March 2018 Texas Propane magazine

TexasPropane March 2018

Volume 74 No. 3

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

Incentive Available for Propane School Buses Customer Collections

Grow Gallons with Propane School Buses

Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?

Pinnacle Propane is committed to maintaining the legacy you’ve built.

Have you considered selling your propane business but concerns for your customers and employees are holding you back?

At Pinnacle Propane, our values of Customer Service, Integrity, and Safety emphasize providing the best possible experience for our customers and employees.

As a Texas-based company, we focus on providing local service to our customers in the communities we do business and empowering our employees via competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package.

As you think about next steps, let us work with you to develop a fair purchase plan and a seamless transition so that you can relax and enjoy the results of your efforts.

Matt Terry Director, Acquisitions (210) 560-5418

Bill Webb Senior Vice President, Acquisitions (936) 329-1440

For more information and a confidential assessment of your business, whether retail propane or cylinder exchange, and wherever you are in the United States, call us today.

Pinnacle Propane is now part of the SHV Energy family. SHV Energy is one of the world’s leading propane distributors and has over 16,000 employees and operates in more than 20 countries. As part of the 121 year old Dutch privately owned SHV Holdings, SHV Energy is committed to working sustainably with communities, stakeholders and policy makers.

www.pinnpropane.com

Pinnacle Propane is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

TexasPropane March 2018

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 dsimpson@txpropane.com

Features Grow Gallons with Propane School Buses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Clean School Bus Grant Program Accepting Applications. . . . 12 How Propane School Buses Led One Small Texas Town Down a Diverse Propane Path. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tips to Stay Sane While Collecting Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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@pvco.net Kiki Pantaze Art Director 512-924-7566 kpantaze@pvco.net

Departments Highlights from Headquarters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 TPGA Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Where in the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Sales Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Safety Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 People in Propane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Inside the Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Classified Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Propane with Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Highlights from Headquarters

Grow Your Gallons with Autogas School Buses Bill Van Hoy TPGA Executive Director Want to know another way to grow your gallons? This month’s feature focuses on autogas school buses. On average, these buses can burn up to 2,500 - 3,500 gallons annually. The article goes on to give you some background on the buses, talking points that you can use with your school district, information on purchasing buses, and refueling infrastructure, as well as what incentives are available. Turn to page 6 to learn more.

A 1st quarter TPGA board of directors and related committee meetings have been called by TPGA President

John Walter for March 6 & 7 in Austin.

All TPGA members are invited. A wide range of topics and reports from the various committees is on the agenda. Dinner on March 6 is FREE for TPGA members. Hope to see you there.

Exhibitor sales and attendee registration for the 2018 Crossroads Propane Expo+Conference will open very shortly.

Once again we will be in Fort Worth at the Omni Downtown and the Convention Center across the street from the hotel. This year TPGA will be utilizing an online platform for exhibitor sales and attendee registration. Watch for the event website to go live. Don’t miss the opportunity to discuss changes in the industry, best practices, and new products and technology.

2018 CROSSROADS SPONSORS Golf Tournament Targa Resources Convention Bags Enterprise Products Lanyards Keyera Energy President’s Cocktail Reception Bishop Energy Casino Party Quality Steel • Westmor Industries

REJOINING Member SUPPLIER RUSH TRUCKS Nash, TX

AFFINITY PARTNERS BASYS • Lone Star Energy Group

2017-2018 TPGA Board of Directors President: John Walter, Schneider Distributing, 800-901-9109 President Elect: Jack Walzel, Tri-Co Propane, 254-642-3885 Secretary: Harris Baker, Pinnacle Propane, 512-306-0073 Treasurer/Finance Chair: Josh McAdams, McAdams Propane, 936-598-7444 District 1 Director: Jim Vines, Cooper Propane, 903-785-5242 District 1 Alternate: April Welch, WelchGas, 903-577-1446 District 2 Director: Josh McAdams, McAdams Propane, 936-598-7444 District 2 Alternate: Open District 3 Director: Jeremy Gentile, Hill Butane, 409-296-2001 District 3 Alternate: Open District 4 Director: Mark Peterson, Buster Brown Propane, 281-689-3946 District 4 Alternate: Allen Wells, Baygas, 281-332-2660 District 5 Director: Open District 5 Alternate: Open District 6 Director: Omar Garcia, Mr. G Propane, 956-581-1063 District 6 Alternate: Open District 7 Director: Steve Smith, Smith Gas, 830-393-2533 District 7 Alternate: Sharon Seal, Bell Hydrogas, 210-533-7103 District 8 Director: Jack Walzel, Tri-Co Propane, 254-642-3885 District 8 Alternate: Rodney Sladek, Fayetteville Propane, 979-836-7044 District 9 Director: Bill McCullough, Butane Gas, 800-242-69010 District 9 Alternate: Brad Quisenberry, Gene Harris Petroleum, 888-336-4474 District 10 Director: Josh Nowlin, McCraw Propane, 9003-583-7481 District 10 Alternate: Sam Fox, McCraw Oil, 469-261-1148 District 11 Director: Steve Adams, Hardwick LPG, 254-647-3402 District 11 Alternate: Lane Worthington, Sunoco, 325-835-3031 District 12 Director: John Gordon, Bob’s Fuels, 325-647-3619 District 12 Alternate: Laci Jo Stone, Schneider Distributing, 800-901-9109

