Press Releases

Pennsylvania Announces 2018 Grant Funding Awards for Alternative Fuels Incentive Program – Including Propane Autogas Projects

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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $2.6 million in grant funding to municipalities and businesses, as well as $610,000 to four school districts, for clean vehicle projects statewide as part of the Commonwealth’s 2018 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants (AFIG) Program.

The projects for the municipalities and businesses are expected to reduce emissions by more than 2,800 tons and save more than 1 million gasoline gallon equivalents annually. The funding for the school districts will enable them to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 316 tons annually and save more than 67,000 gallons of diesel per year.

Here is a summary of the awards that involve Propane AutoGas projects:

Delaware County

  • Colonial Airport Parking Inc.: $66,000 for four propane AutoGas shuttle buses.

Montgomery County

  • Suburban Transit Network Inc.: $300,000 to purchase 14 propane AutoGas shuttle buses and convert seven additional vehicles to propane AutoGas.

Washington County

  • Monark Student Transportation: $76,000 to purchase eight propane AutoGas school buses.

Dauphin County

  • Derry Township School District: $68,000 to purchase eight propane AutoGas school buses.

McKean County

• Bradford Area School District: $19,000 for this first-time AFIG recipient to purchase two propane AutoGas school buses.

Delaware County

  • Haverford Township School District: $68,000 to purchase eight propane AutoGas school buses.

Montgomery County

• North Penn School District: $300,000 for this first-time AFIG recipient to purchase 10 propane AutoGas school buses and convert 16 buses to propane AutoGas, as well as $155,302 to construct a fast-fill propane AutoGas fueling station for its fleet.

“The AFIG program continues to be a valuable incentive for school districts choosing propane as the alternative fuel to power their school bus fleets,” stated Steve Bell, Director of Transportation with Derry Township School District. “It has assisted my school district to make an environmentally responsible decision, as well as a financially responsible one, enabling us to purchase propane school buses at a cost comparable to diesel and gasoline. Our propane buses have proven to be cost effective and reliable.” 

“The primary goals of the AFIG program is to improve the air quality in Pennsylvania and reduce imported oil consumption.” stated Shelby Bell, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association. “Propane AutoGas achieves and even exceeds these goals.”

About the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association

The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association (PAPGA) is a member-focused trade association providing services that communicate, educate and promote the propane industry in Pennsylvania. The association was formed in 1947 to offer opportunities to learn through training and networking with peers, and to aid with legislative issues that contribute to operating a safe and successful industry. PAPGA continues to focus on education, networking and representing the interest of Pennsylvania’s propane businesses to the government, while assisting members in remaining current on topics vital to the propane industry. The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association is affiliated with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC).

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2018/2019 Board of Directors Announced

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PAPGA Announces 2018/2019 Board of Directors

The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association (PAPGA) has announced their 2018-2019 Board of Directors.

Executive Committee:

President                                  Harold Sweet, Star Group, LP
President-Elect                         Beth Donovan, AmeriGas Propane
Vice President                          Hugh Rich, III, Richgas
Secretary                                  Chris Wolfe, Patriot Propane
Treasurer                                 Mark Delehanty, Independence Propane
NPGA State Director                Kara Tucker, Koppy’s Propane
Immediate Past President       Dan Balmer, Penn Valley Gas

District Directors:

            District #1      Hugh “Bud” Rich, Richgas
                                     David Pennypacker, Superior Plus Energy

            District #2     Norm Cupples, ProGas
                                    Mike Salansky, III. Stuck Enterprises

            District #3     John Maruska, ALGAS
                                    Zac Cromie, Smith Propane & Oil

            District #4     Dan Messett, Leran Gas Products

            District #5     Jennifer Goldbach, Rhoads Energy
                                    Tim Jackson, Rhoads Energy

           District #6      Rory Greenley, Ace-Robbins
                                    Greg Smith, Bluhm’s Gas

           District #7      Mike George, EF Laudenslager, Inc
                                    Jay Gorzkowski, Modern Gas Sales

            District #8     John Cepiel, Sullivan Oil & Propane
                                    Randy Styer, Styer Propane

 Directors at Large:
                  Dale Aldrich, Bergquist, Inc.              
                  Ryan DiGuiseppe, Global Gas
                  DeAnn Driscoll, Ditech Testing
                  John Murray, Ray Murray, Inc                        
                  Pat Shay, Tarantin Industries, Inc

2018 Propane Days

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Register Today for Propane Days 2018!

