2019 // September NCPGA

2019 // September

NEWSNCPGA

O f f i c i a l P u b l i c a t i O n O f t h e n O r t h c a r O l i n a P r O P a n e g a s a s s O c i a t i O n

09 // It's the Time of the Season

07 // 28 New Propane Buses in NC

11 // Changes Coming in the 2020 Edition of the LP-Gas Code

5www.ncpga.org

Published for North CarolinaPropane Gas Association 5109 Hollyridge Drive Raleigh, NC 27612 p. 919.787.8485 f. 919.781.7481

DIRECTOR of PUBLISHING Krystie Dovenmuehler

DESIGN MANAGER Jeremy Davis

LAYOUT & DESIGN Hayley Monsma

SALES MANAGER Mike Lindsay

To submit editorial or request information — email [email protected] p. 919.787.8485

For information regarding advertising please contact Marc at 800.572.0011 or [email protected]

Published by E&M Consulting, Inc. 1107 Hazeltine Boulevard, Suite #350 Chaska, MN 55318 p. 800.572.0011 f. 952.448.9928 www.emconsultinginc.com

Please note: Editorial and contents of this magazine reflect the records of the North Carolina Propane Gas Association (NCPGA). NCPGA has done their best to provide useful and accurate information, but please take into account that some information does change. E&M Consulting, Inc., publishers and NCPGA take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information printed, inadvertent omissions, printing errors, nor do they endorse products and services. We take no responsibility regarding representations or warranties concerning the content of advertisements of products/services for a particular use, including all information, graphics, copyrighted materials, and assertions included in the advertisements. The reader is advised to independently check all information before basing decisions on such information.

NCPGANEWS

2019 // September

FEATURES

07 // 28 New Propane Buses in NC

09 // It's the Time of the Season

11 // Changes Coming in the 2020 Edition of the LP-Gas Code

DEpARTmEnTS06 // Chairman’s Letter

10 // What's Wrong with this Picture?

15 // Event Recap

16 // Income Investing? Think Dividends

18 // Propane Buses Lower Harmful NOx Emissions

19 // Fuel Piping Prep Class

21 // 28 New Propane Buses in NC Recap

6 NCPGA News | September

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As I conclude my tenure as your Chairman, I want to say that it has

been an honor and a pleasure to serve this awesome Association. In

addition to being Chairman, I have served on the Executive Committee,

as a District Director, and on the Convention Committee. Through the

years, I have seen this Association change and grow to better serve

its members. I’ve had the pleasure meeting and working with some

of the finest people on earth. Our Association is one the best in the

country. It takes a lot of great members along with Beverly, Dave,

and John working every day to make the Propane Industry in North

Carolina a stronger industry.

We have had a busy year and want to highlight some of our achievements:

• ReceivedstateapprovalasaProprietarySchool

• SignedcontractstopurchasethebuildingforNCTEC

• WenttoPropaneDaystofightforAutoGasTaxCredits

• IntroducedRenewablePropaneatLegislativeDayinRaleigh

• PlannedaCarnivalCruiseBoardMeetingforJune2021

I want to personally thank the Board of Directors and everyone that

served on committees. If you have given your time and energy to help

in any way, thank you!

It’s been a true honor to serve as your Chairman of this great

Association. It has been one of the highlights of my life!

BestRegards,

Billy H. Foust

NCPGA CHAirmAN

John R. Jessup, President/CEO

Dave Donahue, Director of Code Compliance

and Education

Beverly Dodd, Office Manager

Jon Carr, Lobbyist, Legal Counsel

5109 Hollyridge Drive • Raleigh, NC 27612Ph. 919-787-8485 • Fax 919-781-7481

Billy Foust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ChairmanJoe Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chairman-ElectScott Prewitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice-ChairmanAngi Harris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SecretaryBrian Yow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TreasurerJeff Ruffner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Chairman

DISTRICT DIRECToRS

District 2: Barry McNeil . . . . . . . . . . . . . Murphy, NC

District 3: Brian Yow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asheboro, NC

District 4: Jerry Griffin . . . . . . . . . . Rutherfordton, NC

District 5: Lenny Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greensboro , NC

District 6: Jay Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton, NC

District 7: Alex Jernigan . . . . . . . . . . . Smithfield, NC

District 8: Dennis (Buddy) Swain . . . . Columbia, NC

District 9: Travis Hardison. . . . . . . . . . . . Bayboro, NC

CoMMITTEE CHAIRS

Convention/Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyndi Kibler

Education/Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donald Godfrey

Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donnie Bullock

Governmental Affairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ray Kazakewich

Membership Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Fowler

Promotions & Publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Rice

Technologies/Innovations. . . . . . . .Armistead Mauck

Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Riggs

NoTICE

As the official publication of the NC propane Gas Association, NCPGA News carries authentic notice pertaining to the activities of the Association. In other respects, statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors and contributing writers alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the board of Directors, the Officers, or the membership.

