February 2023 Texas Propane magazine

Legacy Energy Consulting has over 30 years of direct industry experience and proven results with SEVEN completed sales in 2022.

We look forward to your call and a confidential conversation. Please visit our website to view our services and success stories.

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-Scott Steele Oroville CA

6 TURNING PLASTIC WASTE INTO PROPANE Scientists at MIT produce propane from chemical recycling of PE and PP plastics

14 GREEN YOUR FLEET

$34 million available from TCEQ for propane medium to heavy duty vehicles. Apply now; buy by 2025.

16 PROCOT BY THE NUMBERS

Reviewing all the programs, projects and campaigns from 2022.

18 GAS STOVES INDOOR AIR QUALITY TALKING POINTS

20 PROPANE PLAYS ENVIRONMENTAL ROLE IN NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION

22 12 TIPS FOR DRIVING AT DAWN AND DUSK

Sunrise and sunset are two of the most dangerous times to be behind the wheel.

When

Highlights from Headquarters

Bill Van Hoy

If you haven’t renewed your TPGA membership, we encourage you to now. You don’t want to miss out on the many valuable benefits for your business, especially since 2023 is a legislative year and the session is well underway. TPGA members stay informed about advocacy issues that could affect our industry. Have your voice heard! If you have any questions about your membership, please contact me at the office.

This month’s feature story brings to light a recent study by MIT on lab produced propane in chemical recycling of PP and PE plastics. Major advances are being made for more renewable propane in the future, sourced from used cooking oil and other waste products.

Also, in this issue we show you how to capitalize on the new construction market. Propane can help builders achieve sustainability goals, meet abovecode standards, and improve comfort for their most demanding customers. It is a great opportunity for propane professionals to educate architects, developers, builders, HVAC contractors and plumbers about the environmental benefits of building with propane.

Don’t miss out of the millions of dollars available from TCEQ for propane medium and heavy-duty vehicles. The deadline to reserve funds is March 31, 2023. The article starting on page 14 gives you the information you need to apply.

Watch for information coming out on upcoming TPGA board meetings and for the 2023 Crossroads Propane Expo & Conference in August.