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

District 13 Director: Open District 13 Alternate: Open District 14 Director: Open District 14 Alternate: Open District 15 Director: Don Heinrich, Slaton Gas, 806-828-6501 District 15 Alternate: Open District 16 Director: Open District 16 Alternate: Open Past President: Ben Wood, Northwest Propane, 972-247-6121 Past President: John Kelly, Kelly Propane, 940-586-1208 Past President: Todd Dorris, Roadrunner Energy, 830-278-5317 Past President: Doug Maclay, United Propane, 972-225-2347 Vice President: Allen Wells, Baygas, Bay Gas, 281-332-2630 Vice President: Matt Terry, JP Energy Partners, 210-560-5418 Vice President: John Gordon, Bob’s Fuels, 325-647-3619 Sr. Vice President: Mark Peterson, Buster Brown Propane, 281-689-3946 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: Rusty Walker, Marshall Young Insurance, 817-645-9155 Assoc. Supplier Service Alternate: Don Hankins, Alamo Corporate Group, 817-615-8393 Assoc. Producer/Marketing Gas Director: Jimmie Grant, Martin Gas Sales, 713-851-6155 Assoc. Producer/Marketing Gas Alternate: Anna May Etheredge, Bishop Energy, 940-665-4672 Assoc. Manufacturer/Distributor Director: Mark Smith, Leran, 512-318-1840 Assoc. Manufacturer/Distributor Alternate: Jim Diehl, Squibb Taylor, 214-357-4591 Assoc. At Large Director: Tracy Wells, Gas Equipment Company, 214-638-8018 Assoc. At Large Director: J.R. Anderson, Gas Equipment Company, Nominating Chair: Doug Maclay, United Propane, 972-225-2347 NPGA Director: Jim Bishop, Bishop Energy, 940-665-3457

Featured

Grow Gallons

By Pat Hyland

The popularity of propane autogas school buses is accelerating across the country. More than 14,000 high-performing buses now carry 850,000 children to school and back each day. On average, these buses can burn between 2,500 and 3,500 gallons of fuel annually.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Featured

With Propane School Buses

March 2018 •

Texas Propane

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Featured

2,870 lower-emitting propane school buses in Texas

What’s driving the propane industry’s greatest success story in recent years?

More than 830 school districts, private schools and bus contractors already have discovered that propane autogas saves precious dollars, improves safety and significantly reduces harmful emissions.

School districts typically adopt propane school buses in the process of replacing their older diesel models. Chances are, your local district is planning to phase out its older diesels within a couple of years. As knowledgeable school officials examine their choices, would they rather stick with diesel or switch to a cleaner option that supports their mission for years to come?

Texas has 47,000 total school buses on the job each day – the largest number in the nation. Of those, 92% burn diesel, 5% use gasoline and just 3% run on propane.

Still, the 2,870 propane buses in 71 school districts across the state easily comprise the largest state fleet, representing more than 20% of the national total. Districts in the Greater Dallas area operate a combined 618 buses, and the Houston Independent School District runs another 165. In fact, seven of the 10 top school districts with propane school buses are in Texas.

Northside Independent School District in San Antonio was the first to incorporate propane into its fleet 35 years ago. With 505 units now running on clean-burning propane, the district estimates it is saving $1.3 million a year on fuel costs alone.

“Our long-term vision is to get to a point where almost all of our buses are propane powered,” says Northside Superintendent Brian Woods. “I don’t see any negatives. There’s a positive PR for the school district – parents and patrons appreciate that you’re saving dollars and spending them more directly on students. Everybody appreciates that; it’s more efficient.”

But the fuel savings aren’t the only benefit driving the change from diesel.

“In this day and age, folks are aware and concerned about en-

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

vironmental implications of the decisions that we make. I think there’s a clear benefit to the community around using a fuel that generates less emissions,” Woods adds.

“Even if you ignore the financial benefits to the school district of $1.3 million in savings per year just on the fuel side, I think the environmental aspect of it is important to a lot of people – especially parents with young children.”

Stimulated by R&D investment from the Propane Education & Research Council, equipment manufacturers in recent years have dedicated more resources to expanding and improving propane school bus technology. Today, all major bus OEMs – Bluebird, IC, Thomas Built and Collins – offer propane models. About 70 percent of schools use the larger Type C buses, which is offered by Blue Bird, Thomas and IC. Blue Bird, Thomas and Collins also offer the Type A model.

The buses are a fast-growing and promising market, but not for all propane retailers, according to Michael Taylor, PERC’S director of autogas business development.

“Having a marketing and sales strategy plan for selling into this market niche is vital for success,” he says. “Propane marketers in this segment must have a formalized business plan and be ready to invest capital and human resources to training, vehicles and equipment. They also must be willing to reach out and work with manufacturers, dealers and customers with unique service demands.”

Taylor emphasizes that success in this niche requires that marketers know their market; have a growth strategy; know their equipment distribution channels; and know how to reach their preferred customers (face-to-face, advertising, personal selling, promotions, flyers, emails, website).

Getting Started

Adding propane autogas buses to a school bus fleet shows that a district is dedicated to its students and community by providing a quiet, clean ride. It’s also a smart economic decision that creates opportunity for the district to put the money saved on school transportation back into the classroom and education programs — where it matters most.

Marketers can play an important role in this decision by raising awareness of propane’s benefits. Talking to your school district could be as easy as emailing or writing a letter to your district transportation office.

According to Taylor, messages should be kept short and include some simple questions just to get the conversation started: • What kind of buses does your school district currently use?

• Are there plans in the near future to replace your older buses?

Featured • Are propane school buses in consideration for the future?

• How important is quieter operation for students’ safety?

• Talk about Total Cost of Ownership and how savings in transportation can impact the classroom.

• Explain how reduced harmful emissions helps the community.

Marketers can also engage Board of Education members, School Board members, Superintendents, and PTAs.

