July Texas Propane magazine

TexasPropane Texas Propane July 2022

Volume 78 No. 7

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E T E X A S P R O PA N E G A S A S S O C I AT I O N

JuiceBox A Portable Propane Generator for the Future

Texas & National Propane Ad Campaigns Launch This Month 2023 Propane Safety Tip & Recipe Calendars: Order Yours Today!

EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program Details

SAVE THE DATE propane emergencies training SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2022

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

LEARN MORE AT WWW.PROPANECOUNCILOFTEXAS.ORG OR CALL (800)325-7427.

TexasPropane July 2022

8408 North IH 35 Austin, TX 78753 512-836-8620 or 800-325-7427 512-834-0758 fax E-mail: info@txpropane.com www.txpropane.com

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E T E X A S P R O PA N E G A S A S S O C I AT I O N

TPGA staff Bill Van Hoy Executive Director bvanhoy@txpropane.com Jackie Mason Education & Marketing Regulatory & Legislative Affairs jmason@txpropane.com Debbie Simpson Executive Assistant Membership Meeting Planner Publication Coordinator dsimpson@txpropane.com Propane Service Corporation

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

Publisher

Kim Scheberle Account Manager/Managing Editor Sail House Publishing 512-346-0892 kscheberle@austin.rr.com Joanne Pantaze Advertising Sales 512-273-2639 jpantaze@zochnet.com Kiki Pantaze Art Director 512-924-7566 kpantaze@zochnet.com

Features THE BIRTH OF JUICEBOX: A Portable Propane Generator for the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Texas & National Propane Ad Campaigns Launch This Month . . . . . . . 10 2023 Propane Safety Tip & Recipe Calendars: Order Yours Today! . . . . 12 EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Rural Schools & High Need Will Be Given Priority Protect Your Employees from the Heat Safety Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Traffic Safety Huddle: Intersections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 NOAA Predicts Above-Normal 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season . . . . . . 20 Ongoing La Niña, above-average Atlantic temperatures set the stage for busy season ahead Hourly Workers Say Benefits Are Just as Valuable as Compensation for Employee Retention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Departments Highlights from Headquarters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 TPGA Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 People in Propane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Inside the Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classified Advertising.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Index to Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Propane with Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Highlights from Headquarters

2022 CROSSROADS SPONSORS

National & Texas Ad Campaigns Launching Soon Bill Van Hoy TPGA Executive Director The 2022 Crossroads event is behind us, and we are looking forward to the fall for scheduling board meetings. Thanks to our generous sponsors who helped to make the Crossroads event a great success. Look for a recap of the event in the August issue of Texas Propane.

July’s issue has information about the ad campaigns that are launching this month nationally and locally (Texas). ProCOT will supplement the national TV ads with ads on YouTube, iHeartRadio and web advertising.

The EPA is currently accepting applications for its Clean School Bus Program to fund the replacement of diesel buses with

low-emissions alternatives. Turn to page 14 to learn more and get your school district to apply. August 19, 2022 is the deadline. Winners will be notified in October.

A lot of areas of Texas have been setting heat records lately, but remember there are still what are typically our hottest months ahead of us. Page 16 in this issue has important heat safety information for you and your employees as we settle into the long, hot summer.

RETURNING MEMBER Marketer Ferrellgas • Overland Park, KS

Golf Tournament Lunch Provided By

Beer & Wine Pavilion Tote Bags Lanyards

President’s Cocktails Refreshments at Expo

AFFINITY PARTNERS

LEnergy ONE ST R Group

2022-2023 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, 888-336-4474 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

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

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

Visit us online to see the full product line RCSGasGrills.com

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4/11/22 9:11 PM

THE BIRTH OF JUICEBOX: A Portable Propane Generator for the Future Kimberly Scheberle When you talk to Chuck Justus, you might think you’re talking to a propane evangelist. He tosses around sentences like “propane is the only resource that makes sense” and “there isn’t another fuel out there that is cleaner or more available” while talking about the development of JuiceBox, a propane-fueled portable generator that he designed and now sells through his company, Evergreen Mobile Power.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

July 2022 •

Texas Propane

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But Justus is not a propane guy. Or at least he doesn’t sell propane. He came to embrace propane in a circuitous manner.

In the Beginning

The beginning of Juice Box owes itself to water cooler talk back in 2011. Justus was working with a Caterpillar dealer, and he heard a lot grumbling from the engineers about new environmental regulations that were looming. They talked a lot about how the new emissions standards were going to negatively affect their business. Mostly they were talking about the diesel generators.

Justus let the conversations marinate. He came away with the idea that something better should be designed. And he would do it.

This first aha moment did not include propane. In fact, Justus embraced solar power as the answer to the emissions issues. He spent the next year and a half building a portable solar powered generator. That initial product measured 13 feet x 9 feet x 8 feet.

It cost him $50,000 and produced 7000 watts of electricity.

“Not a good ROI,” Justus said. “There were a bunch of us doing this work…we were all basically finding that [solar] just didn’t work with the portable generator application.”

Justus started looking for a new fuel. Diesel was what he was trying to replace. Gasoline was slightly cleaner. Natural gas was not really available for a portable function.

“There was really no other fuel out there that is cleaner or more available than propane.”

The Birth of JuiceBox

Justus converted his product to propane. It was around 2012, and Justus readily admits he had more questions than answers in those early days. Would his product pass safety standards? Who would do the approving? Who does one talk to? He was innovating in a vacuum and was looking for technical guidance.

His first attempt to engage the propane industry went poorly.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

He walked into his local propane marketer’s store (where he had been purchasing all the propane he’d been using with his prototype), and asked the marketer his opinion on his generator.

That initial marketer was decidedly not enthused with the product and said something to the effect of “If you think I’ll ever sell you a drop of propane for that thing, you’re crazy.”

Not the best start. But Justus continued to innovate. He eventually connected with an inspector through the Missouri Propane Gas Association. He drove the two hours to Jefferson City to meet for that first initial meeting.