TPGA staff

Bill Van Hoy ................. bvanhoy@txpropane.com

Executive Director

Jackie Mason...................jmason@txpropane.com

Education & Marketing

Regulatory & Legislative Affairs

Debbie Simpson......... dsimpson@txpropane.com

Executive Assistant

Membership Meeting Planner

Publication Coordinator

Julie Novinger...........accountant@txpropane.com

Bookkeeper

Propane Service Corporation

Debbie Simpson..sales@propaneservicecorp.com 800-392-0023

Publisher

Kim Scheberle ............. kscheberle@austin.rr.com

Account Manager/Managing Editor

Sail House Publishing 512-346-0892

Joanne Pantaze ................. jpantaze@zochnet.com

Advertising Sales 512-273-2639

Kiki Pantaze ....................kpantaze@zochnet.com

Art Director 512-924-7566

TPGA Executive

2023-2024 TPGA Board of Directors

President: Allen Wells, Wells Propane, 281-332-2630

President Elect: Larry Baty, Cadenhead Servis Gas, 800-722-8654

Secretary: Harris Baker, HBH Systems, 512-587-8347

Treasurer/Finance Chair: Jeremy Gentile, Hill Butane, 409-296-2001

District 1 Director: David Collett, Gas and Supply, 903-780-2488

District 1 Alternate: Open

District 2 Director: Matt Brock, McAdams Propane, 936-598-7444

District 2 Alternate: Open

District 3 Director: Open

District 3 Alternate: Open

District 4 Director: Danny Meyers, Bellville Butane 979-865-2698

District 4 Alternate: Matt Peterson, Buster Brown Propane, 281-689-3946

District 5 Director: Ryan Tudyk, Howdy Propane Services, 361-771-1900

District 5 Alternate: Open

District 6 Director: Omar Garcia, Mr. G Propane, 956-581-1063

District 6 Alternate: Alex Hinojosa, Hino Gas Sales, 956-423-9178

District 7 Director: Sharon Seal, Bell Hydrogas, 210-533-7103

District 7 Alternate: Open

District 8 Director: Rodney Sladek, Fayetteville Propane, 979-836-7044

District 8 Alternate: Open

District 9 Director: Brad Quisenberry, Gene Harris Petroleum, 817-295-1091

District 9 Alternate: Larry Hearn, Yellow Rose Propane, 870-648-8241

District 10 Director: Josh Nowlin, McCraw Propane, 9003-583-7481

District 10 Alternate: Chad Gregg, Enderby Gas, 940-482-3225

District 11 Director: Steve Adams, Hardwick LPG, 254-647-3402

District 11 Alternate: Open

District 12 Director: Laci Jo Stone, Schneider Distributing, 800-901-9109

District 12 Alternate: Open

District 13 Director: Lane Worthington, WTG Fuels, 432-682-4349

District 13 Alternate: Casey King, WTG Fuels, 432-894-4240

District 14 Director: Terry Perez, Perez Propane, 512-318-9780

District 14 Alternate: Open

District 15 Director: Don Heinrich, Slaton Gas, 806-828-6501

District 15 Alternate: Open

District 16 Director: Mark Garrison, Fred Garrison Oil, 806-296-6353

District 16 Alternate: Open

Past President: Josh McAdams, McAdams Propane, 936-598-7444

Past President: Mark Peterson, Buster Brown Propane, 281-689-3946

Past President: Jack Walzel, Tri-Co Propane, 254-642-3885

Past President: John Walter, Schneider Distributing, 800-901-9109

Past President: Ben Wood, Northwest Propane, 972-247-6121

Vice President: Steve Adams, Hardwick LPG, 254-647-3402

Vice President: Jeremy Gentile, Hill Butane, 409-296-2001

Vice President: Matt Terry, Matador Gas, 210-560-5418

Sr. Vice President: Todd Dorris, Roadrunner Energy, 830-278-2915

Sr. Vice President: Bill Collins, Collins Propane, 972-442-1078

Sr. Vice President: Joe Green, Green’s Blue Flame Gas, 713-462-5414

Assoc. Supplier Service Director: Kirk McGarrah, Cox2M, 713-897-1740

Assoc. Supplier Service Alternate: Open

Assoc. Producer/Marketing Gas Director: Jimmie Grant, Martin Gas Sales, 713-851-6155

Assoc. Producer/Marketing Gas Alternate: Jim Fulton, 4J Energy, 281-728-8567

Assoc. Manufacturer/Distributor Director: Tracy Wells, Gas Equipment Co, 214-683-8018

Assoc. Manufacturer/Distributor Alternate: Joe Ezernack, Meeder Equipment, 903-877-9401

Assoc. At Large Director: John Becraft, Targa Resources, 817-416-7757

Assoc. At Large Alternate: Crystelle Markley, Superior Energy Systems, 512-944-4177

Nominating Chair: Ben Wood, Northwest Propane, 972-247-6121

NPGA Director: Chad Gray, Dixie LP Gas, 254-582-5359

SAVE THOUSANDS ON FUEL REDUCE HARMFUL EMISSIONS

GAIN CREDIBILITY BY USING YOUR OWN FUEL DEPENDABLE TECHNOLOGY

Turning Plastic Waste into Propane

Scientists at MIT produce propane from chemical recycling of PE and PP plastics

By Kimberly Scheberle

Propane has always been a part of a clean energy conversation. As a low-carbon fuel alternative, it won’t contaminate soil or groundwater because it’s non-toxic and non-poisonous. And propane’s environmentally friendly benefits don’t end there – propane produces 43% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using an equivalent amount of electricity generated from the grid. Major advances are being made today for more renewable propane and scientists have figured out how to turn plastic waste into propane.

A 2022 paper written by an MIT chemical engineering lab has introduced propane into a new environmentally friendly field—as the product of chemically recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plastics using cobalt-based catalysts.

While the science is new, having propane be part of a circular plastics recycling effort, and possibly serve as a source of propylene, lends credit to propane as a clean fuel.

About Plastic Recycling

Plastic waste is a huge problem globally. Of all the plastic waste generated, around 50% consists of simple plastics known as PP and PE (think milk jug, laundry detergent bottles, grocery bags, and six pack rings).

The Paper

Traditionally plastics have been recycled using a “mechanical recycling” process.

“It is where we take all of our mixed plastic waste, we sort it, and then we melt it down and reform it into some sort of new product,” said Julie E. Rorrer, a corresponding author on the study.

“One of the big disadvantages of mechanical recycling is that you’re not really creating a pristine new polymer, you’re lowering the quality of plastic as you melt it and reform it,” she said.

An alternative to this mechanical process is chemical recycling, mostly pyrolysis, which has been successful in taking certain mixed plastics and converting them into an oil-type or petroleum-type liquid.

Rorrer said that this typical chemical

Are you interested in reading the paper? For those chemistry minded, visit pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacsau.2c00402 or keyword search “Hydrogenolysis of Polyethylene and Polypropylene into Propane over Cobalt-Based Catalysts”.

process has some disadvantages. It has to be done at very high temperatures (400 to 900 degrees Celsius), which requires a lot of energy. And it’s pretty costly.

“It’s also not super selective,” she said. “You can imagine such harsh conditions. They break up the plastic, they break up the bonds, but you can’t exactly control where along the polymer or the plastic you are cutting the plastic apart. Molecularly speaking, polymers are chains of repeat units. So in order to break it back down into its building blocks, you would

have to selectively pick the bonds you are going to break. And this method of pyrolysis doesn’t really allow you to choose which bonds you are going to break.”

Introducing a Catalyst

The efforts at MIT, directed by Rorrer and Yuriy Román-Leshkov and led by first author Guido Zichittella, used a different chemical process in their study: hydrogenolysis. Hydrogenolysis uses hydrogen gas to break apart the bonds. The advantage of this method is that it can be done at significantly lower temperatures, 200 to 250 degrees Celsius. But it does require the addition of hydrogen.

There are several other groups studying this chemical process, and they have been successful in producing a range of liquid products, like diesel fuel or lubricant that are mixtures of products.

However, this group introduced a cobalt-based catalyst, which made the recycling output much cleaner.

“What is unique about this catalyst system is that we were able to develop a catalyst that can actually go in and break apart selectively the polymer into groups of three carbons, which is propane,” Rorrer said.

The world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% successfully recycled.

Massachuetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

“So instead of cleaving at random locations along this polymer chain, we were able to selectively go in and produce propane at really high yields.”

What Does This Mean?

So what can you do with this propane? There are multiple potential applications.

“What we get at the end is 80 percent propane gas,” Rorrer said. “You could separate the other products (methane and ethane) and have pure propane to use in normal settings, like as a fuel.”

“Or you could process it with one additional step to go back to the plastic monomer,” she continued. “You could take the propane and through the process of dehydrogenation you could make propylene, which is the starting material for new polypropylene plastics.”

Rorrer said one of their goals is thinking about ways to keep plastics out of landfills and out of the environment. “So being able to close the loop and turn this plastic into propane and then turn that back into plastic is kind of exciting to us. Because it’s a way of keeping all of that waste out of the environment. And re-

placing the typical plastics we might make with fossil reserves.”

But she is also excited about potentially using the application to turn waste plastics into fuel.

“It will be a long time before we’re able to get away from using hydrocarbon fuels for a lot of applications. So if we can make propane out of plastic waste instead of out of petroleum reserve and fossil fuels, then that is line with our sustainability goals.”

The Future?

Is this application scalable? Usable? Market ready? It will take some time to sort out all of those questions.

“We do everything on a very small scale, kind of proof of concept,” Rorrer said.

The team is currently collaborating with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which employs a team that is good at doing techno economic analysis. They are looking at how the science would look scaled up into a full facility and additionally running environmental analysis.

“We’re hoping to learn from this is it economical? Can it make money? What is

the bottleneck in the cost? Will it be good for the environment? Or will this be more trouble than it’s worth?” Rorrer said.

They are working toward a publication later this year.

As for Rorrer, who conceived of this project together with the Román lab while working on her post-doctoral fellowship at MIT, she is now a professor at the University of Washington with her own lab, which is looking at other plastics. The Román lab remains part of a collaborative consortium, Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE™). BOTTLE (bottle.org) is a U.S. Department of Energy multi-organization consortium focused on developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today's plastics and redesigning tomorrow's plastics to be recyclable-by-design.

Author Note: Special thanks to Andrew McHorse for his help in understanding the subject matter. Andrew will be graduating in May 2023 with a degree in chemistry and starting graduate school in the fall to study nuclear engineering.

Rorrer said one of their goals is thinking about ways to keep plastics out of landfills and out of the environment.

“So being able to close the loop and turn this plastic into propane and then turn that back into plastic is kind of exciting to us. Because it’s a way of keeping all of that waste out of the environment. And replacing the typical plastics we might make with fossil reserves.”

Our Plastic Problems

The world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% successfully recycled, according to a 2022 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD is an international organization that works to build better policies for better lives.

Some key findings from the OECD Report: Plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years, driven by growth in emerging markets. Global plastics production doubled from 2000 to 2019 to reach 460 million tons. Plastics account for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Global plastic waste generation more than doubled from 2000 to 2019 to 353 million tons. Nearly two-thirds of plastic waste comes from plastics with lifetimes of under five years, with 40% coming from packaging, 12% from consumer goods and 11% from clothing and textiles.

Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled (15% is collected for recycling but 40% of that is disposed of as residues). Another 19% is incinerated, 50% ends up in landfill and 22% evades waste management systems and goes into uncontrolled dumpsites, is burned in open pits or ends up in terrestrial or aquatic environments, especially in poorer countries.

In 2019, 6.1 million tons (Mt) of plastic waste leaked into aquatic environments and 1.7 Mt flowed into oceans. There is now an estimated 30 Mt of plastic waste in seas and oceans, and a further 109 Mt has accumulated in rivers. The build-up of plastics in rivers implies that leakage into the ocean will continue for decades to come, even if mismanaged plastic waste could be significantly reduced.

Federal Income Tax Credits & Incentives for Energy Efficiency For Homes, Commercial Properties & Builders

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that passed last year provided federal tax credits and deductions that help Americans make homes and buildings more energy efficient, which helps reduce energy costs while reducing demand as we transition to cleaner energy sources including propane. In this article, TPGA looks at the 2022 tax year and what’s new for the 2023 tax year moving forward.

Savings for Homeowners

General Overview of the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C). The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit allows for improvements such as installing energy efficient furnaces, water heaters, insulation, doors and windows, as well as home energy audits and more. All of these are covered by

the tax credits and can help families save money on their monthly energy bills for years to come. Labor costs can be incorporated into these calculations, to include onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of residential energy property upgrades like a propane appliance.

Propane water heaters, propane furnaces or hot water boilers must meet or exceed the highest efficiency tier (not including any advanced tier) established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) that is in effect as of the beginning of the year in which the property is placed in service.

As far as what is considered a qualified property, the credit extends to existing homes, including second homes. Rental properties are tricky, though. The IRS allows for a tenant of a rental property to claim the credit if they make improvements, but not the landlord. The factor in

this claim is the resident, who actually lives there makes the claim. Newly constructed homes do not qualify for this credit.

The Section 25C credit had expired at the end of 2021, but the IRA reintroduced the credit retroactively for qualifying property placed in service during tax year 2022. Through December 31, 2022, for the 2022 tax claim year, the energy efficient home improvement credit had a $500 lifetime credit.

