Mower Equipment
As your elected State Director, I wanted to provide you with an update on the activities at the most recent NPGA Board of Directors meeting held February 6 – 8 in Monterey, California.
The week’s business included Committee and Section meetings, a fireside chat about gas bans legislation, a presentation on artificial intelligence, a forklift panel discussion, and much more. The PropanePAC hosted an event and NPGA recognized Jeff Stewart’s service as Chair at the Board of Directors reception on Wednesday evening. I encourage you to read my report.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you
Sincerely,
Kara Tucker
Koppy’s Propane
See below to read report or Click HERE to read on NPGA’s Member Dashboard.
NPGA’s Board of Directors met in Monterey, California February 6 – 8, 2024. The week’s business included Committee and Section meetings; a fireside chat about gas bans legislation with attorney Sarah Jorgensen; a Propane, Politics, & Coffee presentation on artificial intelligence by tech expert Dylan Hoffman; a forklift panel discussion; and much more. The PropanePAC hosted an event and NPGA recognized Jeff Stewart’s service as Chair at the Board of Directors reception on Wednesday evening. Here are some of the key policy discussions and updates from NPGA:
Young Professionals Council
The NPGA Board of Directors formally approved a new business council within NPGA: the Young Professionals Council (YPC). The primary goals of the YPC are to support the professional development of emerging leaders in the propane industry through education sessions and webinars, to facilitate direct access of young professionals to NPGA leadership, and to create a pipeline of voluntary association leaders. The YPC is aligned with Women in Propane (WIP) and Young Gassers. The 30-under-30 program will be housed within the YPC. The YPC is a formal business council, has a dues structure similar to WIP, a 5-person steering committee with a dedicated NPGA staff liaison, and has membership limited to those 40 and under working for an NPGA member company. The YPC will launch at the 2024 Southeastern Expo in Charlotte.
Gas Bans Litigation Fireside Chat
NPGA President Steve Kaminski hosted a fireside chat with Sarah Jorgensen, lead legal counsel representing energy choice proponents in the Berkeley gas bans litigation and NPGA, NYPGA, and others challenging the New York state energy law in federal court. The two discussed the impact the 9th Circuit decision has on the state and municipal gas bans landscape and the current state of the lawsuit in New York.
Legal Action Committee
NPGA’s legal action committee held its first in-person meeting. The committee discussed updates to seven ongoing lawsuits that NPGA is directly involved in or indirectly playing a role. The committee approved a motion to finance a second round of funding for the ongoing lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy in the District of Columbia Federal Circuit Court regarding the Commercial Water Heater Rule, the Furnace Rule, and the Interpretive Rule. The committee also discussed Washington state’s litigation funding request and reported out to the full Board.
Marketers Section
District 3 Director Stephanie Hennen provided highlights from the district breakouts. Director Hennen noted that propane provides a clean, cost-effective fuel that can be used to help states achieve their environmental goals and decarbonization targets. Stuart Weidie, Immediate Past Chair of PERC, gave an update on PERC activities. Mr. Weidie noted that CETP is now accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). This accreditation is important as PERC continues to discuss the CETP program with community colleges and vocational schools. The Council is also sponsoring research to better understand the butane content of renewable propane.
Forklifts Panel
The Marketers Section hosted a forklift panel discussion featuring industry experts Brian Feehan of the Industrial Truck Association, Jim Rushing of Energy Distribution Partners, and Colin Sueyres of the Western Propane Gas Association. Mr. Feehan highlighted trends in the electric and internal combustion (IC) lift truck marketplace, including the impact that state regulations have on consumer demand. Colin Sueyres provided an overview of California’s forklift rulemaking and the negative impact it would have on the marketers who serve forklift accounts, as well as the businesses that rely on propane-powered forklifts for their operational needs. The panel urged industry members to engage with state associations and legislators to safeguard against similar restrictive forklift regulations that could be pursued in their state. Marketers are encouraged to share propane’s positive attributes and use various communication channels to counter harmful proposals. The overall message stressed the importance of industry vigilance and proactive communication with customers, legislators, and regulators to preserve propane as a crucial energy resource across the states.
Governmental Affairs Committee
The Governmental Affairs Committee convened to receive updates from NPGA staff and discuss pressing advocacy issues impacting the propane industry. As is customary, the Committee broke into three task force sessions – federal legislative, federal regulatory, and state.
- In the legislative session, NPGA staff provided updates on the challenges newly-elected Speaker Mike Johnson faces in passing full-year funding bills and other key pieces of legislation.
- The federal regulatory team discussed recent rulemakings from the Department of Energy (Furnace, Water Heater, Boiler), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and guidance from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
- The state breakout discussed the enactment of energy choice laws in four new states and the extension of legal protections to cover propane appliances, such as fireplaces and cooktops.
PropanePAC
The PropanePAC Steering Committee met to discuss current fundraising efforts, disbursements, and possible events for the upcoming Propane Days in Washington, D.C., and Board of Directors meeting in San Antonio, TX, later this year. The Committee proposed new ideas for branding and overall PropanePAC marketing to current and potential contributors and expressed interest in gift ideas for PAC contributors. An additional focus of the committee was to develop a more robust peer-to-peer engagement strategy and to expand prior authorization efforts. The committee stressed the PAC’s importance to supporting the industry at both the State and Federal levels.
Propane, Politics, and Coffee
The PAC hosted a lively Propane, Politics, & Coffee event with Dylan Hoffman, Executive Director of TechNet. Hoffman presented an engaging overview about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impacts on the propane industry. Hoffman reviewed the basic principles of using AI as a tool and covered common concerns around potential job loss and multiple regulatory updates. While efficiency and data mapping are some of the benefits AI promises to bring the industry, Hoffman expressed that navigating ongoing regulations is top of mind for the immediate future of this developing technology.
Propane Supply and Logistics Committee
The Propane Supply and Logistics (PSL) Committee discussed a range of pertinent issues. NPGA’s Ben Nussdorf provided crucial updates on the FMCSA’s proposed rulemaking and the logistical challenges faced in Alaska, especially regarding propane transportation. Eric Sears offered insights into the PLAN app rebranding, emphasizing utility during peak times and emergencies. Updates from RBN were also significant, with Twana Aiken and Todd Root discussing the infrastructure map update and current market trends, respectively. The session concluded with an open forum for regional discussions and a call for questions for the upcoming committee meeting with the American Trucking Association.
Renewable Fuels Committee
The NPGA Renewable Fuels Committee (RFC) reviewed the progress made since the October 2023 meeting. The Federal Legislative, Federal Regulatory, State Advocacy, and Codes and Standards subcommittees provided detailed reports on their respective advocacy activities with a spotlight on significant achievements and current priorities in the realm of advocacy for renewable fuels. Jeff Stewart, the RFC Chair, motivated attendees with a forward-looking perspective and an emphasis on the importance of continued effort to advance the development and adoption of renewable propane and its associated blends.