“You’ve done it,” the inspector said. Justus finally had some purchase on getting his product to market.

Nuts and Bolts

The current iteration of the JuiceBox measures in at 50” long by 50” wide by 54” high, weighs 1,850 pounds with 64-gallon LPG on board fuel capacity. For most applications one generator is sufficient. But the JuiceBox was designed to be able to be linked together for larger loads. The control module is capable of paralleling up to 32 units together. It is also possible to link it with a larger generator for situations where a bigger demand is required part of the time, but that demand drops to a lower level that the JuiceBox can handle. For instance, a large event that has high demands during the day, but small overnight needs while there are no patrons. Other highlights include an optional water heating on demand system, its ease of use and its simple maintenance.

Practical Applications

Justus named five distinct markets that he is currently selling to.

The entertainment industry was the first industry to adopt use of the Juice Box. “They love it because it is saving them lots of money.” With diesel over $5 a gallon, and propane coming in at $2 a gallon (obviously this changes day by day), their money folks were all over the new equipment. This could be anything from remote sports broadcasting units to film shoots to golf tournaments and festivals.

Just this past year, the NFL utilized JuiceBox for a variety of on-site needs, including powering security check points, heating, and powering on-site Sunday night pre-game football shows. “Security check points need a power source that won’t fail, even in frigid temperatures,” said Joe Calhoun director of business development at the Propane Education & Research Council. “Propane offers the consistent reliability needed to keep these security check points running smoothly—regardless of weather or location—while also offering enhanced safety due to lower emissions,

reduced noise and limited cords.”

Emergency response teams are a good fit for the JuiceBox for obvious reasons. There have been several weather disasters where a JuiceBox unit has been brought it after a hurricane or tornado to provide vital lighting, charging, and cooking services.

The construction industry has been quick to embrace the new product. They are always looking for portable power, and in addition, need solutions for power when developments are in their infancy and don’t have infrastructure in place.

Ironically enough, the equipment rental industry, which has now embraced the JuiceBox, was a slow adopter. They were apprehensive at first and not comfortable with propane. The industry has now gotten on board.

The most unexpected user of the Juice Box has been the EV Market, which has been recently knocking on the door. “They were apprehensive at first, but they are finally on board,” Justus said.

Why the EV market? One example Justus provided was a fleet of EV buses. A bus runs out of charge and is stranded. Traditionally, the bus is towed to a charging station, which is time consuming on a variety of levels. With a JuiceBox, the fleet can dispatch the unit to the bus, charge the bus and get it back into the field much more quickly. The same can be said for any EV vehicle that runs out of charge. “It’s an eco-friendly solution for fleets.”

Texas Experience

Sean Caney, Douglass Distributing propane operations manager, has first-hand experience with the JuiceBox units.

His company purchased a unit in the fall of 2021. That first unit was intended for inhouse use, as an emergency back-up for their properties.

“We always have propane,” Caney said, adding having the unit was a great hedge against power outages.

But the unit kept being loaned out, for both philanthropic and commercial purposes. It was used by a builder in a subdivision that couldn’t build because the electrical infrastructure hadn’t been put it place yet. The company also loaned it out to a local company that caught fire and needed lighting to do emergency cleanup. Another time a transformer blew. Douglass used its unit to power the wireless connections for the county during the outage. Caney said the marketing it created was phenomenal. It sells itself.

Douglass has more recently

ordered 10 units. “We bought it for ourselves, and it was never here. … [These units] provide a great off-season opportunity,” Caney said.

He said that while it was scary at first (to try the new product), it has ended up being a great thing. The Douglass service techs report they are easy to maintain. Several of the new Douglass units will include the optional tankless water heater. These are good for food trailers and places where dish or hand washing might be needed.

New Opportunities

Justus says he hopes propane marketers see his product as an opportunity and provide the service he thinks JuiceBox customers will need. “[Our customers] won’t be looking for the cheapest fuel, they’ll be looking for the best service,” Justus said. “They will need dependable weekend service. They won’t mind paying a weekend surcharge as long as they can count on [you] to be a good partner.”

Justus thinks that if marketers make a commitment to this portable generator world, and are flexible with their different needs, the rewards will be a new market. “And I’m not talking about 100 gallons. I’m talking about 10,000 at one job site.”

Current Juice Box Specs

Dimensions – 50”L x 50”W x 54” H Weight – 1850 lbs Fuel Capacity On Board – 64 US Gal LPG only Fuel Consumption – 1 gph (10% load) to 3 gph (100% load) Engine Displacement – 1.0L Oil Capacity – 2.43 US qts Electrical – 20kW @ 120/208 3ph switchable to 120/240 single phase

Optional Features: Paralleling Equipment (electrically link up to 32 together) GPS Tracking Remote Monitoring On-Demand Water Heater 4-Point Lifting Natural Gas and LPG Operation On-Highway Trailer

July 2022 •

Texas Propane

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ProCOT Corner

Texas & National Propane Ad Campaigns Launch This Month

Several states, including Texas, have partnered with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to augment PERC’s national Propane Energy for Everyone advertising campaign again in 2022. The state and national campaigns are slated to run July 2022 through September 2022.

2022 National Campaign

PERC has chosen to utilize the mass reach of television to elevate brand awareness and to reinforce individual marketing efforts from each state association/state council. PERC’s target audience has a higher propensity to watch early morning news compared to the general population, so the national campaign will be showing commercials on local news stations in the morning and programming like CBS Mornings. PERC will also target stations like Fox News, CNN, HLN and other national news programming.

PERC’s target audience are avid NASCAR fans and watch it more regularly on TV compared to other sports including baseball, football and golf. Professional bull riding and fishing are also popular among the target audience.

Last year, the NASCAR Cup reached an average of millions of viewers during the 2021 season. As a result, PERC plans to place

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24 spots in NASCAR Cup and 19 spots in NASCAR Xfinity Series to 17.6MM.

2022 Texas Campaign

The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) will complement the campaign with video by using the largest video streaming platform in the U.S., YouTube, which is used by 81 percent of the U.S. adult population. There are 2.5 billion YouTube users and 1.5 billion hours are streamed daily.