Does propane being included in OSHA’s crane rule seem ridiculous? Or ever wondered why we can’t ship American propane from one US port to another because of the Jones Act? Or why doesn’t Congress consistently pass tax credits for alternative fuels like propane? If you say “Yes!” to any of these questions, then we need you at Propane Days!

Register today for Propane Days 2018, and join hundreds of your colleagues in Washington, DC, on June 5-6 to educate legislators about propane and their need to take action for our industry. Early bird registration of $99 is available until May 14, then the price increases to $149.

And be sure to take advantage of special room rates at our host hotel, the Renaissance Washington Downtown Hotel. (If you have difficulty reserving a room online, call 800-468-3571 and request the National Propane Gas Association rate.) The group rate is available until May 14 or until the block is sold out.

Also register today for one of NPGA’s webinars to get informed on the three big issues we’ll be talking about during our Capitol Hill visits! Each webinar will be held regularly on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Eastern. 

Here’s the schedule and registration links:

May 10 – Exempting Propane Shipments from the Jones Act

May 17 – Extending Tax Credits for Propane

May 24 – Crane Rule

May 31 — Jones Act/Tax Extenders (second chance if you miss May 10 or May 17)

For more information, including a schedule of events, visit the Propane Days 2018 website or contact NPGA’s Lesley Garland at lgarland@npga.org.

 

 

Pennsylvania is a Leader in Propane Autogas Buses

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Propane powered School Buses are making an impact across the United States. More school districts have discovered that environmentally-friendly propane autogas offers the lowest cost of ownership available, year-round reliability and significantly reduced emissions.

Over 14,000 propane autogas school buses are in use across the country, with 831 on the roads in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State ranks fourth overall, with Texas (2,600), California (1,249) and Oregon (865) ranking as the top three.

Propane autogas school buses feature many advantages over diesel buses. One advantage is the reduction of noise pollution. The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association invites parents, school officials and interested citizens to take the audio propane bus quiz by sitting in the driver’s seat to experience how much quieter propane buses operate.

Parents, guardians, and educators can make a positive impact on students’ future by advocating for propane powered buses. Think about how much time the student in your life spends on a school bus. While many students take the bus every weekday, we do not often talk about the quality of their buses, or how buses affect learning and our communities. Download this toolkit for tips on how to advocate to your school district about propane autogas buses.

School Transportation Professionals have the power to create change for students. Not only do propane autogas school buses have the lowest total cost-of-ownership, putting money right back into the educational system; they offer proven performance from the brands they know. Discover the cost savings by using the Propane Autogas Calculator.

“Propane autogas is proven to be the best value for school buses,” stated Shelby Bell, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association. “It’s affordability alone makes it a smarter alternative to conventional fuels. Add to that the many benefits provided for children, communities, and our planet, and it’s no wonder more school districts are choosing propane autogas every day.”

 

About the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association
The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association serves more than 430 members of the propane industry by promoting safety, education, and public awareness of the uses of propane.

Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association Joins Energy Infrastructure Alliance

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For more information, contact:
Shelby Bell
717.441.6040
Shelby@papropane.com

Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association (PAPGA), a member-focused trade association providing services that promote the state’s propane industry, has joined the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance (PEIA), a broad-based coalition of labor, agriculture, manufacturing and other business interests that support private investment in pipeline and other energy infrastructure developments.

“Pennsylvania residents and businesses use propane because it’s a clean, efficient and versatile source of energy,” said Mike Mutter, PAPGA President. “However, our communities need a dependable and safe transportation system to ensure that they have access to propane and the other clean-burning fuels they’ve come to rely upon daily.

“Investing in energy infrastructure ensures that residents benefit from opportunities for in-demand careers and continue to have access to our affordable, homegrown resources,” Mike Mutter added. “Our members have made it abundantly clear they support essential pipeline projects that help to ensure a strong, sustainable economy for our state, and energy independence for our nation.”

PAPGA was formed in 1947 to offer opportunities to learn through training and networking with peers, and to aid with legislative issues that contribute to operating a safe and successful industry. In addition to its continued focus on education, networking and representing the interest of Pennsylvania’s propane businesses to the government, PAPGA also assists members in remaining current on topics vital to the propane industry.

Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure AllianceThe Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance was launched June 8, 2015 by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Delaware County Chamber of Commerce as the founding members. There are nearly two dozen PEIA members today.

Visit www.paallianceforenergy.com for more information, or on Twitter @PAllies4Energy.

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Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association Joins Energy Infrastructure Alliance