For 2022, the residential energy property (10% of costs, including labor, up to $150 for each energy efficient appliance) includes propane water heaters, propane furnaces, and propane water heaters.

For 2023, the residential energy property (30% of costs, including labor, up to $600 for each energy efficient appliance) includes propane water heaters, propane furnaces, and propane boilers.

For 2023 and moving forward, there is no longer a lifetime limit for the credit; the limits for the credits are determined on a yearly basis. The energy efficient home improvement credit is increased to 30% for the 2023 tax year, with an annual credit of generally up to $1,200 per year.

The enhanced credit is allowed for qualifying property placed in service on or after January 1, 2023, and before December 31, 2032.

Appliance rebates. Rebates generally represent a reduction in the purchase price or cost of property, and the taxpayer must reduce the amount of the expenditure on which the taxpayer calculates the tax credit by the amount of the rebate. In general, rebates are nontaxable purchase price reductions.

Under the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit: a taxpayer may not carry the credit forward. Thus, if a taxpayer does not have sufficient tax liability to claim all or a portion of the credit in the year in which the related property for which the qualifying expenditure is placed in service, the unused amount of the credit may never be claimed.

Savings for Home Builders

Like many other tax credits, the Energy Efficient Home Credit (Section 45L) was created with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and permits eligible homebuilders and multifamily developers to claim a tax credit for each residential dwelling. IRA also extended the §45L Credit for homes sold or leased during 2022 and provides new requirements and higher benefits for units sold or leased between 2023-2032.

For 2022, the Energy Efficient Home Credit, residences leased or sold in 2022, single family homebuilders and multifamily developers the maximum credits per dwelling unit are $2,000 per unit for new energy efficient home and $1,000 per unit for manufactured homes.

For 2023, single family homes, it is as follows: $2,500 tax credit for single family homes certified as ENERGY STAR Single Family New Homes Program and $5,000 tax credit for single family homes certified as DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH).

For 2023, manufactured homes, it is $2,500 tax credit for manufactured homes certified as ENERGY STAR Manufactured Home National Program requirements and $5,000 tax credit for

manufactured homes certified as DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH).

For 2023 and moving forward, for multifamily homes constructed and certified as ENERGY STAR Single Family New Homes Program, there is $500 tax credit. If constructed with prevailing wage, the credit increases to $2,500; $1,000 tax credit for multifamily homes certified as DOE Zero Energy Ready Home and Zero Energy Ready Home constructed with prevailing wage, the credit increases to $5,000.

Savings for Commercial Building Owners

The commercial building deduction was made permanent under Section 179D by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and recently extended and expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

For the 2022 taxable year, energy efficient investments in new and existing buildings must reduce the total annual energy and power costs with respect to the interior lighting systems, heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water systems of the building by 25 percent and qualify for tax deductions up to $1.88 per square foot.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes numerous updates to the 179D deduction, which took effect on January 1, 2023. So commercial building owners, like some of your propane companies, can claim credits. For the 2023 taxable year, buildings that increase their energy efficiency by at least 25% will be able to claim this deduction, with bonuses for higher efficiency improvements. The Intuitiveaccountant.com reports “Deduction levels up to $5.00 per square foot — The qualified deduction range for projects meeting prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards will be between $2.50 and $5 per square foot, depending on the building’s energy efficiency level. For projects that do not meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards, the deduction level range will be between $0.50 and $1 per square foot.”

Sources: IRS FS-2022-40, December 2022. Frequently asked questions about energy efficient home improvements and residential clean energy property credits | Energystar.gov Tax Credit for Home Builders | Energystar.gov Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings | Residential Energy Tax Credits: Changes in 2023 Congressional Research Service IN12051.

Green Your Fleet: $34 Million Available from TCEQ for Propane Medium to Heavy Duty Vehicles Apply

Now. Buy By 2025

$34 million is available first come, first serve from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to replace MY 2007 or older operational gasoline and diesel vehicles with new low-emission dedicated pro-

pane vehicles under the Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program (TNGVGP). The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) is available to assist your propane company in applying for bobtails or your fleet customers in applying for school buses, box trucks

and other propane-powered vehicles.

The deadline to reserve your funds is March 31, 2023.

Upon approval from TCEQ, you have up until April 30, 2025, to purchase the

new dedicated propane medium duty to heavy duty vehicle, which can be anything from a three-quarter ton truck to bobtail to school bus.

Vehicle must operate at least one of these eligible counties in the Clean Transportation Zone 75% of the time. Anderson, Aransas, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chambers, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Denton, Dewitt, Duval, El Paso, Ellis, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Howard, Hunt, Hutchison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Johnson, Karnes, Kaufman, La Salle, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, Medina, McLennan, McMullen, Milam, Montgomery, Navarro, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Parker, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, San Patricio, Smith, Tarrant, Titus, Travis, Upshur, Victoria, Walker, Washington,  Webb, Wharton, Williamson, Wilson & Wise.

Grant amount.The older and higher emitting the old vehicle or bus and the higher the GVWR, the bigger the payout.

Example grants

Propane Bobtail

MY 2004-2006 diesel bobtail replaced by new propane bobtail $122,863

Type C School Bus (HDDBS)

MY 2004-2006 diesel school bus replaced by new propane school bus: $33,275

MY 2007 diesel school bus replaced by new propane school bus: $27,506

Important Requirements

• There cannot be a lapse in the old vehicle registration for more than 30 days in 2 years/24 months from the date of submission (copies of vehicle registration are required).