YouTube “impressions” are based on guaranteed views. A guaranteed view is counted when the user either completes the ad (watches the ad in its entirety) or if they engage with the ad by clicking on one of the banners / URLs to go to the website to learn more about propane. The 30-second commercials will reach half a million of ProCOT’s target audience

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

while they enjoy content related to home energy, DIY and home improvement, and sustainable living.

Where someone from Texas might see ProCOT’s YouTube video ads are on: Home RenoVision DIY (2.2M subscribers); DIY Network (160K subscribers); HGTV (454K subscribers); Do It On A Dime (1.91M subscribers); This Old House (1.78M subscribers); Country Living (31.3K subscribers); or Better Home Ideas (862K subscribers).

iHeartRadio

In addition to TV, ProCOT will also leverage the growing popularity of digital radio. Nowadays, everyone has a radio in the palm of your hand with their smartphone. ProCOT plans to reach 3.7M through steaming radio ads on the popular iHeartRadio network.

ProCOT Corner In addition to local Texas iHeartRadio channels, the iHeartRadio brand is becoming more popular with the televised iHeart Music Awards & iHeart Country Music Festival and national syndicated popular morning shows like The Bobby Bones Show.

Web Advertising

The web banner advertising will again be useful to feature key propane attributes and drive traffic to the ProCOT website, where we further promote propane, as well as appliance rebates.

Examples of nationally recognized websites that you may see our ads on include: hgtv.com, foodnetwork.com, cnn.com, newsweek.com, accuweather.com, forbes. com, zillow.com, nbcsports.com, and local news websites like Texas TV news stations. Local Texas papers statewide like the Fort Worth Star Telegram will also host web banners.

Our web campaign will reach over 8 million Texans.

Overall, the total campaign will reach over 12.4 million Texans.

July 2022 •

Texas Propane

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YEAR ROUND SAFETY

ORDER DEADLINE August

4,

2022

Order the 2023 Propane Safety Tip & Recipe Calendars The monthly calendar not only gives company branding 12 months of the year with its customizable drop-down portion where companies can add their name, location information, phone number and website, but it is also a valuable safety tool.

6 months of propane safety

Monthly check gas gauge reminders

6 months of recipes & tips

Winter early fill reminders

Order online at www.propanecounciloftexas.org 12

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

800-325-7427

sales@propaneservicecorp.com

2023 CALENDAR ORDER FORM

ORDER DEADLINE August

4,

2022

DATE

ORDER INFORMATION NAME COMPANY PHONE NO EMAIL BILLING ADDRESS

ORDER DETAILS NUMBER # OF CALENDARS (order min is 100. No maximum) BLACK & WHITE IMPRINT

$0.85 PER CALENDAR

1 COLOR OR 2 COLOR IMPRINT

$1.65 PER CALENDAR

FULL COLOR LOGO

$1.86 PER CALENDAR

PLAIN CALENDAR ENVELOPES

$0.45 CENTS EACH

NUMBER # OF ENVELOPES

DELIVERY SHIPPING ADDRESS ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

EMAIL CALENDAR ORDERS TO

sales@propaneservicecorp.com ORDER ONLINE AT

www.procot.org

Feature

EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program Details: Rural Schools & High Need Will Be Given Priority

Texas leads the nation in propane school bus adoption and according to a recent report from the Railroad Commission of Texas, there are over 3,300 propane school buses registered with the Commission operated by over 70 school districts.

School districts like Cy-Fair ISD, Northside ISD, Prosper ISD, Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD, and Eanes ISD all operate propane school bus fleets.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently accepting applications for its Clean School Bus Program to fund the replacement of diesel school buses with low-emissions alternatives – like propane autogas – over the next five years. The $5 billion program is part of the federal Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. $500 million will be available for 2022, with half for propane and natural gas and the other half of the funds for electric school buses.

Schools district across the United States will be able to complete a very short application and apply for up to 25 school buses this rebate round by replacing 2010 or older diesel buses with MY 2021 or newer, cleaner buses like propane.

Rebate Amounts

• Rural or high-need districts $25,000$30,000 rebate per new propane bus • Non-priority districts $15,000$20,000 rebate per new propane bus.

• Rebate amount is based on size of the bus.

Rebates will be awarded based on a lottery system, but priority will be given

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to rural districts, low-income school districts, and tribal schools.

Schools can start applying now!

School districts just need to complete a very short & easy application by no later than August 19, 2022.

School districts can apply at https:// www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

All winners will be notified by October 2022. Districts have until April 2023 to submit their payment requests with purchase orders to the EPA.

Propane School Bus Marketing Resources. Go to https://propane.com/autogas-learning/school-transportation to download several resources for school districts on the benefits of propane school buses to their fleet.

For any grant questions or grant writing on this program or others?

Please contact the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) at (800)325-7427 or info@propanecounciloftexas.org.

Important Dates Activity

Date

EPA Clean School Bus Program accepting rebate applications

May 20– August 19, 2022

EPA reviews applications and begins the selection process.

September 2022

EPA notifies applicants of selection status and posts list of applicants and selectees online. Selectees can proceed with purchasing new buses.

October 2022

Selectees submit Payment Request Forms with purchase orders demonstrating that new buses have been ordered.

October 2022 – April 2023

Project period deadline for selectees to receive new buses, replace old buses, and submit Close Out Forms.

October 2024

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

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July 2022 •

Texas Propane

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Safety Talk

Protect your Employees from the Heat Safety Meeting Ways to Protect Yourself and Others Ease into Work. Nearly 3 out of 4 fatalities from heat illness happen during the first week of work.

100%

Outdoor and indoor heat exposure can be dangerous.

? ??

? ??

Slurred speech Seizures Loss of consciousness

Drink Cool Water Drink cool water even if you aren’t thirsty — at least 1 cup every 20 minutes.

Take Rest Breaks Take enough time to recover from heat given the temperature, humidity, and conditions.