NCPGANEWS

Greetings NCPGA Members!

7www.ncpga.org

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F inally!28newpropane

powered Bluebird buses have

beendeliveredtoMecklenburg

CountySchools.OnAug14ththere

was a huge back to school media

event held at the main bus depot for

MecklenburgCountySchools.PERC

President and CEO Tucker Perkins

presentedthenewSuperintendent

Mr.EarnestWinstonwithaClean

Energy Innovation Award. The

largest school district in NC and the

eighth largest in the country now

has30propaneschoolbusesinits

fleet. Transportation Director Andy

Johnson said they have plans to add

more to the fleet next year.

“By choosing propane buses, the

CharlotteMecklenburgSchool

District continues to lead the way

with its commitment to clean air and

a better and healthier environment

forstudents.Morethan950school

districts nationwide are realizing

tremendous value with propane

Autogas school buses,” said Tucker

Perkins, president and CEO of the

PropaneEducation&Research

Council.“StudentsinCharlotte

will now join over a million other

students who will ride to school this

year on a propane bus providing

students with a cleaner, healthier

start to their day.”

“We commend the Charlotte

MecklenburgSchoolsystemfor

the decision to provide students

with a bus ride that is healthier

for students, quieter and cleaner

for the environment.” Propane is

an important part of the emerging

clean energy economy and it is an

important part of America’s clean

energy mix,” said Tucker Perkins

CEO for the Propane Education &

ResearchCouncil.

Using propane powered buses is a

viable step toward cleaner air and

abetterenvironmentforourState.

We are confident that more school

districts in North Carolina will choose

propane as they learn about the

lower total cost of ownership and the

clean, quiet and reliable operation of

these propane buses.

Sincerely,

John JessupExECutivE DirECtor, NCPErF

28 New ProPaNe Buses iN NC

9www.ncpga.org

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By David Donahue, NCPGA Director of Code Compliance and Education

The season is upon us. I am not talking about the holiday season or the football season but the hurricane season.

LivinginNorthCarolinaIdon’thavetoremindyouofthe

importance of preplanning. We plan for the worse and hope for

the best. We do all we can to make sure our companies are

ready.ThePropaneEducationandResearchCouncil(PERC)can

alsomakesureyourcustomersarereadyaswell.PERChas

brochures available for purchase as well as to download. They

evenhave30secondPSAradioadsthatyoucanuseandtag

your own company message.

Visit Propane.com and at the top click on the Resource Catalog

and then search using Hurricane as your key word.

It's the Time of the Season

Thenew2020versionofNFPA58willbeavailableviaelectroniccopyfrom

NFPAbytheendofAugust2019andshouldbeavailableforpurchasethrough

PERCbyNovember2019.NCPGAwillbesendingoutanE-blastoncethey

becomeavailablefromPERC.Youwillthenhavetheoptionofpurchasing

themfromthePropaneEducationandResearchCouncildirectlyorfrom

ushereandNCPGA.Intheweekstocome,wewillbesendingoutmore

information once it becomes available.

NFPA582020willautomaticallybecomeineffectonJanuary1,2020so

don’t be caught off guard. Be sure to order your books in advance. AVAILAbLe SOON!


What's Wrong With This Picture?

Here is a photo with a wealth of information about the inappropriateness of these anchor plate bollards. Clearly, nails don’t do the job of holding the bollards in place. There is no supporting information that this design will resist the required loads for equivalent protection, even if used with the proper bolts in a proper concrete foundation, which this is not. This wide-angle picture is misleading about the distance of the cabinet and tank from the curb. It’s about 6 feet. This excellent photo was provided by Wade Stanley.

11www.ncpga.org

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As happens every three years, an updated lP-Gas Code

is forthcoming. Committee work began on this edition in

September2017afterreceivingpublicinput.Thenextedition

ofthecodewillbeavailableonSept.27asadownloadable

pdfdocument.Youmaybuyasoftcoverversionbeginningon

Oct.25.IfyouareontheNationalFireCodesSubscription

Service,youmayseeitinAugust.Thehandbookshouldbe

availableonDec.13.

This article will describe changes in the first six chapters, but

not all of chapter 6. One or two more articles will be needed

to finish highlighting the changes.

We’llbeginwiththeGeneralRequirements.Section1.6has

a new specification that officially declares the measurements

willbeU.S.customaryunits(i.e.feet,inches,pounds,psi,

etc.)followedbymetricequivalentsinparentheses.The

metric equivalents will be rounded and may be less stringent

thanthestatedunit.However,thestatedU.S.unitmustbe

met. The metric equivalent may not be used to “lessen any

provision.”Yes,section1.6.2saysthat.

Chapter2isfullofchangestovariousreferencesused

throughoutthecode.Manyofthosereferenceshavebeen

updated. I will not bore you with those changes.

Chapter 3 contains the important definitions used throughout.

Manyofthechangeddefinitionswere“word-smithed,”but

the overall meaning didn’t change much.

One significant definition added was “important building.”

This moves the concept from the explanatory annex to the

mandatory code language. This is a definition that has long

been requested. It was surprisingly hard for the committee

to reach an agreement. The new definition is “A building that

is considered not expendable in an exposure fire.” There is an

unchangedexplanationintheannexinA.6.4.1.1onhowthis

definition applies to buildings we see every day. Basically, if

the building has human occupancy, high replacement value,

high-valuecontents,avitalroleinabusiness,oraneffecton

product release or emergency responder control, then it is

important. I do not expect our statement of intent on our web

page to change significantly.

Chapter4,GeneralRequirements,hasacoupleofwidely

applicable new requirements. One is that fire extinguishers

shall have an A:B:C rating, meaning they will extinguish

ordinaryfires(paper,wood,tires,etc),liquidfires(gasoline,

propane,naturalgas,etc.),andelectricalfires(anything

inacircuit-breakerbox,oronamotor,etc.).Thereisalso

a statement to not put out a propane fire unless the

By richard Fredenburg, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer services

Changes Comingin the 2020 edition of the LP-Gas Code


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source of the propane can be stopped quickly. This is not

new information, but it is newly stated. The other new

item is recognizing that some materials are inherently

noncombustible. However, rather than listing the materials or

examples,somestandardsarereferenced.Somecommon

sense is also allowed.

Chapter5isgenerallyaimedatthosewhomanufacture

equipment, but it also gets into material specifications.

Installers need to know about these things. Austenitic

stainlesssteelisanewlyallowedmaterial.Somepictures

from coastal locations in other states show this as a desirable

material.Also,section5.14.2.4pairswithA.5.9.8.1(H)to

explainusinganexcess-flowvalvetoprotectacontainer

opening from discharging should piping break.

Chapter 6 is where the requirements for installations are

detailed. This chapter typically sees heavy revisions each

edition,andthisoneisnoexception.Somerequirements

interrelate with other parts of the chapter, so it can get

confusing. We won’t get through all of chapter 6 before we

run out of room for this month.

Section6.4.1.2allowsforthereductionofseparation

between large tanks and buildings when certain extra

protection against product release is provided for tank

connectionsandlow-emissiontransfer.Section6.7.3.4allows

reduced separation requirements between certain liquid

transferpointsandexposureswhenlow-emissiontransfer

isused.TheseprovisionsappliedonlytoASMEtankssince

theiradditiontothecodein1998.Theywillalsoapplytofilling

cylinders in the new code. The details for this change are

many and complicated. They will probably be the focus of a

separatearticle.Fornow,knowthatthechangeiscoming.

Don’t implement it until you know the rules. I include two

quickpoints.Useofadapterstoconnecttocontainersatlow-

emission transfer sites is not allowed. Any adapter causes

more release on disconnect than specified. Also, no filling of

hot air balloon containers. They all use the bleed valve when

filling in the basket.

Groupsoffourtanksoflessthan125gallonseachmaybe

installedbesidebuildingswith10feetbetweenthegroups.The

separationusedtobe25feet.See6.4.3forcompletedetails.

Thechangesinsections6.5.4.1and6.9.2.2arerelatedsince

they refer to obstructions over and around containers. A solid

enclosure may extend around three sides of the container if

one long side is open. The wording requires that entire side

to be open. An emergency responder must be able to wet

the length of the container. Pressure relief valves must be

installed“topreventdeflection[ofthecontents]towardthe

container.” If there is something in the path of the discharge,

wewillrequiresomeconclusiveevidencethatthenear-

supersonic discharge will not be directed back toward the

tank. The requirement for a fire protection analysis is gone.

(NOTtobeconfusedwithafireSAFETYanalysis.)