Propane School Bus Advantage Talking Points

Marketers need to know the benefits of propane buses and be prepared to talk about their primary merits – uncompromised safety, reduce diesel buses require to run clean.” emissions and operational cost savings. Here are the basic facts No More Black Smoke. Switching to propane buses that are persuasive to educators: protects students from dangerous diesel exhaust, labeled More Savings for What Counts. Switching to propane vea carcinogen by the World Health Organization and the hicles puts school districts in a better position to afford what stuEnvironmental Protection Agency. With propane buses, students need most. Across the country where propane buses have dents aren’t exposed to the emissions in conventional fuel replaced diesel, districts are using funds saved in their fleet operathat can aggravate asthma and cause other health issues. tions to hire more teachers; provide everyday classroom supplies If Texas replaced all of their — pencils, markers, notebooks — 21,000 pre-2007 diesel school that teachers may otherwise need buses with new propane buses, to buy out-of-pocket; and fund If Texas replaced all of their 21,000 Texas could reduce NOx by 7.5 special education, fine arts and pre-2007 diesel school buses with new million pounds a year. New proathletic programs that increase pane school buses reduce NOx students’ confidence and provide a propane buses, Texas could reduce over pre-2007 diesel buses by 96 well-rounded education. percent and even new “clean diesel” Transportation directors focus NOx by 7.5 million pounds a year. buses by 75 percent. If you comon long-term savings. pare a new “clean” diesel to a new Reduced Maintenance. Sopropane bus by Roush Cleantech, it still reduces NOx by 75 percalled new, “clean diesel” buses come with a hefty price tag for cent under their current certification. complicated emissions-reduction technology. Propane gives you Uncompromised Safety. Propane autogas buses provide unclean performance while lowering your cost-of-ownership. matched peace-of-mind for parents. The buses meet rigorous New, lower-emissions diesel technology comes with an addU.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards and are equipped ed inconvenience: diesel emissions fluid to purchase, store, and with an automatic shutoff feature that prevents fuel flow to the change. This is on top of needing more oil by volume compared engine when it’s not running. with propane. In cold temperatures, diesel vehicles also require Compared with diesel engines, propane autogas engines are noanti-gelling agents to prevent clogging of fuel filters and lines. ticeably quieter when operating, which has a big impact on safety.

Propane provides reliable performance without additional fluids.

Bus drivers are responsible for students’ safety during transportaTo meet emissions requirements, new diesel technology requires tion, and a quieter bus allows them to perform their duty in a diesel particulate filters that must be cleaned periodically. Excessive much less chaotic environment. Drivers of propane models report idling will accelerate cleaning intervals. Either way, extra maintethat it’s easier to monitor students in the rear of the bus, concennance expenses are piled on top of additional lifecycle costs. Protrate on the road ahead and provide a safe ride to and from school. pane autogas is an opportunity to avoid these headaches.

Performance. Following the energy crisis of the 1970s, Alvin In the January 2018 issue of School Bus Fleet magazine, Blue ISD converted its school buses to propane autogas to overcome Bird Corporation reported that “there are twenty (20) parts that supply shortages and price spikes with gasoline. Thirty-one years the propane bus doesn’t need to meet EPA emission standards, March 2018 •

Texas Propane

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Featured

later, the district transports 8,000 + students daily and reports reduced maintenance, improved performance, and substantial cost savings. “Our bus drivers love the acceleration with propane autogas,” said Juan Mejias, Alvin’s Fleet Manager. “When we take the buses out of rotation for routine maintenance and drivers use the spare diesel buses, they come back and ask us how soon they can get their propane bus back. The drivers don’t have the same hesitation accelerating and merging in traffic like they do with the diesel buses. The performance is that good.”

Buying Buses

have some form of cooperative.

Often times, schools do not have to go through the formal bid process if purchasing from a coop.

Formal public bid. OEMs submit competitive pricing based on specifications that are subject to review and approval by the transportation director and the board of education within the district. The lowest justifiable bid meeting all specifications is awarded the sales contract.

Lease contract. Less common for schools in Texas, but private contractors do sometimes lease vehicles for a set period with contractual requirements for mileage, maintenance and repairs. Schools have the option to buy the buses outright, but typically do not. A final inspection verifies that the lease terms have been fulfilled.

Lease-purchase or Buy-back. Some OEM dealers or distributors offer a tailored bus lease with a guaranteed buy-back provision.

As with a conventional lease, a final inspection is performed once the lease matures. Failure to adhere to mileage, maintenance and repair obligations can reduce the value of the buy back.

What You Have to Know about School Refueling Infrastructure

Your customers and equipment partners will look to you to Being able to talk about school buses and understand how they provide best refueling options. Those decisions typically depend are sold will help you be able to build a mutual relationship with on a fleet’s size, routes, budget and facility space. key partners. But marketers don’t The Liquid Propane Injection need to be an expert on school (LPI) system found on many Peak time for school districts buses to succeed. There already OEM propane-powered vehicles are OEM experts out there selling school buses injects propane and transportation companies buying and the equipment; you need to find directly into the tank, resulting in and partner with them (each comimproved breathing efficiency and buses is late spring, with the pany website has a dealer locator no mixing penalty because air is expectation that they will function that provides dealer lonot diluted with the gaseous fuel cations and contact information). in the intake manifold. receive buses before the School bus fleets are purchased “One of the challenges with fillschool year. by a variety of customers, including propane autogas LPI vehicles ing public and private school disis the higher pump pressure retricts, private contractors and childcare agencies. quired to fill the vehicles. The original bottle filling stations only Peak time for school districts and transportation companies produce a pressure between 65-85 psid, but newer autogas stabuying buses is late spring, with the expectation that they will tions require a differential pressure, at a minimum, of 120 psid receive buses before the school year. for the optimal filling rate of 10-12 gallons, per minute,” said Jim There are several ways that school buses are purchased: Bunsey, Director of Operations, Superior Energy Systems.

Purchasing Coop. In Texas, school buses are most commonly Propane marketers installing propane refueling for buses and acquired through a purchasing cooperative like TASB BuyBoard, other liquid propane injection vehicles need to ensure that they which is the most popular. HGAC in Houston is the next biggest install a high pressure refueling station to ensure buses can use purchasing coop. Most of the education region service centers also the station.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Featured Standard private stations are best for small fleets of 50 vehicles or fewer and includes a 1,000- to 3,000-gallon tank to serve as a convenient central refueling location. There are two options: Propane provider owns infrastructure. Fleet is responsible for site preparation (crash protection and electrical), which can range from $1,500 to $5,000.

Fleet owns infrastructure.

Fleet needs to account for purchasing the propane tank, pump, motor and dispenser.

Cost can range from $20,000 to $60,000 for infrastructure plus site preparation.

Advanced private stations also are best for large fleets of 50 buses or more. This option includes larger gallon tanks, a canopy and multiple dispensers. Advanced private stations can range between $50,000 -$200,000, plus $3,000 - $7,500 in site prep costs.