Watch for any other signs of heat illness and act quickly. When in doubt, call 911.

If a worker experiences: Headache or nausea Weakness or dizziness Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin Elevated body temperature Thirst Decreased urine output

Abnormal thinking or behavior

Follow the 20% Rule. On the first day, work no more than 20% of the shift’s duration at full intensity in the heat. Increase the duration of time at full intensity by no more than 20% a day until workers are used to working in the heat.

20%

Prevent Heat Illness at Work

New and returning workers need to build tolerance to heat (acclimatize) and take frequent breaks.

First Aid for Heat Illness The following are signs of a medical emergency!

1

CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

2

COOL THE WORKER RIGHT AWAY WITH WATER OR ICE

3

STAY WITH THE WORKER UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

Take these actions: Give cool water to drink Remove unnecessary clothing Move to a cooler area Cool with water, ice, or a fan Do not leave alone Seek medical care

Find Shade or a Cool Area Take breaks in a designated shady or cool location.

Dress for the Heat Wear a hat and light-colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing if possible.

9-1-1

Watch Out for Each Other Monitor yourself and others for signs of heat illness.

If Wearing a Face Covering Change your face covering if it gets wet or soiled. Verbally check on others frequently.

In Texas, the summer heat has hit us early and hard. It is imperative that marketers are protecting employees who often find themselves working in the oppressive heat.

OSHA Tips

OSHA is setting up a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect employees from heat-related hazards and resulting injuries and illnesses in outdoor and indoor workplaces. This NEP expands on the agency’s ongoing heat-related illness prevention initiative and campaign by setting forth a targeted enforcement component and reiterating its compliance assistance and outreach efforts. This approach is intended to encourage early interventions by employers to prevent illnesses and deaths among workers during high heat conditions, such as working outdoors in a local area experiencing a heat wave, as announced by the National Weather Service.

Visit OSHA at www.osha.gov for more information.

It explains how to use the heat index to determine when extra precautions are needed at a worksite to protect workers from environmental contributions to heat-related illness. Workers performing strenuous activity, workers using heavy or

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non-breathable protective clothing, and workers who are new to an outdoor job need additional precautions beyond those warranted by heat index alone.

Workers new to outdoor jobs are generally most at risk for heat-related illnesses.

In almost half of the cases, the worker involved was on their first day of work and in 80% of the cases the worker involved had only been on the job for four or fewer days. That’s why it’s important to gradually increase the workload or allow more frequent breaks to help new workers and those returning to a job after time away

For more information: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627 www.osha.gov/heat Federal law entitles you to a safe workplace. You have the right to speak up about hazards without fear of retaliation. See www.osha.gov/workers for information about how to file a confidential complaint with OSHA and ask for an inspection.

OSHA 4135-06 2021

to build up a tolerance for hot conditions.

Make sure that workers understand the risks and are acclimatized.

Heat-Related Illness

There are several levels of severity when you are talking about heat related illness.

Of course, being aware and recognizing the less serious, earlier warning signs is best for everyone involved!

Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is skin irritation caused by sweat that does not evaporate from the skin. Heat rash is the most common problem in hot work

OSHA Case: Delivery worker A 50-year-old man had been working at a delivery company for six years. His job involved driving a vehicle and walking in residential neighborhoods to deliver mail and packages. In late May, the weather suddenly became hotter. On the second day of hot weather, this worker developed heat cramps and heat exhaustion. He was hospitalized for two days with acute kidney failure due to dehydration. His condition improved after intravenous fluid replacement.

Lessons to learn from this case: Even experienced workers are vulnerable to heat-related illness when the weather becomes warmer. Throughout the first week of warmer conditions, treat all workers as if they need to adapt to working in the heat. Take extra precautions to protect them from heat-related illnesses.

Make sure workers drink enough fluids during warm or hot weather.

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Safety Talk environments.

Heat cramps are caused by the loss of body salts and fluid during sweating. Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps.

Tired muscles—those used for performing the work—are usually the ones most affected by cramps. Cramps may occur during or after working hours.

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to loss of water and salt from heavy sweating. Signs include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, and heavy sweating.

Heat stroke, the most serious form of heat-related illness, happens when the body becomes unable to regulate its core temperature. Sweating stops and the body can no longer rid itself of excess heat. Signs include confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that may result in death! Call 911 immediately.

Safety Tips

Additional safety tips are offered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) under the “Natural Disasters and Severe Weather” tab. Here a few to share and plan around with your employees who are working in the field.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids; drink about 16 ounces before starting and 5 to 7 ounces every 15 or 20 minutes.

Avoid dehydrating liquids. Alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks can hurt more than help.

Wear protective clothing. Lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing helps protect against heat. Change clothing if it gets completely saturated.

Pace yourself. Slow down and work at an even pace. Know your own limits and ability to work safely in heat.

Schedule frequent breaks. Take time for rest periods and water breaks in a shaded or air conditioned area.

Use a damp rag. Wipe your face or put it around your neck.

Avoid getting sunburn. Use sunscreen and wear a hat if working outside.

Be alert to signs of heat-related illness. Know what to look for and check on other workers that might be at high risk.

Avoid direct sun. Find shade or block out the sun if possible.

Eat smaller meals. Eat fruits high in fiber and natural juice. Avoid high protein foods.

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3) Most tell us they have no idea what companies insure their industry and are surprised to learn there are multiple options available.

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July 2022 •

Texas Propane

17

Fleet Safety

Traffic Safety Huddle: Intersections when you get into the intersection. Look for pedestrians, emergency vehicles, drivers not paying attention, and impaired drivers who may be driving the wrong way!

• T Intersection - The major road, of the top of the “T” of the intersection has the right-of-way, but watch for any vehicles as you enter traffic.

• Y Intersection - When you have three roads meet, you may have a lot of traffic crossing lanes and merging. Slow down, scan and give right-of-way to those drivers who are not crossing lanes of traffic.

• 4-Way intersection - Four lanes of traffic meet. The first driver to stop gets to go first. If you tie with someone, it is safest to yield to the driver on your right.

