LP/Gas articles from September 2001

LP/Gas archives from September 2001

Big risks if NPGA closes Lisle.(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The recommendation to close the National Propane Gas Association's headquarters in Lisle, Ill., and merge with its office in Washington D.C. comes fraught with risks that could cost the industry its most precious assets. In case you...

Propane supply and price volatility -- risk or opportunity?
September 1, 2001... Reaching a consensus on whether propane supply and volatility presents more of a business risk or opportunity would be an unrealistic expectation today, especially within the retail marketer segment. Most marketers recognize that their...

MAILBOX.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Impacting propane prices After a long period of stable pricing, natural gas prices rose to historic high levels in 2000. The increase in demand for natural gas this past winter was due primarily to a return to normal winter weather and...

JULY WEATHER WATCH.(Illustration)
September 1, 2001... JULY WEATHER WATCH Heating degree days by state State July Deviation Year- Deviation from norm to-Date from norm from July 1 ...

Energy plan promises lots of goodies.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The plan for a new national energy policy that passed the House before the August congressional recess provides a series of tax breaks, increased assistance for low-income households, mandates on government and grant programs. It combines the...

Tax breaks for auto fuel.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Senate spent the summer conducting hearings and its committees will probably take up energy legislation this fall. It did get some prodding to include tax benefits. Tax credits are the way to go to boost the use of propane as an auto...

More energy assistance.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Help is on the way for more households suffering from high energy bills. President George W. Bush signed a supplemental spending bill with $300 million in additional money this year for LIHEAP. It says that states with the most critical...

Hazmat transportation study.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Senate added a measure to the Department of Transportation bill requiring a study of hazards and risks of hazmat transportation. The study, due six months after enactment of the bill, would have to cover the adequacy of federal oversight,...

Gas pipeline damage.(Gas Technology Institute)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Gas Technology Institute will undertake a two-year research program on mechanical pipeline damage. The Research & Special Programs Administration awarded the cooperative agreement to study the cause of many accidents. GTI will...

Appliance energy data.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Appliance manufacturers won't have to change their energy consumption disclosures. The Federal Trade Commission ruled that makers of water heaters, furnaces, boilers, washing machines, pool heaters, etc.can continue with the same energy guide...

Engleman appointment.(Ellen Engleman as administrator of the Research & Special Programs Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee has approved Ellen Engleman as administrator of the Research & Special Programs Administration, but her nomination is being stalled in the Senate.

Hazmat comments sought.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... RSPA has extended the public comment period on hazmat loading, unloading and storage until Nov. 30 The federal agency is trying to clear up confusion about whether the hazmat regulations apply to particular operations and activities...

Garman also expressed skepticism.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Garman also expressed skepticism - though not total rejection - of a legislative proposal to increase WAP eligibility from 125 percent to 150 percent of the poverty level. "We are not certain that this change is needed, since states may,...

The administration also opposes a resolution before the committee vetoing.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The administration also opposes a resolution before the committee vetoing DoE's delay in implementing new standards for residential air conditioners and heat pumps. The Bush administration delayed enforcement of a rule that would change the...

Mary Ann Manoogian.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Mary Ann Manoogian, director of the New Hampshire Governor's Office of Energy & Community Services, testified that additional LIHEAP money is needed, as the number of households on the program jumped 18 percent last year in New Hampshire. "At...

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) introduced the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Acceleration Act of 2001, referred to the Science Committee. The bill would provide $200 million to the Department of Energy to provide grants to state and local...

Rep. James Hansen.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Rep. James Hansen (R-UT), chairman of the House Resources Committee, introduced the Energy Security Act, which would require federal agencies to complete a review within 18 months of how their rules and standards may be hindering development...

Rep. Harold Ford.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) introduced the Energy Efficiency & Assistance Act of 2001, referred to the committees on Energy & Commerce, Financial Services and Education & the Workforce. The bill would extend LIHEAP authorization through 2005,...

Ford's bill also contains a provision.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Ford's bill also contains a provision allowing consumers to check off a box on their energy bill donating money to non-profits to help pay energy bills of low-income households and provide weatherization and energy efficiency assistance.

Rep. Jerry Weller.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) introduced the Save America's Valuable Energy Resources Act of 2001, referred to the Ways & Means Committee. The bill would give homeowners and contractors a 20 percent tax credit up to $2,000/home for energy...

Rep. Lynn Woolsey.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduced the Comprehensive Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Act of 2001, referred to the committees on Science, Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means. The bill would provide tax credits to building contractors of...

Propane inventories reached a record in at the end of June.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Propane inventories reached a record in at the end of June with 11.9 million barrels added to reach a total of 56.4 million, the Energy Information Administration reports. Stockholders increased their collections almost 33 million.The...

The number of residential fires caused by the liquid fuels.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The number of residential fires caused by the liquid fuels has been steadily declining from 9,800 in 1980 to 3,500 in 1998. Liquid fuel fires caused at least 80 civilian deaths, 190 injuries and $24.1 million in damage to residences last...