An oversight in the code technically allowed above ground

and underground tanks to have liquid interconnections with

maximum fill levels at different elevations. That has been

corrected in the new edition after someone asked us for

permission to do it.

Wording was changed for underground containers to specify

the top of the tank shell is to be buried to the required

distance below the ground surface. This removes confusion

about the requirements.

Schedule10pipingisallowedforcertainabovegroundvapor

piping if installed as specified. It shall not be threaded.

No paint or other coatings may be applied to temperature

sensitive elements of internal valves or emergency shutoff

valves.PleasenotethatNFPA13, installation of sprinkler

systems, requires replacement of an element if inadvertently

painted. The modified response to heat is unknown when

“contaminants” are applied to the elements.

That’s all the room we have for this month. Come back next

month for more.

"Groups of four tanks of

less than 125 gallons

each may be installed

beside buildings with 10

feet between the groups."

Barry McNeil, District 2 Director

July 30-August 31 Hickory, NC

John Jessup

August 2 Raleigh, NC

August 6 & 7 Raleigh, NC

August 13-15 Raleigh, NC

15www.ncpga.org

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CETP BASIC CLASS

CETP BOBTAIL CLASS

CETP BASIC CLASS

FuEL PIPINg PREP CLASS

DISTRICT 2 MEETINg, JuLy 25, ASHEvILLE


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It used to be, investors seeking steady income turned exclusively to bonds, whose regular interest payments provided a dependable income source, especially for retirees.

But times have changed. With many retirements today lasting

30yearsormore,incomeinvestorsneedtomakesuretheir

savingskeeppacewithinflationandlastalongtime.This

means investing in assets that provide current income, yet

have the potential to grow in value and yield over time.

Onewidelyusedstrategyistoincludedividend-payingstocks

in your portfolio. History provides compelling evidence of the

long-termbenefitsofdividendsandtheirreinvestment:

• Dividends are a sign of corporate financial health.

Dividend payouts are often seen as a sign of a company's

financial health and management's confidence in future

cashflow.Dividendsalsocommunicateapositive

messagetoinvestorswhoperceivealong-termdividend

as a sign of corporate maturity and strength.

• Dividends are a key driver of total return. There are several

factors that may contribute to the superior total return of

dividend-payingstocksoverthelongterm.Oneofthemis

dividend reinvestment. The longer the period during which

dividends are reinvested, the greater the spread between

price return and dividend reinvested total return.

• Dividend payers offer potentially stronger returns, lower

volatility. Dividends may help to mitigate portfolio losses

when stock prices decline, and over long time horizons,

stocks with a history of increasing their dividend each

year have also produced higher returns with less risk than

non-dividend-payingstocks.Forinstance,forthe10years

endedJune30,2019,theS&P500DividendAristocrats

--thosestockswithintheS&P500thathaveincreasedtheir

dividendseachyearforthepast25years--producedaverage

annualizedreturnsof16.3%vs.14.7%fortheS&P500

overall,withlessvolatility(11.7%vs.12.7%,respectively).1

• Dividends benefit from potentially favorable tax

treatment. Mosttaxpayersaresubjecttoatopfederal

taxrateofonly15%onqualifieddividends,although

certainhigh-incometaxpayersmaypayupto23.8%.

However,thatisstilllowerthanthecurrent37%toprate

on ordinary income.

• Dividend-paying stocks may help diversify an

income-generating portfolio.Income-oriented

investors may want to diversify potential sources of

income within their portfolios.

Provided by Derek Carawan, AAms

inCome investing? think dividends

17www.ncpga.org

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Stockswithabove-averagedividendyieldsmaycompare

favorably with bonds and may act as a buffer should

conditions turn negative within the bond market.

Dividends Can Boost Total Return2

Ifyouareconsideringaddingdividend-payingstockstoyour

investment mix, keep in mind that they generally carry higher

riskthanbonds.Stockinvestinginvolvesthepotentialforloss

of principal. Also, dividends can be increased, decreased, and/

or eliminated at any time without prior notice. That’s why it’s

importanttochooseyourdividend-payingstockscarefully,since

some companies may increase dividends to attract investors if

their finances aren't watertight or their outlook is cloudy.