Be careful though, as not everyone follows these guidelines.

LENGTH: 2–5 minutes TO PREPARE: Read the background information.

BACKGROUND

When you talk to your employees and drivers about intersections, make sure they understand that failure to yield to vehicles that have the right-of-way causes almost every intersection collision.

Nationally, one study from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration concluded that collisions at intersections are more frequent than collisions on highways, but account for about 50% of economic costs.

Intersections come in a wide variety, each with their own challenges and learning curves. But in every situation involving an intersection, it’s important to remember right-of-way is something given, not taken.

DISCUSSION

Have you ever tried to shuffle a deck of cards, only to have the cards jam up, get stuck, or go flying across the table? Sometimes those playing cards don’t take turns being shuffled together, one at a time.

When driving involves intersections, it’s not always simple to know whose turn it is, and what the other driver is thinking.

Think about it, what driving does not in-

18

clude an intersection?

What should you do, as a driver sharing the road with others, to avoid a collision at an intersection or stoplight?

• Use directional signals at least 100 feet before turning or merging.

• When the light has been green for a while, slow down as you approach and get ready to stop in case the light changes.

• When the light is yellow, you need to clear the intersection if you’re driving through it. Avoid using the yellow light as a time to accelerate to get through the light before it turns red.

• When the light is red and you are stopped and it turns green, check to see that all traffic has stopped before proceeding. Look left, then right, then left again before proceeding.

What conditions allow for turning right on red?

• When there is not a sign that says “no turn on red.”

• Your vehicle has come to a complete stop, and you are in the extreme right lane.

• Traffic is clear, and there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk.

How can you drive safely through various types of intersections?

• 2-way Intersection - Check both ways

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

OPTIONAL DISCUSSION And Around We Go

Roundabouts are common in other countries, and are starting to pop up more here in the US. They occur when multiple streets meet, and have been designed as a circular lane of traffic so that the streets don’t have to cross over each other. What should you be careful to do when you are driving through a roundabout?

• Slow down as you approach the roundabout.

• Prepare to and do yield to those vehicles already in the roundabout.

• Do not stop or pass other vehicles.

Take your turn.

• If you miss your turn-off, go around the circle and try again.

SUMMARY

• Like a deck of cards, each vehicle driver must take his or her turn when sharing the road, and intersections are an important place to take turns.

• Right of way is something offered, not taken. Being courteous and paying attention while driving through intersections is key in avoiding crashes.

Information is compliments of the National Safety Council in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation.

For more information and traffic huddles, visit txdrivingconcern.org.

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NOAA Predicts Above-Normal 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Ongoing La Niña, above-average Atlantic temperatures set the stage for busy season ahead Forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, are predicting above-average hurricane activity this year — which would make it the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season. NOAA’s outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which extends from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 65% chance of an abovenormal season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

For the 2022 hurricane season, NOAA is forecasting a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence.

“Early preparation and understanding your risk is key to being hurricane resilient and climate-ready,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “Throughout the hurricane season, NOAA experts will work around-the-clock to provide early and accurate forecasts and warnings that communities in the path of storms can depend on to stay informed.”

The increased activity anticipated this hurricane season is attributed to several climate factors, including the ongoing La Niña that is likely to persist throughout the hurricane season, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds and an enhanced west African monsoon. An enhanced west African monsoon supports stronger African Easterly Waves, which seed many of the strongest and longest lived hurricanes during most seasons. The way in which climate change impacts the strength and frequency of tropical cyclones is a continuous area of study for NOAA scientists.

“As we reflect on another potentially busy hurricane season, past storms — such as Superstorm Sandy, which devastated the New York metro area ten years ago — remind us that the impact of one storm can be felt for years,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “Since Sandy, NOAA’s forecasting accuracy has continued to improve, allowing us to better predict the impacts of major hurricanes to lives and livelihoods.

“Hurricane Ida spanned nine states, demonstrating that anyone can be in the direct path of a hurricane and in danger from the remnants of a storm system,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “It’s important for everyone to understand their risk and take proactive steps to get ready now by visiting Ready.gov and Listo.gov for preparedness tips, and by downloading the FEMA App to make sure you are receiving emer-

20

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

The alphabetical list of the 2022 Atlantic tropical cyclone names as selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 and runs through November 30. (NOAA)

Hurricane season probability and numbers of named storms predicted from NOAA’s 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook.

(NOAA)

gency alerts in real-time.”

NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity and is not a landfall forecast. In addition to the Atlantic seasonal outlook, NOAA has also issued seasonal hurricane outlooks for the eastern Pacific and central Pacific hurricane basins. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2022 Atlantic seasonal outlook in early August, just prior to the historical peak of the season.

July 2022 •

Texas Propane

21

Inside the Industry

People in Propane Thomas Cadenhead, 87, passed away on April 4, 2022. He and his father, T.W. Cadenhead, founded Servis Gas and the original Quality Steel, in Lubbock. He owned Santa Fe Propane in Arizona and New Mexico from 1989-2019. He also owned Gas-Tex Energy in Texas from 1978 until his death. Thomas dedicated more than 20 years at Trinity Industries as the vice president of the LPG division. From 1983 to 1988 he was vice president of Gas Supply Inc. in Minneapolis. He is survived by his wife, Diane, children John Cadenhead and Cindy Jones, four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Hobson (Sonny) Lester Parker, Jr. passed away on May 21, 2022, in San Antonio at the age of 95. After graduating from Nixon High School, he married and went into the Army during World War II. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Nixon. The family moved to Alice, and Hobson went to work for Valley Steel, working in the oil field business. In 1955 he moved back to Nixon, returning to ranching and delivering gas and diesel. In his later years he delivered propane. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.

Donald Ipes of Splendora, TX, passed away on May 22 at his home, and his wife, Charlie Ipes, passed away from a stroke just two hours later. Donald received degrees is both mechanical and civil engineering and helped design the Huey Helicopter, which is still in use today by the military. He would later go on to be an entrepreneur. He and wife Charlie owned and operated the first stump grinder business in the state of Texas.