Fleets with limited space, or fleets needing more fueling locations along their routes, can take advantage of public or private refueling network options with no infrastructure investment.

Network refueling stations are accessible 24/7 through a card lock system. Alternatively, multiple fleets can team up to provide adequate load for requesting a joint refueling network.

Fleets planning on storing and dispensing propane at an existing facility or building a new facility need to contact the authority having jurisdiction for local codes. Interpretation of state laws or codes can differ. It’s crucial for marketers to know and understand the rules, how to prepare a site for a dispenser and navigate the permitting process.

An autogas repair and maintenance facility does not require special structural enhancements beyond the requirements used for a fully code compliant liquid fuel repair garage and maintenance facility.

a higher pump pressure station is required

Incentives

There are assorted incentives and credits available at state and national levels for vehicles, fuel and infrastructure. These programs are subject to changed based on their expiration dates. In Texas, the TCEQ Clean School Bus Program has grants available. Read more about them on page 12 in this issue of Texas Propane magazine.

Marketing Assets

The Propane Education & Research Council has numerous marketing materials that can aid marketers when they are talking to school districts and influencers. PERC assets include testimonials both in digital and video form, fact sheets, brochures, and white papers. PERC even has a school bus map where visitors

Photo compliments of Superior Energy Systems

to their site can view how many propane buses on running in each state and the impact of propane buses. Most of which can be viewed and downloaded at www.propaneschoolbuses.com.

The newest piece in PERC’s marketing arsenal is a school bus influencer tool kit designed for parents, guardians, educators and others to educate their community on propane school buses. The brochure covers propane school bus 101, safety & propane buses, savings & the student, talking to your school, and where to learn more. The piece can be found on PERC’s consumer facing propane school bus site www.betterourbuses.com.

PERC also has a digital Marketer Technology & Sales Training Course on growing gallons with school buses, great for anyone doing sales in your company. Course can be taken online at https://www.propanecouncil.org/mtstdigital/.

State & National School Bus Marketing Initiatives

In addition to producing numerous marketing materials, PERC has other notable school bus initiatives to grow the school bus market.

Each fall PERC has a large Back to School campaign. PERC also is advertising in print and digitally in national school bus trade magazines and sites School Transportation News (distributed to 26,000 transportation and educational services professionals) & School Bus Fleet (distributed to 100,000 pupil transportation industry professionals).

And they attend national expos targeting school transportation officials.

In Texas, the Texas Propane Gas Association and Propane Council of Texas have teamed up to educate school associations, legislators, regulators, clean air advocates, influencers and others on the benefits of propane school buses through one-on-one meetings, forums, events, social media advertising, and through the press.

March 2018 •

Texas Propane

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Clean School Bus Grant Program Accepting Applications propane school bus.

• School transportation applicant gets signed contract from TCEQ that the money is reserved.

• School transportation applicant has 18 months to make purchase.

• School transportation applicant makes purchase and gets reimbursed from TCEQ. • School transportation applicant destroys old engine within 90 days of receiving the check (hole in engine block) or removes from North America.

Short report due once a year for 5 years.

Deadline. Funding is available, first come, first serve and is likely to run out prior to the April 26, 2019 deadline. At the time of publication of this article, half of the $6.2M has been applied for.

How much can a school transportation entity get per replacement propane bus?

Category

Passenger Capacity (PSX)

Grant Award

Type A (Microbus)

PSX 30 or fewer

$36,500

Type B, C, D or Other

PSX up to 49

$49,500

PSX 50-67

$50,500

PSX 68-77

$52,500

PSX 78 or greater Applicants are limited to applying for a maximum of five (5) bus replacements.

At the end of January 2018, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced $6.2M in funding for their newly expanded Texas Clean School Bus Program (TCSB). The TCSB, which is now open, will provide grants to public and charter schools, as well as school transportation companies statewide to replace older diesel school buses with new school buses. One of those options includes replacement of older buses with cleaner-burning propane autogas school buses. This is the first year bus replacements are allowed under the program. The Texas Propane Gas Association worked diligently during the ses-

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sion with the Texas Clean Air Working Group, a group clean air advocates, to get the program expanded to include replacements as well as propane into the mix.

Prior to its expansion it was limited to exhaust retrofits.

Who is eligible? Public and charter schools, as well as school transportation companies located STATEWIDE. At this time, private schools are not eligible for this grant.

How it works?

• Replace pre-2007 diesel bus with new cleaner bus e.g. MY 2017 or 2018

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Assistance. The Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA) has partnered with a professional grant writer. TPGA can you put school districts interested in applying in touch with this grant writer if the district, bus dealer or fuel provider wish to procure her services.

If school districts or TPGA members have questions, please contact TPGA at (800)325-7427 or contact Kelsey Hopkinson at TCEQ at 800-919-TERP (8377) or CleanBus@tceq.texas.gov.

Additional Funding. There are numerous funding opportunities that come available for school buses sometimes through supplemental environmental programs available in certain regions like the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), other TCEQ programs, other state agency programs and federal programs.

Get grant alerts in TPGA member communications like the TPGA Monday Morning Messenger, our weekly newsletter and TPGA Insider, our monthly newsletter or members can call TPGA for grant guidance..

How Propane School Buses Led One Small Texas Town down a Diverse Propane Path

By Judy L. Marchman

Five years ago, the small northeast Texas town of Bonham took the plunge into using propane autogas when the school board approved the purchase of five propane autogas school buses. Located just south of the Red River in Fannin County, Bonham, with a population of around 10,000, doesn’t seem like the obvious candidate for converting school buses to propane.

For example, Northside ISD in San Antonio has developed the largest propanepowered fleets in the state with nearly 500 propane-powered school buses.

These benefits, however, are not limited just to major urban areas like San Antonio or Dallas/Fort Worth area. Smaller, more rural towns like Bonham are taking advantage of these incentives, too.

Benefits of Propane Autogas

With local governments and school districts facing tight budgets, cost-savings probably rates as the number one benefit

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for converting to propane autogas.