The ergonomics issue isn't going away.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The ergonomics issue isn't going away. The Dept. of Labor is conducting three national public forums on ergonomics safety this summer. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao plans to announce the next step by September. She said that a new federal...

The AFL-CIO led a group of 50 organizations petitioning DoL.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The AFL-CIO led a group of 50 organizations petitioning DoL to issue a new rule. AFL-CIO complained that DoL has "no plans for protecting workers from ergonomic hazards - the biggest job safety problem. Each day no protections are in place,...

You can view "Standards for Pipeline & Liquefied Natural Gas Operator Submissions".(Office of Pipeline Safety)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... You can view "Standards for Pipeline & Liquefied Natural Gas Operator Submissions" and "Standards for the National Pipeline Mapping System National & State Repositories" on the Internet. The Office of Pipeline Safety just placed the maps on...

Arctic Blast : New Aux Sable plant ready to impact U.S. propane supply.(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Soon, Canada may be known for importing something other than cold weather and cold beer: propane. The approaching winter marks the first full heating season test for Aux Sable Liquid Products' new $365 million natural gas liquids...

Executive Committee votes to raise dues, close Lisle office.(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The National Propane Gas Association's executive committee is recommending that the association's Lisle, Ill. headquarters be closed and folded into its Washington, D.C. office. Additionally, the board is recommending a 10 percent...

Major propane vehicle provisions pass House.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an energy bill with about $1.5 billion in tax incentives and new grant programs that will directly benefit the propane industry. The "Securing America's Future Energy" (SAFE) Act of 2001,...

Propane not included in hours of service pilot program.(The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has decided not to exempt propane deliveries from its hours of service restrictions during the winter. FMCSA did launch a pilot program in which home heating oil deliveries would be exempt,...

Governor signs propane sales tax exemption bill.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The state of California no longer will tax the sale of propane delivered to a primary residence or an agricultural business for producing or harvesting agricultural products under a new bill the governor has signed into law. The bill,...

Inergy announces initial public offering.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Inergy, L.P., a retail and wholesale propane marketing and distribution firm based in Kansas City, Mo., has priced its initial public offering of 1.6 million common units at $22 per unit, for total gross proceedings of $35.2 million. The...

Lennox Hearth Products moves to larger facilities.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Lennox Hearth Products has moved from Fullerton, Calif., to larger facilities in Orange, Calif. The new building houses engineering and executive offices for the company. The new address is: 1110 W. Taft Ave., Orange, Calif., 92865. The...

Heritage prices public offering.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Heritage Propane Partners has priced a public offering of 2.5 million common units at a public offering price of $28 per unit. Salomon Smith Barney, A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., and Dain Rauscher Wessels, and First Union Securities are...

Star Gas expands heating oil business with acquisition.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Meenan Oil Inc. has joined the Star Gas fold. Star announced in early August that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Meenan Oil Inc. of Syosset, N.Y., for $120 million. The purchase was funded in part with the sale of 3.25...

Hicksgas acquires Watseka Bottle Gas.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Hicksgas Inc. has completed the purchase of Watseka Bottle Gas in Watseka, Ill. Terms of the purchase were not released. Customers and employees of the Watseka Bottle Gas were absorbed into the existing Hicksgas location in Watseka....

Court lets NPGA participate in pre-emption dispute.(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The National Propane Gas Association has been permitted to present its views in a lawsuit over the right for propane delivery trucks to travel through Nassau County, N.Y. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has...

Nevada LPG Gas board seeks safety inspector.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Nevada's LP Gas board is planning to hire an LPG safety inspector by Jan. 1. Applicants must have more than five years of experience in the LPG industry and be familiar with all industry codes, industry and fire training techniques, and...

Hidden Assets : Residential customers demanding bigger, unseen tank models.
September 1, 2001... To many affluent suburban residential consumers these days, bigger is better. The same customers who choose maximum sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and prefer to supersize their fast-food meals are ordering underground propane tanks that...

Hedging Your Bet : Weather derivatives ease financial sting of lackluster winter.
September 1, 2001... Savvy propane marketers for years have relied on derivatives to hedge their risk should the price of propane bottom out. But a couple of newer tools could compensate businesses if the heating season turns warmer than normal and they fail to...

Patio heater.(Vanguard Heating Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Vanguard Heating Products introduces its Easy Angle Patio Heater, a radiant heater that warms people and objects faster than traditional mushroom-style heaters. Its angled design allows the heater to be placed anywhere outdoors. A safety...

Hydraulic cooler.(Stac Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... STAC Inc. offers a new design of hydraulic coolers that uses the products being pumped to cool the hydraulic oil. This eliminates the need for any type of fan motor, which can be difficult to keep clean and costly to maintain. The 500P...

Vent-free fireplace.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... A new vent-free gas fireplace from Vanguard allows the user to light the pilot, adjust the flames and turn the unit off, all through the touch of a button on a wall switch or hand-held remote control. The unit includes a zero-clearance...

Gas logs.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Empire Comfort Systems' new Flame Art sculpted gas log set designed to provide continuous ambiance throughout the day and night, even when turned off. The company is targeting clients such as architects or interior designers, who want a...