They also owned and operated a successful propane business that is still in business to this day. Donald served as mayor of Splendora for six years. His family was his true love.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.

Sharon Lee Hunter, 76, passed away at her home in Gonzales, TX, in May of last year. During her long and busy lifetime, Sharon wore many hats: as a CPA assistant, housekeeping at a motel, and finally being owner, driver, service person and whatever needed to be done while owning Hall Propane in Port O’Connor with her husband, Ray Hall. They later moved to Port Lavaca from Port O’Connor. She loved flowers and tended to them and fed deer, ducks and birds of all kinds. She was a true conservationist, a philanthropist and never met a stranger.

Dolly Olden, 91, of College Station, passed away on June 2, 2022. She was a true country girl at heart, as she loved raking hay and tending to the cattle on the ranch. She worked at Navasota LP Gas and then for Bryan ISD Transportation. For many years she worked both auction barns in Navasota.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made in her name to Still Creek Ranch, 6055 Hearne Road, Bryan, TX 77808 or www.stillcreekranch.org. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Michelle Bison Maggi, Vice President of Law – AmeriGas, is the first woman to chair of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). AmeriGas Propane (“AmeriGas”), the nation’s largest retail propane marketer, is a subsidiary of UGI Corporation. Ms. Bison Maggi currently serves as AmeriGas’ VP of Law advising the company on legal, risk management, industry and political matters. “I am honored to have been selected as Chair of NPGA,” said Ms. Bison Maggi. “I look forward to working closely with the NPGA leadership team and our 2,400 members to expand NPGA’s advocacy, education and diversity and inclusion efforts. The propane industry, powered by more than 57,000 American workers, is a critical part of our nation’s economy. We can use our collective voice to convey to the public important messages about the benefits of propane – and to advocate for how propane companies make positive contributions to the environment.”

Monthly Autogas Grant Update

2022 is replete with available grants.

Funding opportunities are available on the state and federal level. Grants are available for light duty trucks, school buses, transit buses, and fueling stations. Grants open

22

throughout the year, and every month in Texas Propane magazine in 2022 we will be sharing grant availability as programs open and close.

Available Grants (at time of printing): • TCEQ Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) OPEN Deadline July 12, 2022

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

• US EPA National Clean School Bus OPEN Deadline August 19, 2022 • TCEQ Seaport and Rail Yard Areas Emissions Reduction Program OPEN Deadline November 22, 2022 • TCEQ Statewide Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase Program OPEN Deadline January 7, 2023 Have questions on grants but do not know what grant is right for you or your fleet customers? Contact the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) at info@propanecounciloftexas. org or (800)325-7427.

TCEQ Accepting Applications

For Environmental Excellence Awards

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is now accepting applications for the 2023 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, the state’s most prestigious environmental award. The deadline to apply is September 23, 2022.

The 10 categories of environmental excellence are: Agriculture, Civic/Community, Education, Environmental Educator of the Year, Individual, Innovative Operations/Management, Pollution Prevention, Technical/Technology, Water Conservation, and Youth.

“It is a privilege to recognize these Texans for the creative and innovative efforts being made on behalf of our state’s environment,” said TCEQ Chairman Jon Niermann.

To apply or to nominate an environmental effort that exemplifies the best in conservation and environmental stewardship, visit www.teea.org.

Propane Marketers Can Apply to Attend 2022 LP Gas Growth Summit

Propane marketers can apply to attend the LP Gas Growth Summit, which will return to Reunion Resort, outside Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 12-14.

The unique networking event, now in its eighth year, brings together retail propane company decision-makers and propane industry partners for two days of one-on-one business meetings, educational opportunities and other networking events.

Inside the Industry LP Gas launched the Growth Summit in 2015 as an avenue for propane industry members to form partnerships that help them expand into both traditional and new markets, as well as increase their operational efficiencies in serving a variety of customers.

LP Gas covers two-nights lodging, food, drinks and golf for eligible retail propane decision-makers.

Interested marketers can begin the process of attending this year’s Summit by submitting an online application here. Or contact LP Gas Editor-in-Chief Brian Richesson at

brichesson@northcoastmedia.net or 216-7063748 with questions. Space is limited.

New Safety Courses Online

Two additional trainings are now available in the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)’s The Learning Center in an eLearning format or as instructor-led classroom trainings.

Uncontrolled Release of Propane educates propane employees on how to handle an uncontrolled release of propane

in order to reduce injuries in the event of an emergency.

Consumer Safety Education trains industry employees about the need to educate consumers about general propane safety.

Get started today! Find these courses in The Learning Center at https://training.propane.com/, in Safety & Technical Training.

The instructor-led toolkits are in the Resources section, under the Safety and Technical Training Resources folder.

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Texas Propane

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Business Beat

Hourly Workers Say Benefits Are Just as Valuable as Compensation for Employee Retention CareerPlug

Though the last couple of years were stressful for most, if anything good came out of the pandemic era, it’s that employees of all industries began reevaluating their employers and their relationship to work.

For the first time in a long time (or possibly ever!) employees realized that the power was in their hands to demand more from their employers.

They began to take stock and reprioritize what was most important. Many people left their jobs — 47.4 million people in 2021 to be exact. And though there are many different reasons why workers quit, one thing is certain: Employers must step up and take the necessary action to retain their team.

There are many things that employers can do to meet the needs of their employees, and offering the right benefits is a big one. But are the right benefits actually better than higher pay? Let’s discuss how benefits compare to compensation when it comes to employee retention and which ones are the most important to employees.

This means that when it comes to employee retention, benefits can be just as important as compensation.

We asked the employees in our survey to rate which benefits they would be most likely to accept over increased compensation.

The table below shows what they had to say.

What benefits do employees want?

