LP/Gas articles from June 2005

LP/Gas archives from June 2005

Face time on the Hill.(National Propane Gas Association's conference at Capital Hill )
June 1, 2005... Three hundred propane industry representatives from 36 states got a front-row seat to the emergency evacuation of the White House and the Capitol May 10. Attendees of the inaugural Propane Days event were leisurely strolling to a Senate...

In the know.(survey of mothods used by propane retailers to collect outstanding balances )
June 1, 2005... We asked 500 retail propane marketers across the United States the following questions about receivables and collections. Of those polled, 51 responded. Here Is what retailers had to say: Outcomes: In general, retail propane marketers...

LP/Gas stock index.(Statistical table)
June 1, 2005... LP/GAS STOCK INDEX Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Distribution Ended (5/09/04) AmerlGas PU Mar. $31.09 ...

Heating degree days by state.(Table)
June 1, 2005... Heating degree days by state State April Deviation Last 12 Deviation from norm months from norm Alabama 167 16 2602 -252 Alaska ...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2005... * June 15-17 Nebraska and Iowa Trade Show & Convention at the Mid-America Center/Country Inn & Suites In Council Bluffs, IA. For details contact Deb Grooms at 515-564-1260 or dgrooms@iapropane.org. * June 15, 16 Ontario Propane Association...

Gas Check--The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.(SAFETY FIRST)(propane dealers role in performing Gas Check and preventing automobile accidents)
June 1, 2005... Today's Gas Check issues seem to parallel the classic spaghetti western "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Those of us who grew up in the 1960s remember that the three main characters were respectively good, bad and ugly. Back then, things...

Comparing returns over 20 years in retail propane.(BUSINESS MATTERS)(Column)
June 1, 2005... Ronald Reagan was beginning his second term in office as the president of the United States. The Berlin wall was still up. J.R. had not been shot in Dallas. Michael Jordan was not yet a household name, and Tandy made the best-selling personal...

2005 Energy Policy Act scaled down.(WASHINGTON REPORT)
June 1, 2005... Tax breaks and subsidies for propane are gone from the House energy plan this year. After three years of unsuccessful efforts to get major energy legislation enacted, the House this year passed a scaled-down Energy Policy Act of 2005. ...

Permit extension sought.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)
June 1, 2005... The Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration wants energy legislation to allow hazardous material shippers and carriers to get four-year permits to use new technologies that don't comply with regulations. Current law allows only...

Strapping table is wrong.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)
June 1, 2005... PHSMA alerted hazardous material pipeline operators about the need to validate accuracy of breakout tank strapping tables, since errors can cause danger. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety I Board of a 2003 accident...

OPS to change policies.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)
June 1, 2005... The Office of Pipeline Safety announced that it plans to change its policies after public comment and review to collect annual drug and alcohol test data on pipeline contractors to help determine the minimum annual percent rate for random...

Penalty increase requested.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)
June 1, 2005... PHMSA asked Congress to increase the maximum civil penalty for hazardous materials violations from $27,500 to $100,000.

Certification possible.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)
June 1, 2005... OPS is also examining ways it can assure adequate training and qualification of pipeline controllers. One possibility is certification.

The open road: RVs feed cylinder refill market as baby boomers take to the highways.(Cover story)
June 1, 2005... Propane's recreational vehicle segment is steadily growing, as aging baby boomers with disposable incomes are taking to the highways in well-appointed style. Because almost every self-contained motorhome or towable trailer camper comes...

Emotional exhaustion: when you have no energy left to give.
June 1, 2005... It's common these days to hear about someone suffering from exhaustion. Yet the standard medical reference book identifies no disease or illness called "exhaustion." So why are so many being treated for something that doesn't even exist? ...

Senator promotes alternative fuel vehicles.(WASHINGTON, DC)(Orrin Hatch)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is trying again to gain Congressional support for legislation that would attempt to reduce the United States' dependence on oil by making alternative fuels and advanced technologies profitable. Hatch introduced a...

Contamination shuts down Dixie Pipeline; marketers, shippers irked by poor communication.(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Frustrated propane marketers were still waiting for return to normal business a full month after contamination shut down the Dixie Pipeline in late April. The propane pipeline was first shut down for a week beginning April 19 when a...

CornerStone Propane changes name to Titan Propane.(FLORENCE, KENTUCKY)
June 1, 2005... CornerStone Propane, the nation's seventh largest retail propane marketer, has changed its name to Titan Propane and established new corporate headquarters in Florence, Ky. CornerStone, which was based in Watsonville, Calif., emerged from a...