A clean-burning alternative vehicle fuel, propane autogas costs on average about $1.00 less per gallon than gasoline, with fleets realizing fuel cost savings of 30 percent to 50 percent. Combined with available incentives, converting to propane autogas can make good economic sense.

“The motivation to get started was definitely the price break,” said Bill Wakefield, Director of Operations at Bonham ISD, which has 1,900 students and an 11-bus fleet.

That initial purchase of school buses consisted of two 71-passenger and three smaller, 22-24-passenger buses. Local propane marketer McCraw Propane, led by its Director of Transportation Scott Miller, assisted the district in procuring more than $100,000 in grant money, including funds from the Texas Railroad Commission and Cleanfuel USA, toward the purchase. At the same time, two of the oldest large buses were removed from service and sold for scrap.

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Bonham ISD has since added two more large buses, one via incentives and the other a recent purchase, for seven total, and Wakefield said he would like to continue replacing diesel buses until the fleet is all propane. The district also converted two Ford F-250 trucks from its five-truck white fleet and two Hustler mowers thanks to the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) incentives.

While the potential cost-savings can get municipalities or businesses through the door, making the switch to propane autogas offers other benefits, as well.

Propane autogas greatly reduces harmful emissions making it more environmentally friendly. It is safe and reliable to use, and is produced almost entirely domestically. Propane autogas also produces much less wear and tear on engines, something that Wakefield said he appreciated right away.

“There will be savings in the longevity of the engines,” he said. “You can change the oil in a propane-powered bus and do the same for a diesel bus, and it’s night and day. The diesel oil is dirty.”

Converting to Propane Autogas

McCraw Propane handled the light truck and propane commercial mower conversions for the district, from the incentive process to installing a refueling station at the district’s transportation facility to doing the conversions for the trucks and mowers in its conversion shop.

A member of the Alliance AutoGas network, McCraw Propane is a certified on-road engine converter for light- and medium-duty trucks as well as for commercial zero-turn mowers and uses EPAcertified propane conversion systems.

More recently, McCraw Propane approached the City of Bonham about converting its white fleet, and for Ronnie Hill, the superintendent of the Parks and Recreation department, the decision was a no brainer.

“They had nice incentives so it wasn’t going to cost us any money to convert, and we save money in fuel costs, as well,” Hill said.

“The City of Bonham Parks and Rec and Streets departments both took advantage of available ProCOT incentives,” said Sam Fox, director of business development at McCraw Propane, with Hill’s department getting two propane-powered trucks and Streets getting one.

Hill’s department, which maintains a white fleet of four trucks, received a new Ford F250 truck and had another converted earlier this year. McCraw handled the conversion in one day; a conversion averages $7,500 per light-duty vehicle.

“We have our own conversion shop, which allows us to control the quality of conversions and ensure everything is up to our standards,” Fox said.

Fox advised propane marketers interested in expanding into autogas or helping their municipality in converting their fleet to contact ProCOT to learn more about available incentives.

“You need to invest the money in a conversion shop or find a conversion partner — and research that they are EPAcertified for propane conversion systems,” he added. “Then, you need to know the incentives and go out and talk about it in your community.”

As Bonham has shown, any Texas town, no matter the size, has the potential to benefit from propane autogas.

For more information on propane autogas, visit ProCOT’s Fueling Texas website at fuelingtexas.com.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN TEXAS PROPANE Magazine?

For Advertising, contact: Joanne Pantaze at 512-273-2639 or by email at jpantaze@pvco.net

A re Y ou

GAMBLING W ith your insurance?

Other propane owners have come to our agency to cover their insurance bets: 1) Most tell us they have no idea what companies insure their industry and are surprised to learn there are multiple options available; 2) Many have discovered a gap in coverage after meeting with us; 3) Some have grown frustrated with the lack of timely response and personal service from their current agent.

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— Josh McAdams McAdams Propane Co. Midstream Transportation Co.

401 N. Ridgeway Drive, Cleburne TX 76033 | 817-645-9155 MEMBER

March 2018 •

Texas Propane

15

Where in the World

Canadian School Bus Operator Turns to Propane Hammond Transportation, a school bus operator in Ontario, Canada, is looking to propane to fuel its future. The company recently purchased 10 new buses fueled by propane.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, providing a cleaner riding environment for students, and reducing maintenance costs for each unit, were all reasons cited by Hammond Transportation for the purchase of the propane autogas school buses. Each bus is equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system.

There are some additional up-front costs for the alternatively fueled buses including the cost of the propane conversion, the installation of the fuel station, driver training and additional training and licensing requirements for mechanics.

They will fuel all of their propane buses at an on-site autogas fueling station. “”This is a bit of an pilot project for us”” noted Greg Hammond, CEO of the company. “We have done a lot of research on

this project and we are confident that the propane buses won’t cost us more in the long run. We know that these buses will be better for the environment both short and long term. They really make sense on every level for us.”

Some of the benefits of the new buses include the fact that propane autogas is sourced in Canada, further reducing dependence on foreign oil; the engines are up to 50% quieter than diesel engines so the bus driver can hear the children on the bus and be more attentive; They also offer excellent cold-weather start performance with no pre-heating of the engine or fuel additives required. Blue Bird Propane Vision buses start in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees so they save on electricity because the propane buses do not need to have block heaters plugged in.

“In the United States, there are many, many school boards that are converting to propane autogas,” said Dan Petruccelli, Regional Account Manager for Girardin Blue Bird. “We’re hoping that will happen here in Ontario as well.” According to Petruccelli, the propane-powered vehicles are both greener and safer than those that run on traditional diesel power. They are clean-burning and generate virtually no toxic emissions.

CALLIE STEWART Marketing Representative o / 713.381.4586 m / 832.264.4775 CBStewart@eprod.com BRIAN WILKIN Senior Manager, Wholesale Propane o / 713.381.3923 m / 832.803.2304 BDWilkin@eprod.com

16

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

www.enterpriseproducts.com

S OF ION R A E Y 70 RICAT B A F K K TRUC

TAN White River Distributors, Inc. has been an industry leader since 1944, with a staff of sales professionals with over 100 years of experience to help make your purchase an easy one. We have tanks 600 to 8000 gallons, your choice of chassis. Build to your specifications. New, used, and refurbished propane bobtails, change-overs, and repairs. Financing available, delivery service available. Trade-ins Accepted. Pick up the phone and give us a call.