Health insurance

Though it’s not possible for every business, offering health insurance can lessen the financial burden on your employees

Benefits are just as valuable as compensation

When thinking about retention, raising compensation is a logical first step. In a recent survey of hourly workers, we found that 55% of all employees are currently seeking or will be seeking new employment in order to get a pay increase in 2022, and 64% of those workers seeking an opportunity for a pay raise said they would stay at their current job if their employer gave them the compensation they were looking for.

If offering raises isn’t an option for your business right now, what else can you do to keep your employees around?

We have good news! 66% of those employees said that they would stay at their current job if their employer offered additional benefits instead of a pay increase.

24

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

and make medical care more accessible.

This can help you attract new talent and retain the current members of your team.

Depending on your industry, offering health insurance may have an even bigger impact on employee retention. Here are some of the industries that would most likely accept health insurance over a pay increase from their employer.

• 38% in the automotive industry said they would accept health insurance over a pay raise.

• 50% in education and childcare • 58% in hospitality, entertainment, and recreation

Business Beat More paid time off

Professional development opportunities

More paid time off (PTO) is a fairly easy way to show employees that you’re committed to keeping them around. At CareerPlug, we offer unlimited PTO which has been a great benefit for our employees. Our Senior Director of People, Natalie Morgan says it best: “At CareerPlug, we want our people to know that we trust them and we value their whole life, not just when they show up to work. Offering unlimited PTO puts the focus on results, rather than time spent at work, and gives employees the flexibility to take time off when they need it without calculating in their head how much time they can use and what they’ll have to save for later. Sometimes you need the afternoon to get your car fixed or attend an event at your child’s school and you shouldn’t have to weigh that against saving a day if you might get sick later in the year. It’s ultimately about trust and if you don’t have that with your employees you have a different problem to address than PTO.” Is it possible to give employees additional PTO to use as they please? How about some extra holidays or allowing them to take their birthdays off? This time can be really valuable and have a positive impact on your employees’ work/life balance. This will ultimately lead to more satisfied and productive employees and can even prevent employee burnout.

Professional development opportunities also ranked as an important benefit that job seekers would accept over compensation. Other data backs this up: A 2021 Gallup survey found that 87% of millennials prioritize professional growth and development opportunities in the workplace.

One way we support employee development at CareerPlug is by using “Growth Plans” that employees work through with their manager. These plans include goals and skills that employees would like to learn.

Managers then work with employees to create an actionable plan to reach these goals.

We created a Growth Plan template that you can use to support employee development.

You might also consider providing a professional development stipend that allows employees to purchase books and classes or attend trainings on the company dime.

seems to be an important benefit current employees would accept over an increase in pay.

Fitness or healthy lifestyle incentives

The employees in our survey also said that fitness or healthy lifestyle incentives would be an acceptable benefit instead of a pay increase.

One way you might do this is to offer wellness days in addition to vacation or sick time and encourage employees to take time off for things like massages, hikes, retreats, etc.

Some businesses also provide employees

Your Propane Equipment Dealer

Retirement plans

Just over a third of Americans said that they’ve never had a retirement account and fewer than one in three American workers reported being on track or ahead of their retirement plan.

Just as offering health insurance can lessen the financial burden on your employees, offering retirement plans can also set employees up for retirement and a brighter financial future.

Employee sponsored retirement plans are a big point of consideration for many job seekers when evaluating a job opportunity and also

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July 2022 •

Texas Propane

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Business Beat with a stipend to spend on local fitness classes or gym memberships. You might consider bringing classes to your employees and offer monthly yoga or meditation sessions either in person or over Zoom.

Childcare benefits

Many full-time employees struggle with balancing childcare with work. This disproportionately affects women who often carry the heavy burden of childcare and other household responsibilities.

In 2020, 3.5 million mothers living with school-age children left active work, and these numbers have not improved much over the last couple of years.

Assistance in paying for childcare or even offering on-site childcare can set you apart as an employer and make you an easier place to work for women with school age children.

Flexible or remote working options

Flexibility and the option to work from home have become hugely popular benefits. One survey by FlexJobs found that 70% of millennials have left or considered leaving a job because it lacked flexible work options, and about half of older workers report the same. In our survey, 44% in the insurance and finan-

26

cial services industry said that flexible or remote working options was the benefit they would be most likely to accept over increased compensation.

With many companies returning to the office, a lot of workers are leaving their jobs for companies that have adopted remote working options. This means that not only can offering remote work keep your current employees around, it can also help you stand out to job seekers and attract more applicants to your open roles.

Tuition reimbursement

If feasible for your business, tuition assistance or reimbursement can be a great way to retain your employees and invest in their career. Employees that feel genuinely valued are more likely to stay loyal to your business and will have increased knowledge and skills to help it grow.

Oftentimes, companies that offer tuition reimbursement require participating employees to sign a contract to stay employed by them for a certain amount of time with stipulations if they decide to leave.

Even if an employee does leave for a new opportunity, you can rest assured that they will have positive things to say about your employer brand and the big impact that your company made on their

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

career. This encourages other high performers to apply to your team.

To sum it up

The right compensation is clearly an important part of being a great place to work.

You may consider using the compensation calculator on Indeed to be sure that you are offering comparable compensation. If you are, your next step should be to incorporate some of the benefits listed above.

In an economy where job seekers and employees have more power than ever, offering competitive benefits can be a powerful way to attract new talent and keep the right people on your team.

Next steps

One of the biggest challenges of running a business is attracting and hiring the right people. That’s why NAPAA has partnered with CareerPlug to help make hiring and developing the right people easier for you!

Every NAPAA member receives a free CareerPlug account with a branded careers page to showcase your jobs, pre-built job templates, a configured hiring process to help evaluate your applicants, and access to a team of Hiring Experts. Activate your free account today at https://www.careerplug.com/request-a-demo-association/.

July 2022 •

Texas Propane

27

Classifieds

PetroStar Equipment Resources Purchase & Sale Pre-Owned Propane Tanks 5,000 gallons to 90,000 gallons

Garrett Insurance Agency, Inc Formerly, Southern Star Insurance Agency, Inc Cecil Joiner, Risk Manager cecil@garrettinsurance.com 936-756-2222 www.garrettinsurance.com

FOR SALE (1) 12,000 gallons, 250 psi, skidded (2) 50,000 gallons, 350 psi, 2012 Contact: Jim Oliver 936-755-6108 petrostar@pdq.net

For Sale 2800 gal. Barrell w/3inch Blackmer Pump, Metering Equipment and Hose Reel.