Williams Partners plans to go public with NGL business.(Williams Partners LP)(natural gas liquids business)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Williams is planning an initial public offering of 5 million common units, representing limited partnership interests in Williams Partners LP, plus an option for the underwriters to buy up to 750,000 common units. The company filed a Form...

Grant designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... The Texas Railroad Commission has been awarded an additional $1 million for a grant program that helps reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions. Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams said the program has experienced an...

Supreme Court upholds U.S. beef-marketing campaign.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
June 1, 2005... The U.S. Supreme Court in May ruled the government was within its rights to force beef producers to pay for a multimillion-dollar "Beef: It's What's for Dinner" advertising campaign, even when individual cattle producers disagreed with the...

Judge throws out Washington, D.C. ban on hazardous materials transportation.(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... A federal appeals court ruled in May against a post-9/11 law in the District of Columbia that bans rail transportation of hazardous material in the nation's capital. The three-judge panel overturned a previous judgment and backed CSX...

Hours-of-service law unlikely, administrator says.(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Annette Sandberg said it is unlikely that her agency will be able to convince Congress to write driver hours-of-service regulations into law. The federal truck-safety agency had...

Lockout device.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2005... Apollo introduces an OSHA-compliant lockout device that is designed to protect workers from injury during the service and maintenance of actuator-controlled valves. Available in six different sizes, the Apollo lockout unit features top and...

Instrument management hub.(PRODUCTS)(introduced by Crowcon Detection Instruments' )(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Crowcon Detection Instruments' new CheckBox IMH (Instrument Management Hub) automates the calibration and bump testing of portable gas detectors. The station can test up to 10 Crowcon detectors at once, calibrating, bump testing and...

Test system.(PRODUCTS)(introduced by MSA Instrument Division)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... MSA Instrument Division announces that its MSA Galaxy Automated Test System for MSA portable gas detection instruments is now compatible with the Orion Multigas Detector. Including the existing Solaris and Sirius Multigas Detectors, this...

Bypass valve.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2005... Corken Inc., a unit of IDEX Corp., introduces a new two-inch bypass valve for bobtails, transport and stationary loading and unloading of LP gas. The ZV200 is a low-pressure, build-up bypass valve that is designed for applications...

Stationary pump.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Corken Inc., a unit of IDEX Corp., has a new four-inch stationary pump for transport or multiple bobtail loading of propane. The Z4500 is rated for 309 gpm (1.446 L/min) at 50 psid and 640 RPM and it has a minimum rating of 800 RPM. For...

Gas detector.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Detector Electronics introduces its new Det-Tronics DMC Series gas and flame controller that provides continuous indication and alarm control of up to 36 programmable channels of toxic and/or combustible gas detection. It can function...

Rooftop unit.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2005... Tempstar Heating and Cooling Products' 12 SEER Tempstar PGAD package gas/electric rooftop series now includes a stainless steel heat exchanger and enhanced warranty coverage. The heat exchanger comes with a 25--year limited warranty and a...

Titan Propane.(appointment of Bill Corbin)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Titan Propane--formerly known as CornerStone Propane--has named former Star Gas Propane president and chief operating officer Bill Corbin as its chief executive officer. He previously worked with Tropigas and Suburban Propane. Dave Riggan...

Star Gas.(resignation of Irik Sevin)(appointment of Joseph Cavanaugh and Daniel Donovan)(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Star Gas LP announces that its chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president, Irik Sevin, has resigned. Sevin will continue as a director of the general partner and serve as a paid consultant to the partnership and the general...

Equipment Controls.(appointment of Xavier Gonzalez and Lamar Jones )(Brief article)
June 1, 2005... Equipment Controls has appointed Xavier Gonzalez to manage the sales and service development for its Latin American region. Gonzalez previously worked for Daniel Industries, KF Industries and PCC Flow Products. He has also provided...

Propane Resources.(death of Dwain Willingham)(Obituary)
June 1, 2005... Dwain Willingham, founder of Kansas-based Propane Resources, died May 21 while attending the Midwest Propane Gas Convention & Trade Show in Indianapolis. Willingham, who was to speak at a seminar on how to grow your propane retail business, was...

Insurance and retail propane operations.(LET'S TALK)
June 1, 2005... It's no secret that propane businesses have faced a formidable challenge trying to secure affordable coverage the past three to four years. The insurance marketplace has been difficult--if not impossible--for just about all propane retailers...

Gas pains.(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CHOLESTEROL PILLS TEETH BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS PROPANE CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK