LP/Gas articles from January 2005

LP/Gas archives from January 2005

The Supreme beef.(View Point)
January 1, 2005... The word propane was never mentioned, but a case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court last month could have huge repercussions on the future of our industry. At issue is a national marketing program for the beef industry that requires producers...

Issues survey.(In The Know)(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... We recently asked 190 retail propane marketers from all regions of the United States about the issues that are most important to them. Of those we surveyed, 33 responded. Here's what they had to say. In The Know is presented as a...

Propane master limited partnership comparison.(LP/Gas Stock Index)(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Ended (12/10/04) AmeriGas APU Sep $29.17 Energy Transfer * ETP Aug ...

Propane MLP price history.(LP/Gas Stock Index)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Historic price index Propane stock price history calculated by averaging unweighted prices for AmeriGas, Ferrellgas, Heritage, Inergy, Star Gas and Suburban master limited partnerships. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Sources: Public...

Weather watch.(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... Heating degree days by state Deviation Last 12 Deviation State November from norm months from norm Alabama 247 -111 2638 -216 Alaska ...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... * Jan. 30-Feb. 1 National Propane Gas Association board of directors meeting at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Amelia Island, FL. For details, contact Darlene Hawk at 202-466-7200. * Feb. 15 Tennessee Propane Gas Association winter general...

Certifiably well trained employees.(Safety First)
January 1, 2005... You are entering your busiest season and your employees are out driving trucks, filling and setting tanks, hooking up systems and performing gas and leak checks. Can you document that those employees in the field have been properly...

Effective leaders delegate.(Business Matters)
January 1, 2005... One of the main reasons retail propane companies stop growing is because their leaders have poor delegation skills. As a business grows, the limited amount of time a manager has will quickly be absorbed by executing various tasks until...

Hazmat transport rules still evolving.(Washington Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Transportation Security Administration has changed the rules for individuals applying for a hazardous materials endorsement for a commercial driver's license. Effective immediately, states can process the security threat assessment or...

Funding security.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Pipeline and highway safety have received a small slice of federal transportation security research funding made available after 2001 terrorist attacks. The Transportation Security Administration has spent most of the funds on aviation,...

Online help.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Research & Special Programs Administration)(hazmat incident reports)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Research & Special Programs Administration has developed a programming tool to help electronic submission of hazmat incident reports. Companies can also use the tool to check if their own formats comply with reporting requirements. See...

Fast lane.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) has introduced the Hybrid HOV Access Act, which would allow drivers of any propane-powered auto to use high occupancy vehicle lanes. The bill was referred to the Committee on Environment & Public Works.

Fuel of choice.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Research & Special Programs Reauthorization Act)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The 2003 American Community Survey reports that almost 62 million homes (57%) heat with gas. The average residential propane price increased 1.6 cents to 170.4 cents/gallon in November and 36.3 cents from a year earlier. Wholesale prices...

Gearing up: Japanese OEM partners with PERC to create bobtail-friendly, 260-horsepower propane engine.(Bobtail Engines)(original equipment manufacturer)(Propane Education & Research Council)
January 1, 2005... A push by Toyota's Hino Motors to earn more of the U.S. commercial delivery truck business should provide a turbocharged, 260-horsepower propane engine suitable for use in bobtails, buses, medium-duty delivery vehicles and other class 7...

Cozy combo: propane space/water heater planned for manufactured home market.(Space/Water Heaters)
January 1, 2005... Hoping to capitalize on its budding relationship with the manufactured housing industry, the propane industry is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy in a $1.3 million project to develop an affordable water heater that also warms and...

Bang for the buck: propane's national advertising campaign is costing big dollars without proof of yield.
January 1, 2005... Since 2001, Americans have been introduced to "the exceptional energy" from smiling babies, contented babysitters, stinky skunks, busy moms and the popular Energy Guys featured in advertisements on television, radio and print. Their...

NPGA: On-board records should be optional.(Washington, D.C.)(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration should not require truck drivers to install electronic on-board recorders to ensure compliance with hours-of-service regulations, according to the National Propane Gas Association. FMCSA has...

BBQ grills recalled for fire risk.(Mississauga, Ontario)(barbeque)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CFM Corp. is voluntarily recalling 12,500 five-burner Vermont Castings barbeque grills after problems were reported with the grills' burner tubes. The tubes might not fully fit into the gas valves, allowing the metal to flex and disconnect...