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Become a Member Today Why become a member of TPGA? Because you can't afford not to!

Regulatory Navigation

Networking opportunities throughout the year at Association events. Exclusive content delivered weekly and monthly.

Discounts and Freebies. Scholarship program.

Our members are in the know about upcoming regulatory changes, future enforcement actions and other important information, through the Monthly Newsletter, Monday Morning Messenger, and Regulatory Alerts.

Advocacy Each legislative session TPGA is at the Texas Capitol monitoring industry issues and ensuring your interests are protected. In addition, we introduce legislation to help you achieve your business goals and objectives.

Standard Classified Advertising is available for $2/word. $50 minimum per insertion Small logo or photo can be inserted for $10 Display classifieds are available for $30/column inch (3 column grid format)

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Texas Propane Gas Association 800-325-7427 info@txpropane.com www.txpropane.com

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

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TO PLACE AN AD Contact Joanne Pantaze 512-273-2639 phone jpantaze@zochnet.com email

Index to Advertisers

Calendar JULY

4 TPGA & PSC office closed for Independence Day 10 Texas Propane magazine Advertising & classified deadline 12 Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) Grant Applications due to TCEQ 14-15 Summer Benchmarking Council Meeting Baltimore, MD 19–20 PERC Council Meeting Lake Geneva, WI 25 PERC Train the Trainer Tampa, FL

AUGUST

19 EPA National Clean School Bus Program Deadline

SEPTEMBER

26-27 Propane Emergencies Training College Station, TX 11-12 Fall NPGA TS &S Meeting Indianapolis, IN 26 - 28 NPGA 2022 Fall Board of Directors Meeting Scottsdale, AZ

Alliance AutoGas 19 BAM Propane Consultants 17 BLT Tanks 21 Cunningham Gas Products 5 Fisk Tank Carrier Inc. Outside Back Cover Gas Equipment Company 19 Insurors of Texas 25 Lock America 23 Lone Star Energy Group 31 Longhorn Propane 27 Lumbermen’s Insurance Agency 31 Marshall Young Insurance 17

OCTOBER

4-5, 2022 PERC Advisory Meeting Salt Lake City, UT

Meeder Equipment Co. 15 MTankCo Supply/Mississippi Tank 5 Nocell Technologies LLC 11 Propane Plus LLC 15

4 ProCOT Propane Safety Tip & Recipe Calendar Deadline

Propane Service Corporation 11

10 Texas Propane magazine Advertising & classified deadline

Tarantin Industries 25

Rural Computer Consultants 23

White River Distributors 26

July 2022 •

Texas Propane

29

Propane With Purpose

The Surprising Alliance Between Propane and the EV Industry offerings and created a market facing unit, Pioneer Power Mobility, to sell, deliver and support them.”

The company’s portfolio is initially comprised of three products.

E-Boost G.O.A.T. (Generator on a Truck) is a truck-mounted option that brings mobility with high-capacity EV charging. It enables on-demand charging of EV vehicles at any convenient location, providing EV truck and car owners the convenience of dispatchable charging services and thereby eliminating ‘range anxiety.’

E-Boost Mobile is a trailer-mounted solution that balances the need for mobility and higher capacity of EV charging such that the solution can be relocated with minimal effort on short notice.

E-Boost Mobile provides multiple options for towing and can be available at specific businesses, large sports and cultural events or other gatherings to fulfill the elevated demand for high-speed charging.

While we mostly imagine alternative energies existing in separate silos, it doesn’t always develop that way. One unlikely, but growing alliance is between propane and the EV industry.

The growth in the market is both for personal vehicles and fleet vehicles. And when an electric vehicle is stranded between charges, the market has found that instead of towing the vehicle to a charge station, dispatching a mobile propane-powered EV charging station is more cost effective. This allows vehicles to quickly get back into circulation, especially fleet vehicles.

If you read this month’s cover feature on JuiceBox, you’ll know that this is one of the areas the company is seeing the most growth in. Fleet managers are interested in utilizing a propane powered charging station that they can dispatch easily.

But JuiceBox is not the only player in this new market. There are several other companies bridging this divide.

In November 2021, Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. announced the launch of its E-Boost© portfolio of mobile Electric Vehicle (EV) charging solutions for a full range of applications. Nathan Mazurek, Pioneer Power’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are anticipating the rapidly growing demand for high-capacity mobile charging that will be required to support the wide range of EV and mobile power use cases with E-Boost products. The launch of these new offerings further advances our strategic shift towards the growing, multi-billion dollar market opportunity in Electrical Vehicle Charging (EVC). We have applied decades of power engineering experience to the design and development of these new

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

E-Boost Pod is a stationary EV charging solution with customizable higher capacity and can be moved, if necessary. The Pod can provide high-speed DC Fast Charging (DCFC) to two vehicles simultaneously. Like all E-Boost solutions, it can also service other power needs especially in emergency situations, such as a power outage, serving as a back-up power source with convenient power connectors and outlets available on board.

Key features of this special E-Boost Pod solution include: • A 50kw generator, fueled by green propane, fully integrated on a skid for rapid charging almost anywhere • 1 level-3, 30kw high-capacity DC charger for rapid overnight and intermittent charging of trucks or buses at dealerships or depots.

• On board 1 - 100-gallon fuel tank for continuous EV charging at any remote location • Fully and easily portable with the inherent convenience of easy delivery, relocation and re-fueling with just a forklift and any pickup truck.

About Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacture, integration, refurbishment, service and distribution of electric power systems, distributed energy resources, used and new power generation equipment and mobile EV charging solutions for applications in the utility, industrial and commercial markets. To learn more about Pioneer, please visit its website at www.pioneerpowersolutions.com.

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