PERC Summer Meeting: Training, Marketing & R&D Projects Approved

PERC Summer Meeting:

Training, Marketing & R&D Projects Approved

During the July Council meeting, council members approved the preliminary 2022 expenditure budget of $35,279,012 for public comment. The budget will be finalized by the Council at the November meeting.

New council officers:

• Stuart Weidie, Blossman Gas (Swannanoa, NC) – Chairman • Casey Cramton, Dead River Co. (South Portland, ME) –

Vice Chairman, Marketers • Duncan McGinnis, Aux Sable (Morris, IL) — Vice Chairman,

Producers • Jeff Kerns, ThompsonGas (Frederick, MD) – Treasurer • Gary France, France Propane Service (Schofield, WI) – Secretary

New Advisory Committee Working Group Chairmen and Vice-chairmen:

Safety & Technical Training Working Group: Chairman: Chris Wagner, AmeriGas

Research & Technology Development Working Group: Chairman: Chuck Strawn, Red Seal Measurement, Vice-chairman: Steve Moore, Expo Propane (No change to Market Growth & Commercialization Working Group)

This Docket was tabled, not approved:

Docket 22970: Origin Engines 3.6L Mobile Equipment and Power Generation Certification with Ultera Ultra Low

Emissions, $950,000, for Origin Engines to develop a 3.6L propane fueled engine for mobile industrial equipment and power generation that utilizes the patented Ultera® Ultra-Low Emissions Technology. Lowering engine emissions and overall carbon footprint continues to be a strategic focus not only of engine manufacturers but of big companies and their pledges to be Net-Zero by 2040. Trends on a global level continue to drive higher efficiency and lower emission internal combustion (IC) engines. Additionally, actions are being pursued on the West Coast to phase out (IC) driven forklifts. Origin sees an opportunity to develop an engine and emissions package that can keep IC engines as a viable solution for mobile equipment OEMs selling into these markets. Origin Engines is seeking PERC funding and partnership to offset the costs associated with the calibration development and emissions certification to bring the 3.6L engine to market with both EPA-and CARB- emissions certifications. This will help ensure that propane remains available in this power range.

The Council approved the following funding requests:

Change Order 21996: Entry Level

Driver Training, $414,500, for a scope and funding change order. This docket was originally approved in early 2019 for $310,000 to produce an Entry Level Driver Training program the industry could utilize to meet the theory curriculum regulations the Department of Transportation (DOT) had imposed for new CDL applicants. The implementation date for the new regulation was pushed back by DOT from Feb 2020 to Feb 2022 and the docket was kept open with the intent of starting production in early 2021. During this delay there was additional clarity from DOT for online theory training programs which changed the scope of the project by adding additional program elements, interactivity, and voice over requirements. The program being developed will fulfill the theory curriculum; the second part of the program requires behind-the-wheel training to be performed. Behind-the-wheel providers are required to self-certify to minimum facility, equipment, and staff requirements, register with FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry with biennial reports, record keeping, and document retention, and be subject to FMCSA audit. The scope change for this project will be to add additional learning paths to the ELDT theory curriculum including a class “B” CDL path and hazmat endorsement path. Additionally, there will be an increase in the interactivity and robustness of the programs and exams to meet the requirements of DOT. The new timeline for the project will have it completed by 12/31/2021. The cost for these additional scope changes as well as improved user interactions will result in an additional $414,500 of expenses. These dollars will be taken from 2021 safety and training budgeted dollars.

Docket 23027: Assessment of Liquid Direct Injected Fuel Systems for Propane

Engines, $654,850, to meet the Propane Education & Research Council’s mission of exploring, developing, and commercializing propane technologies for medium-duty (Class 6 & Class 7) and standby power applications. Katech Engineering LLC will develop a robust Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Direct Injected (DI) fueled system using both commercial off the shelf (COTS) and custom fuel system components through a three phased approach. In Phase I, Katech will utilize COTS components and will leverage their performance using a decision matrix.

In Phase II, Katech will engineer and develop custom fuel system components and solutions for robustness if COTS fuel systems fail in Phase I. Katech will utilize a parallel strategy to meet the objectives of Phase II. For example, on one end, Katech will pursue a recently released DOE Vehicle Technologies Office FOA (DEFOA-0002475: LOW GREENHOUSE

GAS (GHG) VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT) or other DOE opportunities for funding Phase II scope of work. On another end, Katech will work with PERC to obtain additional funding in the later phases to meet Phase II scope of work and objectives. After benchmarking and down selection of fuel system, Katech will perform rigorous reliability testing either in-house or in coordination with other PERC contacts in Phase III. In this proposal, Katech will only focus on Phase I objectives, which include: • COTS DI fuel System integration, testing, compatibility, benchmarking, down selection. • Propane DI specific engineering solution development, custom control systems development. • 250 hr. in-house reliability testing. • After accomplishing each task, the Katech team will present a technical report corresponding to that task in that phase.

Docket 23038: Agency Transition

and Propane Rebrand, $945,937, to retire PROPANE Clean American Energy® and replace it with a brand identity that better reflects propane’s value as an affordable, low-carbon alternative to electricity and other competitors. The rebranding is driven by the Joint Task Force’s development of two messaging pillars that will shape the future of propane’s role in the national energy conversation: • Access to clean, affordable and renewable energy like propane ensures equity on the path to zero emissions. • Clean and renewable energy like propane accelerates decarbonization.