• Old vehicle or bus you are replacing must run. You will need a mechanic certify that is operational.

• GVWR range must be like for like. Basically, vehicles you are swapping out must be in the same weight class. Usually not a problem for a school bus.

• Replacement and destruction of the old vehicle or bus are required only after the grant is approved.

How to Apply

A sales quote will be required to reserve funds and apply. Model year applied for and model year purchased can change as long as the emissions are the same or better. Grant amount. The older and higher emitting the old vehicle or bus and the

higher the GVWR, the bigger the payout. TNGVGP Grant documents, including the Request for Grant Applications and Project Application, may be found on the TNGVGP webpage at https://www.tceq. texas.gov/airquality/terp/tngvgp.html.

Have questions, need a grant quote & grant writing assistance, contact ProCOT at (800)325-7427 or info@ propanecounciloftexas.org.

By the Numbers: 2022 A Year in Review

The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) had a very busy 2022 and implemented several different campaigns, programs, and projects that reached the general public, propane consumers, farmers, builders, plumbers, the HVAC industry, and emergency responders. Check out the results of 2022 programs, projects, and campaigns.

TEXAS PRESS CAMPAIGN

196M

In 2022, 2,607 media outlets & influencers picked up Propane Council of Texas' press releases. Each press release had a potential audience of 192-196M. Press releases included consumer education and safety messaging, a different topic each month.

18M

$1.3M

TEXASADVERTISING

With the help of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), ProCOT implemented a statewide internet, radio and TV advertising campaign from July 1 - September 30, 2022.

142K

UP TO AD IMPESSIONS

VEHICLE GRANTS

For 2022, an estimated $1,379,384 in state & federal grant dollars is in the process of being awarded for green propane vehicles & buses in Texas with ProCOT's assistance.

297K

BROCHURES MAILED

GOOGLE ADS

As a non-profit, the Council receives free monthly Google ads. In 2022, ProCOT received over $17,000 in free ads receiving over 142,000 impressions.

DUTY TO WARN SAFETY MAILING PROGRAM

Nearly 300,000 propane safety brochures were mailed to Texas propane customers during the 2022-2023 heating season.

130K

MAILED TO EACH QUARTER

OVER

106K

UP TO REACHED EACH ISSUE

PROPANELIVING

Each quarter, our propane consumer newsletter is sent to Texas propane consumers throughout the state through propane marketer subscriptions.

TEXAS FARM BUREAU

The Propane Council of Texas promoted propane ag equipment, ag equipment incentives and appliance rebates in the Texas Farm Bureau's popular Texas Agriculture publication.

60K CALENDARS DISTRIBUTED

BUILDER OUTREACH

Through a partnership with the Texas Association of Builders, ProCOT informed builders of construction incentives & rebates through a bi-annual newsletter.

3.7K BUILDERS REACHED EACH ISSUE

SAFETY CALENDARS

Each year, ProCOT produces and distributes a propane safety tip & recipe calendar to propane consumers through propane marketer partnerships.

APPLIANCE REBATES

The Council continued our propane appliance rebate program in 2022 for water heaters, furnaces and boilers.

3.2K CONTRACTORS REACHED EACH ISSUE

300 REBATES AWARDED & COUNTING FOR 2022 PURCHASES

37

DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS & ORGANIZATIONS TRAINED IN 2022

PLUMBER/HVAC OUTREACH

ProCOT mailed propane educational newsletters to every plumber and HVAC registered with the Railroad Commission to do propane service work.

PROPANE EMERGENCIES

Each year, the Propane Council of Texas hosts educational training for firefighters and propane industry on incident mitigation.

Gas Stoves Indoor Air Quality Talking Points

• GTI Energy finds electric ranges have a greater adverse impact than gas ranges.

Ultimately, further study is needed for all.

• The act of cooking itself impacts air quality, regardless of the energy that powers the stove.

• Proper ventilation using a hood and even opening a window is the best solution to maintaining indoor air quality.

• Engaging a qualified technician to install and perform regular service of the stove is essential to ensuring safe operation of the appliance.

• The safety of appliances is measured in ways other than their impact on indoor air quality. For instance, a 2020 study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that electric ranges cause household fires at a rate 2.6 times greater than gas ranges; civilian injuries at a rate 4.8 times higher; and civilian deaths at a rate 3.4 times higher.

Misleading stories about gas stoves and indoor air quality have dominated the news cycle lately. Here are a few talking points from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to consider when answering questions about the matter:

• The Environmental Protection Agency does not list gas stoves as a significant contributor to adverse air quality or health hazards.

• Some research studies find that gas stoves adversely impact indoor air quality, others find electric ranges have a greater adverse impact.

• The Stanford study’s findings are based on an extremely small sample size and unrealistic cooking conditions and doesn’t provide a clear picture of NOx emissions and particulate matter generated from electric cooking.

• Catalyst Environmental Solutions and The Lancet Respiratory Medicine are just a few examples of third-party researchers who have

reviewed these issues and determined little to no health impacts from the use of gas stoves.

