offering even more for the propane industry, including education sessions focusing on new technologies, safety for you and your customers, and making your businesses strong in a difficult economy.

The trade show, with more than 200 exhibiting companies, features the latest in propane products, vehicles, and services for the industry, giving attendees the opportunity for face-to-face discussions with a variety of company representatives. More than 1,100 propane industry members from around the United States and Canada will be there — so we hope to see you soon! The Arizona, Nevada, Pacific, Rocky Mountain and Western associations sponsor the convention.

More info here.

PROPANE AUTOGAS RIDING STRONG WITH S2G BOBTAIL, BI-FUEL CONVERSION IN SPRINGFIELD

The effort to build the propane autogas market continues with the showing in Atlanta of the Freightliner Custom Chassis S2G bobtail, and the launch of the Roush CleanTech Ford F-650 chassis cab at the 2013 Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo presented by the National Propane Gas Association.

I’m catching up with two interesting videos available courtesy of CleanFuel USA, the Georgetown, Texas-based provider of turnkey fuel and refueling infrastructure solutions, propane-powered engine systems and conversions, and fleet management programs.

One video offers a test drive of the S2G with the driver noting the ride is quiet, it handles like a car or pickup, the acceleration is powerful and visibility is great, and the S2G is “a natural fit for folks that deliver propane.” (Those of you who object to seeing a competitor’s logo on a bobtail may want to turn the video off around the 1:40 mark.) Check out “S2G Ride & Drive, Work Truck Show, March 2013.”

Read more here.

PERC's Willis to debut Maine public autogas station equipped with CleanFUEL USA dispenser.

R.H. Foster Energy LLC is hosting a grand opening for Maine’s first propane autogas public refueling site May 20 in Ellsworth, Maine. Among those scheduled to speak during the special two-hour event are the Propane Education & Research Council’s Roy Willis, Roush CleanTech’s Todd Mouw and R.H. Foster Energy’s Robert Tracy. A reception and tours of R.H. Foster Energy will begin at 2 p.m. that day, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 3:45 p.m.

Propane Autogas Steps up in Class; Two entries into medium-duty market adds to the alternative fuel options

Alternative fuels have traditionally filled their individual places in the trucking world. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) seems to work best in long-haul trucking operations; compressed natural gas (CNG) in shorter-haul operations. Hydrogen fuel is finding some success in port operation. And propane autogas has been relegated primarily to light duty vehicles and school buses.

“The truth of the matter is there is room for both CNG and propane applications,” Roy Willis, president & CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) told Fleet Owner. “The question is which one is right for which application?”

Propane autogas is best in fleet applications where there is a central refueling location. The fuel has found favor with local service fleets such as Sears and most recently satellite TV provider Dish Network, which will put into service 200 Roush CleanTech propane autogas-powered Ford E-250 vans this year.

Read more here.

*Update*

Ed Garda of Powertrain Integration has some additional facts regarding the vehicles based on a Fleet Owner comment.

· The commenter is correct that the spark-ignited engines have less total torque output than a class 7 diesel. But maybe he misses the benefit of having nearly double the operating speed range. The Powertrain Integration team spent the last three years perfecting the 8.0L LPG engine. I can assure you that an 8.0L LPG-fueled vehicle, with a 500 lb-ft rating, can compete against an equivalent vehicle, carrying any load and in any condition, equipped with a Cummins ISB with 660 lb-ft of torque. Torque may get the truck going, but power gets you up the hill.

· PI worked extensively with Allison to optimize the engine’s breaking performance with their grade-braking feature. Our engine also features a higher compression ratio (9.6:1) than other spark engines, netting even greater braking performance. The commenter perhaps doesn’t realize that our package enjoys at least a 500 lb weight savings relative to the Cummins ISB, which makes the job of stopping the vehicle easier, as well as less tire and brake wear in general.

· Regarding the comment about transmissions, the 8.0L engine is available EXCLUSIVELY with the Allison 2350RDS and 2350PTS transmissions.

· Lastly, 100% of our durability work has been performed for a 33,000 lb GVWR. We ran fully loaded vehicles up the road to Davis Dam in Bullhead City, Arizona in 115 F degrees last summer with no problems. We’ve run back and forth across the Rockies from Denver to Utah and back. We’ve been to the tops of Pike’s Peak and Mt. Evans. We’ve pulled towing dynos all over Arizonain the middle of summer. Lastly, we are offering 100,000 mile warranties on our engine in any application.

Texas Group Pushes Propane

To help boost the public profile of propane autogas as it fights for its place among alternative fuels, the The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) has a new public campaign to educate Texans on the fuel.

The effort, Propane Autogas: Fueling Texas, is designed to tout the benefits of running fleet vehicles and equipment on propane autogas. The event kicked off back in March with a ride-and-drive event at the Texas Capitol during Texas Propane Day.

The organization has also launched a website, FuelingTexas.com. The site will be regularly updated with news, educational resources and more, the group said.

Information on the benefits of propane autogas, as well as available incentives, tax credits, upcoming events and details about autogas for both on-road vehicles and off-road options can be found on the site as well.

Read more here.

Sunoco Signs up Shell to its Propane Pipeline, Export Plan

May 6 (Reuters) - Sunoco Logistics Partners LP said on Monday Royal Dutch Shell Plc's trading unit has joined its Mariner South project to transport propane and butane to an export hub in the U.S Gulf Coast, joining a trend of shipping the fuel abroad.

The project will take liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) from a storage complex run by Lone Star in Mont Belvieu, Texas, via Sunoco's existing pipeline to its terminal in Nederland, Texas, which has round-the-clock access to vessels in the Gulf Coast.

Read the article here.

NPGA Welcomes Energy Industry Expert Jeff Petrash

Washington, DC (March 22, 2013) – The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is pleased to announce that Jeff Petrash has joined the association as Vice President and General Counsel.  An energy policy expert, Petrash will also serve as one of NPGA's senior advocates on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies.

“Jeff's extensive knowledge of federal and state regulation of the energy industry and his background in natural gas policy and legislation are an ideal fit for the propane industry as we focus on getting policies in place that will facilitate greater adoption of propane in applications ranging from home heating to fueling fleets," said Rick Roldan, NPGA's President & CEO.  "Additionally, he is one of the foremost experts on federal full-fuel cycle policy - a key issue for the propane industry,” Roldan continued.

The propane industry is rapidly growing due to increased supply from natural gas shale production.  “70 percent of total U.S. propane supply comes from natural gas liquids, and the industry is fervently working with policy makers to establish favorable parity with natural gas in public policy.  Jeff’s expertise in this area will tremendously benefit NPGA’s members,” said Ray Murray, NPGA’s Chairman.  Between 2005 and 2011, the amount of propane produced in the U.S. increased nearly 10 percent.  Supply is expected to continue growing with increases in shale gas and shale oil production.

For more than a decade, Petrash was Senior Managing Counsel at the American Gas Association (AGA).  Previously, he was a partner in a law firm in Washington where he specialized in energy regulation and litigation. He received his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the University of Michigan and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.