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March 2018 •

Texas Propane

17

Sales Edge

Why Buyers Love to Delay Buying

By Mark Hunter “The Sales Hunter”

Salespeople love to complain about buyers. One of the complaints salespeople share the most is that buyers never seem to make up their mind. Just about the time it looks like they’re going to make a buying decision, they suddenly hold off.

Yes, there are times when a buyer legitimately can’t make a decision.

Many times, though, the delay is nothing more than a tactic on the part of the buyer to get a better deal. This is especially true of professional buyers, who see numerous salespeople on a regular basis. Why should anyone make a decision quickly if they don’t have to? More often than not, the buyers believe that by waiting, they will get a better deal. The salesperson will get scared and will think the only way to secure the sale is to offer a discount. Buyers believe this because experience has shown them that it works!

Salespeople by nature are scared. Don’t take offense to my observation, because I include myself in this profession as well.

We, unfortunately, can view things too quickly in a negative manner. For most salespeople, the way out of a situation like this is to immediately offer the buyer a price reduction. This is exactly what the buyer wants! They are looking for the salesperson to show some fear and some sense that the sale may not happen at all.

18

Once the buyer smells fear, they know a better deal is about to appear.

This is also a key reason why many professional buyers love to ignore phone calls, emails and all other forms of communication from salespeople. Nothing can make a salesperson more scared than a buyer who doesn’t communicate with them. If you’re a buyer, it’s hard to find any activities that can result in a higher return on investment than ignoring a salesperson or holding off on making a decision. These tactics usually result in saving money.

Now let’s look at this challenge from a salesperson’s perspective. Salespeople love to close sales and they also love to close sales quickly, preferably with as little effort as possible. But effort – particularly mental effort – can make the difference.

This is the ability to understand and rationalize objectively what is happening and what is not happening. This means understanding why the buyer does need to buy from you and how what you’re selling will allow them to achieve their needs and objectives. The more you can build this kind of objective thinking into your attitude, the better equipped you are to keep negativity at bay. Negative thinking is the culprit that takes the biggest toll on a salesperson’s level of success.

As soon as the salesperson begins view-

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

ing the situation negatively and how the sale may not occur, it’s only natural for them to think the solution is to lower the price or offer something extra in the form of service. When the salesperson does this, two things happen. First, it confirms in the buyer’s mind why the smart thing to do is to slow down the decisionmaking process. Second, it destroys profit margin for the salesperson.

While there are several techniques to counter these outcomes, there really is only one that is foundationally most important – the confidence of the salesperson. If the salesperson is not confident, then every other tactic or strategy is useless and will have little effect. Everything starts with the salesperson.

Confidence begins with the total belief in your own skill set as a salesperson and total belief in your ability to help the buyer fill the needs they have. If you don’t believe in both of these, then there is nothing else you can do to prevent the buyer from taking advantage of you by delaying their decision. Buyers, especially professional buyers, can discern very quickly how confident a salesperson is.

If they sense the salesperson is not confident, then they’ll delay their decision.

They have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing so.

On the other hand, if you as the salesperson are determined to regularly and intentionally strengthen your own resolve and your own confidence, your natural reaction to stalling buyers will not be to cave under the pressure. Your reflex will be to wholeheartedly believe in your product, your price and your potential to help the customer achieve their goals.

Are you going to let fear or confidence determine your future? The choice is yours, so choose wisely. And profitably.

Mark Hunter, The Sales Hunter, is author of “High-Profit Selling: Win the Sale Without Compromising on Price.” He is a consultative selling expert committed to helping individuals and companies identify better prospects and close more profitable sales. To get a free weekly sales tip, visit www.TheSalesHunter.com.

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March 2018 •

Texas Propane

19

Business Beat

Tips to Stay Sane While Collecting Debt Keep Your Calm

While it would be natural to be upset about someone breaking their contractual obligation to your business, being angry helps no one. Things can quickly spiral out of control. Instead, approach your customer with kindness. How can you help them solve this problem? Smile while you talk so they can feel your empathy.

Document Everything

If you are like most business owners, collecting debt is way down on your list of “things I like to do.” You want to sell propane. You want to solve customer problems and give people peace of mind through cold winters. Can’t they just pay the invoices?

Alas, it doesn’t always happen. And once you’ve sent out past due notices on a regular basis, it is often time to pick up the phone and find out what can be done

before you consider selling the debt to a collection agency.

What you’re hoping to find, of course, are customers who have simply mislaid the invoice, or put it aside and forgotten about it. But you will certainly find customers who have no intention of paying you and will go out of their way to avoid your calls.

Here are some tips to surviving the collections maze and turning no-pays into slow pays.

While the result you are aiming for is resolution, if you do end up headed for court or to a debt collection agency, you need to have your ducks in a row. Copy all correspondence that has been sent.

Make records with specific date and time stamps of each conversation along with what was talked about and agreed to. Log all in-person visits you make, including all promised resolution.

Persistence, Not Harassment

You are certainly within your rights to pursue what is owed, but draw a line between being persistent and harassing your customer. Calling every day for 60 days and yelling is harassment. Calling for weekly follow ups is persistent.

Settle for Less

Certain you’ll never see a dime and ready to write off a debt? Offer to settle for less. There’s a chance that while the customer can’t come up with the full amount, they might have some cash available. By the same token, perhaps offer to have them pay you in increments that their budget can allow. Paying you off $100 a month over six months is not ideal, but it beats not seeing your money.

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20

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

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Hire a Collection Agency

If you find that you’re starting to carry a lot of un-paid receivables and spending too much time trying to collect, consider selling the debt to a collection agency. You won’t get all of your money, but you will get something.

No one enjoys calling on debts. But it’s a reality of running a business. There is a fine line to walk between being perceived as a pushover and being too harsh. Find that line and know your rights as you try to keep your receivables at acceptable levels.

