Understanding One of Propane’s Most Important Safety Standards Ask most propane professionals why tanks are filled to only 80% capacity, and the answer is usually immediate: thermal expansion. And, while that explanation is correct, it only tells part of the story. The 80% fill limit is one of the most important safety standards in the… Continue reading The 80% Rule: More Than Just Allowing Room for Expansion

For propane marketers, fleet operators, and commercial customers, selecting a propane supplier is one of the most important business decisions they make. While pricing often receives the most attention, the lowest rate does not always translate into the best value. Reliability, safety, customer support, and long-term operational capabilities can all have a significant impact on… Continue reading Choosing the Right Propane Supplier Can Protect More Than Your Budget

Policy Changes Preserve Market Stability and Help Avoid New Costs For propane marketers, state budget negotiations rarely generate headlines. Yet the decisions made during those discussions can have a direct impact on fuel demand, customer costs, and long-term business planning. That is why the propane industry is closely watching the outcome of New York’s latest… Continue reading New York Budget Delivers Important Wins for Propane Businesses

Most propane marketers track Mont Belvieu or Conway pricing closely, but far fewer manage the spread between those hubs and their actual rack costs with the same discipline. That gap, basis, rarely stays static, and when it moves, it directly impacts margin per gallon in ways that are not always obvious in daily operations. During… Continue reading Basis Risk Is Quietly Eroding Local Propane Margins

Industry Leaders Seek Greater Certainty for Renewable Fuel Investment The propane industry is taking another step toward expanding its role in the low-carbon energy market. Recently, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) urged the IRS to finalize regulations supporting the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, a federal incentive designed to encourage the production of… Continue reading Renewable Propane Tax Credit Push Could Open New Growth Opportunities

The NPGA celebrates new Department of Energy rules that protect propane demand from policy‑driven market shifts The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) issued a swift alert on June 5, 2026 praising the Department of Energy’s latest regulatory actions that explicitly prohibit “incentivized fuel switching.” The rule prevents federal programs from offering financial incentives that would encourage… Continue reading DOE Blocks Incentivized Fuel Switching – A Win for Propane

New Legislation Highlights the Growing Importance of Fuel Diversity For propane marketers, energy policy discussions can often feel distant from day-to-day operations. Yet the decisions made in state capitols can have a lasting impact on customer demand, business growth, and long-term investment strategies. That is why the recent passage of House Bill 4486 in Michigan… Continue reading Michigan’s Energy Choice Victory Sends a Strong Signal to the Propane Industry

The long-term outlook for propane supply remains favorable thanks to strong domestic production and abundant natural gas liquids (NGL) output. However, propane retailers should not mistake national supply stability for uniform pricing. Regional transportation costs, storage availability, weather patterns, and local competition continue to create significant differences in wholesale and retail propane markets across the… Continue reading Stable Supply, Uneven Markets: Why Regional Propane Pricing Still Matters

Massive Evacuation After Southern California Chemical Tank Threat A recent hazardous materials emergency in Orange County, California, is putting renewed attention on one of the most serious risks facing any company that stores or transports pressurized fuel: a BLEVE, or Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. The incident began when emergency crews responded to a leaking… Continue reading California Tank Emergency Raises Fresh Safety Questions for Propane Operators

Recent propane-related incidents across the United States are drawing increased legal attention, including high dollar lawsuits that could reshape how small propane companies think about safety documentation and field operations. Rising Legal Pressure Around Propane Incidents One of the most closely watched cases involves a $100 million lawsuit filed after a residential propane explosion in… Continue reading Propane Industry Lawsuits Highlight a Growing Risk

Recent propane leak incidents across the U.S. have exposed a pattern that experienced operators will recognize immediately: the issue is rarely the leak itself, but how the response unfolds in the first 30–90 minutes. Delays in dispatch clarity, incomplete field information, and inconsistent emergency coordination are turning manageable events into high-cost incidents. For propane businesses,… Continue reading Propane Leak Response Gaps Are Costing Operators More Than They Think

Explosions Following Electrical Interruptions Highlight the Importance of Customer Education Power outages are often viewed as an inconvenience, but recent incidents in multiple states are serving as a stark reminder that the restoration process can introduce serious safety risks when propane systems are involved. Investigations into separate explosions in Texas and Pennsylvania have drawn attention… Continue reading Power Outage Safety Comes Into Focus After Recent Propane Incidents

FMCSA audit confirms NPGA curriculum meets federal training standards for hazardous materials drivers. Safety training has always been one of the propane industry’s most important investments. Now, that commitment has received a significant endorsement from federal regulators. The National Propane Gas Association’s ACE (Advanced Commercial Education) driver training program has successfully passed an audit conducted… Continue reading ACE Driver Training Program Earns Federal Validation, Raising the Bar for Propane Fleet Safety

New proposed revisions to NFPA 58 are expected to significantly change how propane companies manage ASME tank inspections – particularly for older residential tank fleets. For many small and mid-sized propane marketers, the impact could show up quickly in both compliance workload and operating costs. A Major Shift in Tank Inspection Requirements Under the proposed… Continue reading NFPA 58 Inspection Changes Could Raise Costs for Propane Fleets as Early as 2027

Termination of safety‑concerned employee underscores need for stronger whistleblower protections in propane and gas infrastructure projects The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered a New Mexico‑based construction company to reinstate and compensate an inspector it fired after he raised safety concerns during a gas pipeline installation at an Oklahoma… Continue reading OSHA Charges New Mexico Firm for Wrongful Firing of Pipeline Inspector

During peak demand, supply constraints rarely announce themselves clearly. One of the more disruptive realities for propane marketers is the quiet imposition of load caps at terminals, limits on how much product a carrier can lift per day or per trip, often communicated informally or only after drivers are already in line. These restrictions are… Continue reading When Terminals Cap Loads Without Notice

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is evaluating the safety of electric trucks hauling hazardous materials. In response, the Minnesota Propane Association (MPA) is actively highlighting critical ‘regulatory gaps’ that could compromise safety and create an uneven playing field. This proactive engagement by the propane industry aims to ensure that safety standards evolve… Continue reading Propane Industry Demands Clear Rules for Electric Hazmat Trucks

LP Gas Magazine revisits Ryan McPherson, the 2022 Rising Leader who now serves as district manager for Pico Propane and Fuels. McPherson shares how he leverages data‑driven routing and crew safety tools to keep his territory profitable, noting that “the biggest margin driver this year is minimizing truck idle time.” His insights underline the growing importance of… Continue reading Today in Propane

Mergers and acquisitions are accelerating across the propane industry, reshaping competition for distributors, retailers, and family-owned operators nationwide. Over the past year, propane companies of every size have entered acquisition talks as rising operating costs, succession concerns, and demand for operational efficiency push more owners to consider strategic partnerships or outright sales. Industry analysts say… Continue reading Propane Industry M&A Wave Gains Speed as Buyers Hunt for Scale and Stability

On the afternoon of May 13, 2026, the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department responded to a pole barn fire in the Black Hills region of western South Dakota. Crews arriving on scene found the structure actively burning. During firefighting operations, propane tanks stored at or near the structure reached ignition conditions and exploded, producing visible flame… Continue reading Sturgis, South Dakota: Propane Tanks Explode During Pole Barn Fire