Energy bill to take priority in Senate, House less certain.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to focus its attention on oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a stripped-down version of last session's controversial energy bill. Committee...

New online system eases filing of hazmat reports.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A new online system offered by the Research and Special Programs Administration is designed to making it easier for large companies to electronically file hazardous materials incident reports. The online form captures data from companies...

Fingerprint check program faces delays, controversy.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Transportation Security Administration is offering guidance on its proposed fingerprint check program but the trucking industry is urging the government indefinitely delay the program because of potential problems. The TSA announced...

AmeriGas buys Maryland propane business.(Valley Forge, Pennsylvania)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AmeriGas Partners LP has completed its acquisition of Carroll Independent Fuel Co.'s propane business in Maryland. The deal adds more than 4,500 customers to AmeriGas's nearly 1.3 million customers in 46 states.

New homes, remodeling cited for strong 2004 grill sales.(Arlington, Virginia)
January 1, 2005... The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association announces that 14.5 million new grills--an increase of 2.5 percent over 2003 --were purchased this year. And the industry expects the number of grills shipped out to rise to 15 million in 2005. The...

My decision to retire.(Let's Talk)(Column)
January 1, 2005... After 43 years in the petroleum industry (37 with Blossman Gas), I decided to retire. It was a difficult decision to leave a job I truly loved. The decision has raised several common questions that I would like to share. What prompted...

Gas pains.(Let's Talk)
January 1, 2005... IT COOKS. IT GRILLS. IT HEATS. IT EVEN WEEDS THE GARDEN ... WHAT SHOULD WE CALL IT? "A HUSBAND" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Vented logs.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Martin Hearth & Heating is offering a new split pine vented log with burned out areas to resemble a real burning log. Available in 18-, 24- and 30-inch widths, the logs come in CSA or RADCO models and feature an ember bed burner that accents...

Vented inserts.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Martin Hearth & Heating introduces a new line of vented inserts designed for retrofit applications into an existing wood-burning fireplace. The line includes two sizes of direct vents and a b-vent in one size. Each offers a Natural Flame burner...

Gas furnaces.(Products)
January 1, 2005... International Comfort Products presents a new line of two-stage Tempstar SmartCoomfort IIS 80 gas furnaces with a quiet low-fire stage, simple installation and an RPJ III aluminized steel heat exchanger. The inducer motor, which was...

Personal gas monitor.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Crowcon Detection Instruments offers the new Gasman personal gas monitor for detecting oxygen and toxic and flammable gas. The unit weighs only3.7 to 4.6 ounces, depending on the type, but the company says it is extremely durable with high...

Facility monitoring system.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Mikron Infrared Inc. has designed a new DualVision 724 Remote Monitoring System combining visual and infrared cameras for simple and quick analysis. The system produces a composite infrared and visual image as well as separate images of...

Direct-vent fireplace.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Lexington Forge offers a direct-vent fireplace with a variety of decorative faces for multiple design opportunities. The fronts come in two styles--Lexington and Nantucket--and six finishes: black, textured black, vintage iron, brushed...

Trencher.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Ditch Witch has upgraded its 3700 trencher with the Ditch Witch RT40. The four-wheel-drive RT40 comes with a quiet, emissions-complaint Deutz engine. The operator station has an easy-to-read instrument panel, extra legroom, grab handles and a...

Mobile delivery data recording.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Propane Technologies is offering its Delivery Control for PocketPC. Billed as an affordable solution for mobile delivery data recording, the Delivery Control runs on standard PocketPC mobile devices. For more information, visit...

Hooklift handbook.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Steller Industries Inc. has completed its Fourth Edition of the Hooklift Specification Handbook for its hydraulic hooklift loaders. The handbook offers an extensive outline of application and installation information of the complete line of...

New Web site.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Control Instruments Corp. has updated its Web site with a new homepage that has been redesigned to more easily and efficiently access the rest of the Web site. The company's table of gases is also accessible over the Web. The table displays the...

Protective eyewear.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Gateway Safety Inc. is launching its Medalist protective eyewear for workplace safety. The company says the metal frames, which have sweeping curves and metal temples in three colors, offer high-end style without the traditionally high...

Vent-free fireboxes.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Monessen Hearth Systems introduces its MCUF36/MCUF42 Magnum and LCUF36 Lo-Rider vent-free fireboxes. The Magnum fireboxes are available in 36- and 42-inch widths with a choice of tavern brown fiber ceramic firebrick or herringbone refractory...