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Safety Talk

Recognizing and Testing for Anhydrous Ammonia Safety Meeting 3Perform a litmus test (see below) to confirm that the tank is contaminated.

3 Stop activities, isolate the container, and alert your supervisor.

3 Follow your company’s guidelines about what to do with the potentially affected container.

If a litmus test is positive for ammonia, stop all deliveries, secure the tank, and consult with your supervisor for the best approach to remedy.

STEPS FOR PERFORMING A LITMUS TEST: 3Obtain a bottle of distilled water; clean tweezers; a clean, dry

Since some propane distributors transport both propane and anhydrous ammonia, there is the possibility of contamination of bulk propane containers. In addition to affecting propane’s performance, such contamination can present safety risks. Because of the safety hazards posed by anhydrous ammonia, propane workers should be trained and cognizant of how to detect anhydrous ammonia contamination at both the bulk plant and in portable containers. The tips below will help supplement your knowledge and ability to test for, detect, and address issues.

RECOGNIZING AND TESTING FOR CONTAMINATION IN PORTABLE CONTAINERS: 3 Odor or visual evidence. You can recognize anhydrous am-

cloth; and a package of red litmus paper.

3 Remove work gloves, as they could affect litmus readings and invalidate the test.

3 Clean and wipe the tweezers with the water and dry cloth.

3 Remove one piece of litmus paper from the package using the tweezers. Do not allow the litmus paper to touch anything.

3 Carefully soak the litmus paper with distilled water.

3 Open any valve that is in the vapor space such as the service valve or fixed maximum liquid level gauge.

3 Hold the paper directly in the stream of propane vapor for at least 30 seconds.

If the litmus paper remains red, verify that your company’s policies allow the container to be put back into service. If the litmus paper turns blue, the propane may be contaminated with anhydrous ammonia. Notify your supervisor and follow your company’s safety protocols.

Discussion Topics 1. As you unload cylinders at a site, you notice bluish discoloration around the fittings, but are unsure if it is corrosion.

The customer has expressed need for immediate propane delivery. How do you respond?

monia contamination by its smell or by evidence of a blue-green corrosion on brass or copper fittings. If either of these signs are present, stop your activity, isolate the container, and alert your supervisor.

3 History of contamination or suspect circumstances. If no visible signs exist, but there is reason to believe there may be an ammonia issue, perform a litmus test (see next column) to determine whether that the tank is contaminated.

Contaminated containers are often purged with water in an effort to remedy. Even if this occurs, ammonia vapor may still remain. It is important to test all returning containers for evidence of such vapor, as it could damage a propane system’s copper and brass components.

LEARNING ACTIVITY Walk participants through the process of performing a litmus test.

Discuss your company’s specific procedures for testing for ammonia and for handling potentially contaminated tanks.

RECOGNIZING AND TESTING FOR CONTAMINATION IN BULK TANKS:

Source: Basic Plant Operations (PERC) – part of the PERC Safety Talk Series

The best ways to recognize possible contamination in bulk storage tanks is by odor or evidence of corrosion. However, since corrosion may take time, it is important to also:

22

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

2. The results of a litmus test on a propane container are inconclusive. What should be your next steps?

For more information about recognizing and testing for anhydrous ammonia, visit propanesafety.com.

Inside the Industry

People in Propane In January, Roy Morton, owner of Conroe Welding Supply and CWS Propane was inducted into the Wall of Honor by the Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. Kudos!

Patricia Ann Mitchell, wife of Sonny Mitchell, passed away on February 10. Her family started Mitchell Butane in Arlington. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

TPGA Members: Upcoming 1st Quarter Board & Committee Meetings

A TPGA board of directors meeting for the first quarter of 2018 has been called by TPGA President John Walter. All TPGA members are invited to participate in the board and committee meetings.

Join us in Austin March 6 & 7 for a series of committee meetings and a board of directors meeting. There are a wide range of topics on the agenda for the meetings including year-end financials, an update on the legal proceedings, a Find a Retailer website demonstration, discussion

on district meetings, state regulatory update, the 2018 Crossroads Propane Expo+Conference, the next board meeting and more.

Dinner on March 6 will be at Maggiano’s and the check is on the Association! Contact the TPGA office at 800.325.7427 or info@txpropane.com for more information on the meetings or how you can participate.

Women in Propane Council (WIP) Leadership Forum at the NPGA Expo

NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo

The National Propane Gas Association is

D.L.Morrison Welding & Construction L.P. MC 330 & 331 Transport & Bobtail Testing & Inspecting MC 330 & 331 Transport & Bobtail Repair & Re-furbish Storage Installation Compressor Repair 217 Morrison Hill Lane • Gainesville,Tx. 76240 Ricky Taylor 940-727-8608 • Mason Day 940-727-1355 Fax 940-612-2055 E-mail ricky_taylor62@yahoo.com 24

hosting Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo on April 6 - 8, 2018 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Southeastern will include an expo, breakout sessions, fast track sessions and technical workshops.

Find out more at www.npgaexpo.org

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

The Women in Propane Council (WIP) is organizing and producing a Leadership Forum at the NPGA Expo.

For those ready to advance their careers, the LEADERSHIP FORUM features DiSC© Management Model. This is the tool you want on “Day One” as a manager!

The 5-hour training is open to men and women, to those who are new or experienced with DiSC profile, including new, future, or veteran managers.

The Leadership Forum development program gathers propane professionals from employees of family-owned, regional, and multi-state firms, including business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate officers, staff members and managers at all levels within company operations. Plan to attend the NPGA Expo in Atlanta where the training occurs on Friday, April 6, 9:00am – 2:00 pm. This intensive training package includes online assessment prior to Atlanta session, 5-hour training, a boxed lunched and beverages onsite.

Package cost: $175 per person.

For more information, visit https:// www.npgaexpo.org or contact WIP@ npga.org.

March 2018 •

Texas Propane

25

TPGA Scholarship Foundation Competition Open

mit applications for consideration in our scholarship competition.

Students who have already applied for the National Propane Gas Association Scholarship and are from Texas are automatically into the TPGA scholarship so no need to reapply.