Room heater.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Gas Fired Products Inc. introduces a new 9,500 Btu heater for use in bedrooms and other areas of the home. The new Corcho radiant plaque-style, vent-free gas room heaters come with a 10-year limited warranty. The heaters can be installed...

Forklift cylinder handler.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... H&H Sales Co. offers a new version of the Back Saver Forklift Cylinder Handler that allows a worker to securely carry three cylinders; the previous design only carried one. The design allows workers to align the tank with the forklift and...

Compliance resource.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... SETON Identification Products has created a Compliance Resource Center at www.seton.com to make timely regulatory information and products available at any time and at no charge. The Web site features the daily Federal Register, full...

Cylinder cleaner.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Viking Corp. offers a cleaning process for standard-sized propane gas cylinders in the form of the indexing rotary propane cylinder airless shot blaster. Model GC-48T removes rust, scale and coatings from propane gas cylinders with high...

Gas furnaces.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... International Comfort Products offers a new line of multi-position, compact furnaces in five new product groups. The Comfortmaker 90+ heaters can be installed in upflow, downflow, or either horizontal configuration without additional...

Space heaters.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Rinnai residential heating products, such as the Rinnai EnergySaver and the Silent Servant, have a seven-stage modulating valve that operates at very high efficiency and at low cost. The products have the ability to modulate both their...

Wireless telemetry system.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Harsco Gas & Fluid Control Group's Taylor-Wharton Industrial Gas Division introduces a new wireless telemetry system that monitors bulk cryogenic storage vessels. The Tank-TEL can be field-installed on any Taylor-Wharton bulk tank in...

Unitary heaters.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Roberts-Gordon announces its new VANTAGE line of unitary heaters to heat everything from customer service areas to shipping and receiving areas to wash bays. The heaters, which may be used with natural gas or propane, come in models that...

New construction heaters.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Flame Engineering introduces two, square-shaped new construction heaters. The AG-85 series offers 85,000 Btu, while the AG-215 Series is a 200,000 Btu heater. The square, galvanized design provides up to 27 percent more radiating surface...

Propane Marketers Association of Kansas.(Justin K. Holstin has been hired as the new executive vice president)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Justin K. Holstin has been hired as the new executive vice president of the Propane Marketers Association of Kansas. Holstin previously has interned with the Kansas Cooperative Council. He will oversee operations, programs and governmental...

Propane Resources.(executibr appointment)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Larry Oneal has joined Propane Resources as a marketing representative for the midwestern states. He will focus his efforts in Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Oneal served 20 years as executive vice president of the...

Suburban Propane.(executive appointments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Four men have been named regional manager of Suburban Propane. Larry Hanna, the former regional manager for Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, was moved to North Carolina. Jay Steele, a former regional business manager and customer...

Propane Marketers of Kansas.(elected new officers for the 2001-2002 year)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Members of the Propane Marketers Association of Kansas have elected new officers for the 2001-2002 year. Brad Thompson of Bridgman Oil in Hutchinson will serve as president, succeeding Stan Stark of Co-Ag in Oakley. Don Sutton of TST in...

New Jersey PGA.(New Jersey Propane Gas Association honors Arthur Benjamin)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The New Jersey Propane Gas Association has presented the Howard Card Safety Award to Arthur Benjamin of Sarasota, Fla. Benjamin, who has owned and operated Modern Gas Co. Inc. in Woodbine for more than 50 years, is the son of incoming...

Ancient Gassers.(elected Al Ruhl as general chairman )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Members of the Ancient Gassers elected Al Ruhl as general chairman to serve for the fiscal year that started July 1. Linda Blau Smith will serve as assistant general chairman; Mark Alexander will be secretary, Bob Plante will be...

NPGA founder Em Thomas.(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
September 1, 2001... The propane industry's eldest stateman, H. Emerson Thomas, died Aug. 24 at age 98. Thomas was one of the pioneers who, as an employee of Phillips Petroleum Co., guided the formation and growth of the U.S. propane industry. In 1931, he...

National Propane Gas Association.(Northwest Gas Co.'s Mike Gorham elected to second term as president)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Mike Gorham of Northwest Gas Co. in Grand Rapids, Minn., was elected to a second consecutive term as president of the National Propane Gas Association at the group's annual meeting June 11 in Boca Raton, Fla. Gorham was renominated when last...

CALENDAR.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... September 18-19 Propane Education and Research Council meeting in Washington, D.C. For details, call Cindy Patterson at 202.452-8975. September 18-20 West Virginia Propane Gas Association annual meeting at the Glade Springs...

LP/GAS STOCK INDEX.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Distri- Yield Ended (8/21/01) bution AmeriGas APU June $23.26 $2.20 9.5%...

Propane MLP Price History.(stock price history )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... B Historic price index Propane stock price history calculated by averaging un-weighted prices for AmeriGas, Cornerstone, Ferrellgas, Heritage, Star Gas and Suburban master limited partnerships. Sources: Public information and ...