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.