• There are inherent risks to operating any appliance in the home whether powered by electricity, natural gas, or propane. Following common sense safety measures will ensure their safe use for all.

Propane Plays Environmental Role in New Home Construction

Homebuilders recognize homebuyers are looking to address climate concerns without sacrificing energy performance and cost. Propane can help builders achieve sustainability goals, meet abovecode standards, and improve comfort for even their most demanding customers. It’s an excellent opportunity for propane professionals to educate architects, developers, builders, HVAC contractors, and plumbers about the environmental benefits of building with our fuel.

More than ever, builders everywhere are focusing on energy reliability, cost, efficiency, and environmental impact as they plan new construction.

“For builders facing a challenging future, propane provides many advantages,” notes Bryan Cordill, PERC’s director of residential business development.

“As the supply of buildable lots shrinks, propane supply remains reliable and ready. It produces far less CO2 than electricity, and propane appliances can help home con-

struction professionals save their customers up to 50% on their home energy bills.”

Savvy homebuyers increasingly rely on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index to measure a home’s energy efficiency, anticipate energy bill costs, and identify where upgrades can create energy savings. Home sellers can likewise command a higher resale price with a low HERS Index Score. Using those HERS ratings, the goal of many newly built homes is to produce as much energy on-site as they consume - commonly referred to as Zero Net Energy (ZNE). While ZNE is generally considered an “above code” standard, some communities already require new homes and buildings to achieve these measures.

What would you say if your contractor customer wanted to talk about how to build a ZNE home? Cordill suggests:

Focus first on the building’s envelope. The overall goal for the home is to use less energy, so having a well-designed and

insulated structure, including the foundation, walls, and roof is key.

The typical residential home that meets today’s standard building code has a HERS Index of 100.

A home with a HERS Index of 50 or less is considered Net Zero Ready, meaning if you add, for instance, solar panels to the home, you could produce all the energy needed to power that home.

Help the builders understand how they can reduce energy consumption by eliminating as many of the high-amperage, 240-volt circuits in the home as possible. Using high-efficiency propane appliances for water heating, heating, and cooking can make that happen. Shedding load will reduce the size of a solar array and make panels more powerful.

Get the resources and training you need to educate homebuilders on propane’s proven benefit by exploring the Residential Construction page on  propane.com to find guides, tools, and incentives available.

12 Tips for Driving at Dawn and Dusk

Drive with your headlights on: This increases your visibility to other drivers. Avoid high beams to prevent blinding oncoming traffic.

Turn down your dash lights: Bright dash lights may make it easier to read gauges, but they also further detract from your eyes’ ability to see a darkened dusk, dawn or nighttime roadway.

Wear sunglasses judiciously: If the sun is directly in your eyes, put on sunglasses. Otherwise leave them off at dawn and dusk—they reduce the already limited light reaching your eyes at these hours.

Sunrise and sunset are two of the most dangerous times to be behind the wheel because the driver’s view and vision are compromised. It’s due to the fact that the light sky prevents a driver’s eyes from adjusting to the dark roadway, which makes it very challenging to see pedestrians, cyclists and even other vehicles.

In fact, experts say 90% of the information we need to drive a vehicle is gathered through the eyes.

Many fleet drivers have no choice about driving at dawn or dusk because it’s part of

the job. Here is some valuable advice from AAA and other experts about best practices for safe driving at sunrise and sunset: Polish your headlights: Regularly wiping away dirt will ensure clarity when you need it most.

Clean your windshield inside and outside: Dirt, dust and road grime on a windshield can refract light, creating glare. Glare can greatly reduce your ability to see the road at dawn and dusk when your eyes are struggling to cope with the lighting conditions.

Utilize your sun visor and lane markings: The visor can help to block out the sun. You can also use lane markings as a guide when sun glare is reducing visibility. Get back on track: If you’re blinded by oncoming traffic, look toward the left edge of the road and steer along its path until you can see clearly again.

Reduce your speed: This helps compensate for reduced visibility. Slowing your speed will allow more time and space to respond in an emergency.

Increase your following distance: The less light there is in the sky, the longer it takes drivers to identify and react to potential dangers. To stay safe, drop farther back from the car ahead of you.

Minimize distractions: Driving at dawn and dusk requires your full concentration. Don’t make it more challenging by fiddling with the radio or drinking a coffee while behind the wheel.

Be alert to drowsy driving: At dusk, our brains start to release melatonin, a light-sensitive hormone that causes sleepiness. If a car near you seems to be having trouble staying in its lane or maintaining its speed, the driver might be drowsy. What’s more, if you’re feeling drowsy behind the wheel, make frequent stops to get some fresh air and stretch your legs.

Choose routes that are not directly in the sun: Fleet drivers may not always have a choice, but if possible, avoid travelling east at dawn and west at dusk.

This article was written by Marianne Mathews and is courtesy of www.automotive-fleet.com.

Cavagna Forklift Cylinder Valves and Equipment

Faster fill times

Double O-ring stem seal

The double o-ring stem seal design on Cavagna brass valves provides superior quality.

No repair parts needed since the Cavagna valves almost never fail.

Since 1937, GEC has been providing dependable equipment supported by knowledgeable people in the field, exceptional customer service on the phone and, in recent times, 24-hour access via our online web store.