The Joint Task Force appointed the Creative Development Working Group – made up of members of the Market Growth and Commercialization Working Group and other industry leaders – to oversee development and adoption of the new brand identity. The new brand and an accompanying message campaign will support the U.S. propane industry and the businesses and households it serves by more effectively telling propane’s positive environmental story to consumers, environmental thought leaders, influencers, and decision makers.

Docket 23048: CETP Modularization Development, Round 3, Phase 1: Internal and External Vapor Distribution Systems,

$920,700, to support the strategic objective to develop professional, informed, and skilled workforce and trade allies through worldclass safety and technical training. The goal is to update and modularize the CETP training program into a new, more user-friendly format with new programs and updates to existing CETP offerings.

This project is the first phase of three to update the following programs: • Designing and installing exterior vapor distribution systems. • Placing vapor distribution systems and apliances into operation.

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These courses represent the third set of modularized programs and are among the most-used CETP training and certification programs. The first phase is startup. The second phase (installation) and third phase (layout and design) will be requested at later dates.

The modules included in this docket are: • Pressure Measurement 101. • Gas Regulators 101. • Testing Gas Piping. • Verify Regulator(s) Performance. • Purge Air from Gas Piping. • Conduct Interior Site Assessment- New Systems. • Startup Appliances – New Installation Requirements. • Restore Service After an Interruption of Service. • Troubleshooting Propane Leaks. • Consumer Safety Education.

Docket 23046: Autogas Dispenser Maximum Delivery Pressure Standard

Testing, $190,375, to support autogas propane vehicles becoming a larger share of the alternative fuel market with technologies used for fuel delivery systems becoming more sophisticated and the use of higher-working pressures for ASME containers becoming more common. Previously, NFPA 58 LPGas Code required a maximum allowable working pressure for engine fuel containers on vehicles of 312 psig. Since the 2017 edition of NFPA 58, there is no defined maximum pressure and so it is common for containers to have working pressures up to 400 psig. NFPA 58 also requires the container to have a relief valve with a start-to-discharge setting equal to the maximum allowable working pressure of the container. Currently NFPA code does not limit the maximum outlet pressure of propane autogas dispensers but UL 495 does limit the pressure within a dispenser to 350 psig. Many autogas vehicle tanks are equipped with relief valves with a set to discharge pressure of 312 PSI. This creates a question of the possibility of a relief valve activation while a tank is being filled if the tank pressure becomes too high. This testing is designed to be used to assist the engineering and construction of propane autogas dispensers. This project will include a design testing scheme and conduct testing to evaluate the performance of propane vehicle containers having a maximum allowable working pressure of 312 psig when those containers are refueled by a dispenser complying with the maximum allowable pressure requirements of UL 495. The goal of this project is to utilize recognized testing information to determine a standard for an autogas dispenser’s maximum refueling pressure output so that unintended activation of the vehicle storage tank’s pressure relief valve does not occur during refueling.

Docket 23047: Learning Center Op-

erations 2021, $282,000, to support one of PERC’s four strategic goals, to develop professional, informed, and skilled workforce and trade allies through world-class safety and technical training, by supporting PERC’s educational program’s delivery platform (The Learning Center). This project will provide level 1 help desk support for PERC’s Learning Center along with the processing of paper-based testing and the processing of skills assessments through the current vendor Industrial Training Service. The docket also funds independent contractor technical support for PERC staff who manage The Learning Center, along with funds for custom upgrades to the Absorb learning management system. This support program will be in place for 12 months; during this time PERC staff will be evaluating the needs of The Learning Center’s users while testing and leveraging technology to help reduce the need for this level of support.

Presidential Approvals. Since the Council’s last meeting, Tucker approved eight no-cost change orders for a time extension:

• Docket 21710 — Customer Safety Awareness Materials for Industrial and Commercial Markets, June 30, 2022. • Docket 21769 — National Builder Incentive Program, June 1, 2025. • Docket 21933 — Dispensing Propane Safely Technical and Market Revisions, Dec. 31, 2021. • Docket 22038 — Propane Powered Front Engine School Bus (Type D), May 31, 2023. • Docket 22113 — 2020 Residential Consumer Integrated Outreach Program, Dec. 31, 2021. • Docket 22405 — Propane Emergencies Strategic Planning, Dec. 31, 2021. • Docket 22560 — EPA Propane Certification for Aisin 1.5kW CHP System, May 31, 2022. • Docket 22654 — Safety and Training Program Promotion, Dec. 31, 2021.

He also approved a scope change for Docket 22788 — Stirling Battery Ecosystem (SBE9000) Using Propane. The original plan was to develop a 7-9 kW Stirling engine unit based on 5G cell tower requirements, but a market survey revealed that a 4-6 kW unit would make more business sense as it can be applied to existing 4G cell towers that need to be upgraded to 5G. In addition, a packaged system with two Stirling engine units 8-12 kW system would be applicable for new towers.

Tucker approved one presidential grant for Docket 23072 — Comparative Emissions Analysis 2021, for $90,000 and ending July 15, 2022. This will allow GTI Energy analysts to conduct a comparative emissions analysis of targeted applications in key propane markets. The analysis will leverage ongoing activities and tools developed under GTI’s Carbon Management Information Center consortium. A large part of this effort will be to set up the framework for analysis in spreadsheet form and establish fuel pathways that can be used for future evaluation of additional key propane markets.