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report from npga state director
by: Mark Denton
he National Propane Gas Association PERC did during the
(NPGA) hosted its Fall Board of Directors Olympics broadcast,
& Related Committee Meetings in San and provided a brief
TAntonio, Texas, on October 7-9, 2024. The update on autogas
meeting welcomed more than 250 registrants in- engines. The Mar-
cluding 60 first-time attendees. Business included keters Section held
Committee and Section meetings; fascinating guest in-person regional
speakers; policy discussions; a data & analytics district breakout
panel; a cybersecurity presentation; social events; meetings grouped
and much more. As your elected State Director, I together by geogra-
wanted to provide you with some of the key up- phy and similarities in
dates from the meetings: legislative and regu-
Featured Guest Speaker latory challenges. District 8 Director, Tom Manson,
provided a highlight summary of the breakout
Special guest speaker Adrian Calcaneo, sessions.
VP of Energy and Feedstocks/LPG, NGL, & Naph-
tha, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, provided Governmental Affairs Committee
attendees an in-depth look from a liquid fuels data The Governmental Affairs Committee
scientist’s perspective into how propane drives convened to receive updates from NPGA staff and
the energy transition forward worldwide. He de- discuss pressing advocacy issues impacting the
scribed how U.S. propane production is facilitating propane industry. As is customary, the Committee
the move to decreased pollution to 2 billion people broke into three task force sessions – federal legis-
worldwide who still cook with wood, charcoal, and lative, federal regulatory, and state.
dung. He also explained how the cost of LPG over- In the legislative session, NPGA staff
seas is directly tied to regular transitions back-and- discussed the Presidential race and potential
forth between usage of propane and wood among outcomes and implications for key Congressional
households in much of Africa, Asia, and Central races. They also discussed relevant tax policies,
America. propane-related provisions included in the Farm
Marketers Section Bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, rail
Marketers Section Vice Chair, Ray Galan, safety legislation, and FY24 appropriations bills.
Ferrellgas, opened the meeting and introduced the The regulatory session discussed various
speaker, George Reeves, Supervisory Advisor for agency updates, including an update on the De-
Region VI of the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and partment of Energy’s Consumer Water Heater Final
Security Agency (CISA). Mr. Reeves spoke about the Rule, Guidance from the Occupational Safety and
evolution of cyber threats and how malign actors Health Administration on Process Safety Manage-
specifically target the oil and natural gas sector. ment Enforcement, Guidance from the Pipeline
Mr. Reeves discussed what small and medium and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
businesses can do to better protect their data and on Remote Power Shut Off Regulations, the Heat
safeguard their assets. CISA is an agency ready to Injury and Illness Prevention Proposed Rule from
help you and your business. Marketers can reach the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
out to their local CISA office to take advantage of and ongoing work on cylinder markings from the
their free services to protect their employees, their Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
data, and their networks. tration.
Tucker Perkins, President and CEO of the The state session provided highlights from
Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), the 2024 state legislative session, which included
spoke about the opportunities and challenges the the enactment of energy choice in Nebraska and
propane industry faces, reviewed the marketing the passage of gas appliance protection laws in
10 Alabama Propane Gas Association | November / December 2024