GEC is a proud Distributor for the following equipment

Reducing Slips, Trips, and Falls Safety Meeting

Wear Appropriate Personal Proective Equipment (PPE)

Be aware of hazard issues and respond accordingly. If you often encounter slippery surfaces, make sure you wear shoes with slip-resistant soles.

If your locations necessitate work boots, keep your boots in good repair. Check them often to ensure your soles provide for adequate traction. Replace any footwear that is worn or tattered.

To prevent slips, trips, and falls in winter conditions, wear ice cleats. They easily stretch to fit over your shoes or boots and give you more traction on the ice and snow.

Discussion Topics

1. Why is it important to conduct a personal risk assessment for every job?

2. You have received an out-of-gas call from a customer. Upon arriving, you find that trash and other debris have not been cleared and you do not have safe entry. How do you respond?

Learning Activity

When you are focused on your work, you may miss issues that can pose potential hazards. However, a slip, trip, or fall could result in serious injury — one that may affect your ability to perform your job. By exercising precautions and staying aware of your environment and circumstances, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of such issues.

Perform a Personal Risk Assessment Every Time, At Every Job

Always perform a personal risk assessment for every job. This should take into account weather conditions, route and travel issues, and any special requirements of particular job sites. Examine your surroundings as soon as you arrive to know in advance if surfaces are wet or icy or if there are any other factors that could pose potential dangers.

Follow safe practices for entering and

exiting your vehicle, and avoid situations where you feel your safety may be compromised. Always use three points of contact.

Watch for Hazards

Watch for hazards on your path of travel. For propane drivers, these hazards are typically between the truck and the tank.

Toys, trash, or tree branches on a customer’s premises can cause problems, especially in the winter season. Be aware of hazards under snow that cannot be seen easily.

When you are at a commercial or construction site, be cognizant of trash, scrap materials, or uneven surfaces. Conduct a personal risk assessment and make sure your path is clear before you make the delivery.

Discuss any hazards that need to be cleared with the customer. If the customer is not at home during the delivery, contact your supervisor about how to proceed.

Create a job scenario that has several hazards and weather issues. Have participants identify these issues and discuss appropriate actions to take.

Source: Propane Personal Safety (PERC) IMPORTANT!

Document all safety meetings.

Inside the Industry

Annual LPG Charity Fund Mixer

National Propane Education & Training Conference

Propane professionals with an interest in industry-specific educational methods and resources are invited to join us Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Renaissance Orlando Airport for the 2023 National Propane Education & Training Conference.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in general and breakout sessions customized to fit your training needs.

and kick off with What's New at PERC, and offer track options for Industry Education, Business Implementation, and Learning Center Administration.

Conference registration is $99.

A discounted hotel room rate of $199/night is available until February 10, 2023, or until the block is sold out, whichever comes first.The Renaissance is located approximately 5 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Event Date:

Thursday February 2, 2023

Event Address: Patterson Park, 2205 Patterson Street - Houston, TX 77007

Event Starts at 4 p.m.

The LPG Charity Fund would like to invite everyone in the LPG industry from logistics to marketing, from IT to trading, from brokers to back-office support to attend an evening of complimentary appetizers, great drink specials and amazing raffle prizes to our annual mixer at Patterson Park in Houston!

The Annual LPG Charity Fund Afternoon Mixer has been organized to inform, educate and make everyone aware of the impact that the LPG industry has on the LPG Charity Fund’s mission, which is to assist members of the LPG and Gas Processing industry during times of catastrophic medical expenses and/or financial need.

Please RSVP to the event so that we may be able to host an informative and fun evening for all attending.

RSVP at https://lpgfund.com/

PEOPLE IN PROPANE

This year’s event will include safety and regulatory compliance

Learn more and register at https://propane.com/2023national-propane-education-trainingconference.

Texas Legislative Session Kicks Off

The Texas Legislature meets every two years for an action-packed 140 days. While the Texas Legislative Session did not officially start until January 10, 2023, legislators were able to start filing bills as early as November 14, 2022. Nine hundred bills were filed the first day of prefiling and the Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA) has flagged many during pre-filing and continues to flag many more now that the session has officially begun. Ten thousand bills are projected to be filed over the 2023 Texas Legislative session. TPGA will continue to keep association members up-to-date through our weekly TPGA Monday Morning Messenger on key bills that could affect your propane business.

The TPGA Monday Morning Messenger will include legislative updates, new Railroad Commission requirements and rule changes, other state and federal regulatory updates and guidance, waivers, compliance deadline reminders and more.

TPGA members: not getting the Messenger? Call 1-800-325-7427 to update your email or be added to Messenger email listserv.

Texas Students To Get Propane, Natural Gas School Buses

Texas students across Texas will be riding new ultra-low emission natural gas and propane vehicles in 2023. With help from state and federal grants, the following Texas school districts will be reducing harmful emissions by replacing their old diesels with clean propane and natural gas buses: Alvin, Barbers Hill, Boerne, Dickinson, Hays, Houston, Humble, Pasadena, Port Isabel and Roby ISDs. Several more districts are on waitlists.

These districts will be reducing their operating costs, as well. Although fuel costs have moderated since last spring, propane and natural gas are still a bargain compared to diesel.

Quality Steel Corporation has announced that Lynn Hardin, former vice president, sales and marketing, has been promoted to president. Congratulations, Lynn.