Yourfinancialprofessionalcanhelpyoudetermineifdividend-

paying stocks are a good fit for your portfolio.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). insurance products are offered through lPl or its licensed affiliates. to the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor, please note that lPl is not an affiliate of and makes no representation with respect to such entity. if your advisor is located at a bank or credit union, please note that the bank/credit union is not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. registered representatives of lPl may also be employees of the bank/credit union. these products and services are being offered through lPl or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, the bank/credit union. securities and insurance offered through lPl or its affiliates are:

*Footnotes/Disclaimers Not insured by FDiC/NCuA or Any other Government Agency i Not Bank/Credit union Guaranteed i Not Bank/Credit union Deposits or obligations i may

1 source: Dst systems, inc., based on data from standard & Poor’s. volatility is measured by standard deviation. standard deviation is a historical measure of

the variability of returns relative to the average annual return. if a portfolio has a high standard deviation, its returns have been volatile. A low standard deviation indicates returns have been less volatile. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

2source: Chartsource®, Dst systems, inc. For the period from January 1, 1989, through December 31, 2018. stocks are represented by the s&P 500 index. stock prices are represented by the change in price of the s&P 500 index. it is not possible to invest directly in an index. index performance does not reflect the effects of investing costs and taxes. Actual results would vary from benchmarks and would likely have been lower. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. © 2019, Dst systems, inc. reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. (Cs000080)

Derek Carawan is an lPl Financial Advisor and lPl registered Principal / securities offered through lPl Financial/ member FiNrA/siPC and may be reached at, www.carawanfp.com, 919-870-8181 or [email protected].

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Dst systems, inc. or its sources, neither Dst systems, inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. in no event shall Dst systems, inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber's or others' use of the content.

© 2019 Dst systems, inc. reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. the opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. this article was prepared by Dst systems inc. this information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. lPl Financial representatives offer access to trust services through the Private trust Company N.A., an affiliate of lPl Financial. For Public use: tracking #1-878033 .....Exp: 8/2020)

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todd mouw, President

Propane Buses Lower Harmful NOx Emissions

With back to school time happening across the country,

it was exciting to read the recent headline, “West Virginia

UniversityStudyFindsPropaneSchoolBusesDramatically

Decrease Harmful Emissions.”

A study by university researchers concluded emissions

measured from propane school buses are significantly

lowerthanthosefromdieselbuses.Findingwaysto

significantly reduce harmful emissions has been driving alt

fuel engine technology manufacturers for over a decade.

Thestudyconcentratedonnitrogenoxides(NOx)—

highly damaging emissions that are federally regulated

due to their negative impact on human health and the

environment. According to the West Virginia University

studycommissionedbythePropaneEducation&Research

Council, NOx emissions are:

• 34timeshigherinadieselschoolbusthaninapropane

bus,overastop-and-goroute.

• 15to19timeshigherinthedieselschoolbusovera

hot-andcold-startcityroute.

Bottom line: Propane autogas school buses reduce NOx by at least 95 percent.

AsPERC’sTuckerPerkinssays,thisstudyis“monumental

from an emissions and health perspective for students,

schools, and communities across the country.”

Because exposure to NOx exhaust can trigger asthma,

bronchitis and other respiratory issues, propane autogas

school buses are better for human health and the

environment, and a better choice for schools. That’s great

newsforthemorethan1millionstudentsinover900

school districts across the nation who ride to school in

propane school buses each day.

TolearnmoreaboutROUSHCleanTech’salternative-fuel

vehicletechnologythatpowersschoolbusesandFord

commercial vehicles, please visit www.roushcleantech.com.

todd mouw is president of rousH Cleantech, an industry leader

of alternative fuel vehicle technology. mouw has more than two

decades of experience in the automotive and high-tech industries.

As former president of the NtEA Green truck Association, mouw

helped set standards in the green trucking industry. to learn more,

visit rousHcleantech.com.

Study ProveS

19www.ncpga.org

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FuEL PIPINg PREP CLASS, HICkORy, NC, AuguST 22

kevin Harrison - Department of Public Instruction


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Brad Couch with Eco vehicle systems and Agility Fuel solutions have developed a propane re-power option for diesel school buses.

on Aug 23rd they were able to demo the propane bus to Kevin Harrison and his team with the NC Department of Public instruction. vW funds will fund 80% for re-powers of these buses with blown diesel engines

gregory Poole, Roush, NCPgA, PERC, Charlotte – Mecklenburg Schools, Blue Bird

10 Media OutletsErnest Winston, Superintendent of Charlotte – Mecklenburg Schools and Tucker Perkins with PERC

Adam Johnson & Tucker Perkins kirk Burns, gregory Poole

21www.ncpga.org

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28 NEW PROPANE BuSES IN NC RECAP

NCPGANEWS

North CarolinaPropane Gas Association 5109 Hollyridge DriveRaleigh, NC 27612

2019 // September NCPGA

Documents

Transcript of 2019 // September NCPGA