Learn more or to apply at https://www. txpropane.com/scholarships.

TPGA Members. Do you or one of your employees have a child or grandchild graduating high school this year or currently enrolled in college?

Have you told them about the Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA) Scholarship?

Over the last 20 years, the TPGA Scholarship Foundation has distributed $100,000 to members’ children and grandchildren seeking a higher education. The TPGA Scholarship Foundation provides scholarships for exceptional students who will be pursuing a degree from a two-year college, four-year university, or who will be enrolled in technical school.

May 15, 2018 is the deadline to sub-

Advance Your Career with a Knowledge Partner

Men and women in the propane workplace can be individually mentored by an experienced propane veteran by joining Knowledge Exchange, the nationwide mentoring network.

Knowledge Partners (mentee and mentor pairs) are matched using Mentor Scout software and a professional, personal review of all matches. Mentees set their own goals. Mentors guide and support mentees to achieve their workplace goals. There are 48 Areas for Development in the Knowledge Exchange.

Are you ready to experience the advantages a structured mentoring program

provides? Go to www.npga.org to sign up as a volunteer mentor or to register as a mentee and submit your $250 payment, a wise investment in your career.

The Women in Propane Council (WIP) organizes and produces Knowledge Exchange 6-month courses (MayOctober). Knowledge Partners spend approximately one hour every two weeks meeting by phone or Skype/FaceTime.

All participants are trained by webinar in April 2018. For more information, contact KnowledgeExchange@npga.org.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

AUG 04 AUG 06 2018

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Garrett Insurance Agency, Inc Formerly, Southern Star Insurance Agency, Inc Cecil Joiner, Risk Manager cecil@garrettinsurance.com 1-800-545-2565 www.garrettinsurance.com

PetroStar Equipment Resources Purchase & Sale Pre-Owned Propane Tanks 5,000 gallons to 120,000 gallons FOR SALE 15,000 gallon, 250 psi, Eaton Metal Fab (2) 30,000 gallon, 250 psi, Mississippi Tank Contact: Jim Oliver (936) 755-6108 petrostar@pdq.net

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28

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Calendar

Index to Advertisers

March

26 NPGA Benchmarking Council (Groups A-H) San Diego, CA

1 Texas Recreation & Park Society Expo Waco, TX

May

6-7 TPGA Board & Related Committee Meetings Austin, TX

3 NPGA Benchmarking Council (Groups I-M) San Diego, CA

27 DFW Clean Cities Smartscape Meeting Plano, TX

10-11 PERC Advisory Committee Meeting St. Louis, MO

30 TPGA office closed for Good Friday

15 TPGA Scholarship Deadline

April

5 PERC Council Meeting Atlanta, GA 6-8 2018 NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo Atlanta, GA

BLT Tanks 23 Cargas Systems 21 Cunningham Gas Products 25 D. L. Morrison Welding 24 Enterprise Products 16 Flynt Paint Products 26 Gas Equipment Company 19 Lone Star Energy Group 17 Longhorn Propane 28 Lumbermen’s Insurance Agency 19 Marshall Excelsior 5 Marshall Young Insurance 15

15-16 TPGA Board & Related Committee Meetings Austin, TX

Meeder Equipment Co. 13

28 TPGA office closed for Memorial Day

Quality Steel Corporation 25

Click Like on the Texas Propane Gas Association Page Follow Us with TPGA’s twitter @txpropane1

Pinnacle Propane Inside Front Cover Propane Service Corporation 20

Rural Computer Consultants 26 Warm Thoughts Communications Inside Back Cover White River Distributors 17

This Space could be yours

COMING Next Issue How to Engage the Builder Community Enhanced Builder Incentive Program March 2018 •

Texas Propane

29

Propane With Purpose

California Firm to Develop Heavy Duty 12L Propane Autogas Engine for European Class 8 Trucks

In December 2017, the California engineering firm Omnitek Engineering Corp. announced it received a contract to develop a heavy-duty 12-liter propane autogas engine for Class 8 trucks for the European marketplace.

The 12-liter 360 hp propane (LPG) engine complements the company’s current development of a 13-liter 450 hp heavy-duty natural gas engine for Class 8 truck applications to meet EURO 6 emissions. The propane engine will also meet the EURO 6 emissions and is targeted for regions with no access to natural gas -- particularly European countries with mature fueling infrastructure for propane due to decades of LPG utilization in passenger vehicles, making autogas, readily available.

The ability of Omnitek’s technology to achieve EURO 6 emissions certification standards, which is a competitive advantage and not easily achieved, has not gone unnoticed in Europe. In addition, the availability of a 13-liter 450 hp EURO 6 heavy-duty natural gas engine and a 12-liter 360 hp propane autogas engine “should further accelerate deployment of clean eco-friendly, heavy-duty trucks in Europe, as well as other world regions that require Euro 6 certification,” said Werner Funk, president and chief executive officer of Omnitek Engineering Corp.

30

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Funk highlighted the low-cost and clean-burning benefits of natural gas and propane -- particularly as oil prices begin to increase and emissions policies address the landmark 200-nation Paris Agreement on Climate Change. “CO2, NOx and black carbon emissions from diesel engines, potent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are abated when utilizing natural gas or propane, and our technology offers countries around the globe a viable and proven solution,” he said.

He emphasized that even with relatively low oil prices, the company is still in active discussions with several large fleet operators for new and/or expanded conversion programs. Funk added he anticipates certain key project expanding soon, as fleet managers complete analyzing the data from on-road evaluation programs and focus on the economic benefits of a pay-back period of less than two years for diesel-to-propane engine conversions, especially as diesel prices have increased recently.

“In addition, the environmental benefits and related compliance issues with meeting emissions mandates are important catalysts for fleet conversions and we look forward to further accelerating the utilization of natural gas and propane,” Funk said.

We’re not asking you to think outside the box.

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TPGA Member companies' children & grandchildren are invited to enter our annual scholarship competition to help with the high cost of getting a higher education.

Learn more at www.txpropane.com Deadline is May 15, 2018