PERC Council Accepting Applications for Councilors

Are you interested in serving on the PERC Council? The PERC Selection Committee will be considering applications for open marketer and public member seats on the council, subject to possible reappointments. Only propane marketers are eligible to apply for the marketer seats.

Information about the PERC Selection Committee councilor duties and applications can be found on the NPGA website https://www.npga.org/about/perccouncil-applications/. Applicant interviews will take place in April at the 2023 Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo™ in Nashville.

Application deadline is March 1, 2023 at 5:00 pm. Contact Brett Alison Gold bgold@npga.org with any questions.

New Propane-Powered Trowel Unveiled at World of Concrete 2023

the director of off-road business development at PERC. “Contractors have been enjoying the benefits of propanepowered concrete trowels for years. This new Allen Engineering unit is the largest of its class and, being dual fuel, enables operation indoors and outdoors to meet the immediate needs of the job.”

The PSI 2.4-liter engine provides up to 67.1 hp and 125.2 ft.-lbs. of torque.

“This trowel is portable, versatile and environmentally friendly because it runs on propane,” said Calhoun. “This is great for the construction industry."

Allen Engineering's product line represents a complete system for concrete site prep, placing, finishing, and paving.

World of Concrete connects and educates buyers and sellers in the concrete and masonry construction industries. The show is attended by more than 60,000 industry professionals in all segments of the construction industry including contractors, concrete pumpers, dealers, distributors and producers.

For more information on propanepowered equipment for contractors, visit Propane.com/Construction.

• You will receive good old fashioned customer service.

• You will be educated about your policy coverages and shown where you might be vulnerable.

• You will receive multiple options for your insurance

Contractors looking for environmentally friendly, affordable equipment that operates indoors and out, are turning to new equipment using the reliable alternative energy with propane. Allen Engineering’s riding concrete trowel HDX615 is powered by Power Solutions International (PSI)’s 2.4-liter dual-fuel gasoline and propane engine. The concrete trowel was on display during World of Concrete 2023 in January in Las Vegas.

Backed by data and supported by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), the dual-powered engine offers a path to a clean energy solution without compromising on performance or range.

“This is an exciting development for contractors,” said Joe Calhoun,

Allen and Debra Wells

Wells Propane & TPGA/President

“We can’t say enough good things about Marshall Young Insurance. Rusty and his teammate Kalynn, along with the rest of the team at MYI, are extremely knowledgeable about the propane industry and consistently go above and beyond to assist with our insurance requirements. “

Isn’t it time to trust that your insurance works as hard as you do?

February

National

5-7

Spring

6-8

13th

San Diego, CA

7-10

NTEA

PROPANE with PURPOSE

EcoFlow Launches Dual Fuel Smart Generator

EcoFlow, an eco-friendly energy solutions company, launched the Smart Generator (Dual Fuel), a powerful generator that supports propane as a fuel source in addition to standard gas. With increased energy efficiency and fewer emissions, the Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) can produce up to 20kWh of electricity with propane, enough to supply an average family’s power needs for approximately five days during an emergency.

“The Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) is a demonstration of EcoFlow’s commitment to putting power in people’s hands and building an ecofriendly future,” said Bruce Wang, CEO at EcoFlow.

“It provides peace of mind during extended blackouts and, in doing so, it uses less fuel, produces fewer emissions and creates less noise.”

The addition of propane as a second fuel source option allows the Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) to provide users with flexibility during long-

lasting blackouts, making it the ideal backup power source for homes or RVs. Using propane stored in LPG tanks enables longer storage up to 12.5 hours and requires much less maintenance than using gas. Compared to gas, propane as a fuel source also consumes less energy per kilowatt-hour and produces lower levels of toxic gas emissions.

The Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) is compatible with the EcoFlow ecosystem. When charging the DELTA Pro or DELTA Max portable power stations or the Power Kits, the Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) creates fuel savings of up to 40%[iii] compared to other generators and power storage products. With greater efficiency, the Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) can fully recharge DELTA Pro in just 2.7 hours and DELTA Max in 1.5 hours.

The Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) creates a safe user experience through a variety of protection mechanisms and alert systems. To eliminate the risk to health caused by

carbon monoxide, a CO alert warns users if CO levels are high and will automatically shut off the generator before safe levels are exceeded. In addition, there is a fuel alert and an engine oil alert which will shine when the fuel or oil drop to low levels. The Smart Generator (Dual Fuel)’s temperature protection mechanism will also automatically cut the engine when its inner temperature is too low or too high, waiting to self-heat or cool down to protect its lifespan.

Get real-time monitoring and control via your smartphone or smart device. Once connected via Bluetooth or WiFi, the app opens up a whole world of possibilities. Set your battery level for auto-start, control DC output levels, remote start or stop your unit, and switch on Eco mode, all while getting a full suite of monitoring and alerts. Up close? Use the onboard LCD screen for all your vitals.

The EcoFlow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) is now available at https://us.ecoflow.com/.

EcoFlow was founded in 2017 with a mission to reinvent the way individuals and families access energy by providing reliable, accessible and renewable power solutions. Today, EcoFlow has operational headquarters in the United States, with more than 2 million users in over 100 markets worldwide.

Jenkins

— Chris Jenkins, Fireplace & Gas Services, A Blossom Company