April 16, 2021
PPGA Helps Kill Oregon House Bill 3106
Oregon House Bill 3106 would have expanded the definition of energy efficiency programs to include programs that would have allowed electric utilities to pay for current customers to replace building heating, appliances and other technologies powered by any energy source with electric heating and appliances. PPGA engaged in a letter writing campaign to the House Energy and Environment Committee expressing opposition to the legislation. The legislation was also strongly opposed by the natural gas utilities. 
Washington Senate Passes "Cap and Trade"
On Thursday, April 8, the Senate passed an amended version of E2SSB 5126. The measure passed on a final vote of 25-24. The measure has been requested by Governor Inslee to establish a new “Cap and Trade” program in Washington State. The bill was introduced by Senator Reuven Carlyle (D, 36th Legislative District). Prior to passage, several amendments to the bill were adopted on the Senate floor. The bill has been referred to the House Environment & Energy Committee on Wednesday, April 14.

At hearings for the bill in the Senate, business, construction, and energy stakeholders testified in opposition to the revised bill at the hearings for the measure. The PPGA circulated a letter to the committee expressing opposition to the measure, and followed up with testimony in opposition as well. Environmental groups and the Office of the Governor testified in support.

This week a public hearing was held in the House Energy and Environment Committee. Despite near universal opposition from the business community the legislation continues to make progress in the legislature. 
PPGA offers certified and non-certified employee training for those employed in the propane industry or looking to obtain propane training certification. To make training more accessible to everyone, classes are held in multiple locations. Classes are open to members and non-members and pre-registration is necessary. Consider sending your employees to this valuable training. Click here to learn more.
West/Pacific/Rocky Mountain Region Meeting
Join your colleagues and PERC staff for the 2021 West/Pacific/Rocky Mountain region meeting. PERC staff will lead a discussion on PERC's key priorities. Additionally, marketers will discuss with PERC what works for them and any unique challenges or opportunities they face in the marketplace. 
NPGA Appeals ASHRAE 62.2 Action
The NPGA, along with several other appellants, appeared before an American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE) appeals panel to deliver arguments on why the actions taken to publish Addendum “A” to the Standard 62.2 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings, were in violation of ASHRAE’s own standards development procedures. Due to the severe sizing restriction that this addendum would implement, it would effectively ban the installation and use of gas-fired unvented heaters as a safe and viable supplemental heating option in a 62.2 compliant residential dwelling.

NPGA’s appeal was made in concert with several other organizations that have worked together to defend the use of gas-fired unvented heaters that comply with national safety standards and that are installed in accordance with national fuel gas codes. Recall that this same issue was successfully appealed by NPGA in late 2018. The appeals submitted by NPGA and others were based solely on procedural violations and could not address the technical content of the proposed addendum, although that is certainly a contentious issue as well. NPGA’s appeal raised several instances of clear violations of ASHRAE’s development procedures.

The primary concern from the opponents to the use of these heaters directly relates to the level of products of combustion that may be released into the living space. However, there is little recognition by the 62.2 Standards Committee that the safety standard (ANSI Z21.11.2) already includes limitations on the maximum allowable nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions that can be emitted by the heater. In fact, the 62.2 Committee has not produced any evidence that modern heaters that have been properly installed and used are actually creating an unsafe condition. NPGA has maintained that if there are concerns that the current allowable emissions are too high then the proper venue for proposing to reduce those limits is in the safety standard and not by implementing erroneous sizing restrictions in other standards that would ban the product.

The results of NPGA’s appeal and those of the others will be known in the coming weeks. For further information, please contact Bruce Swiecicki.
Propane Presents Technology Series
Mobile Commercial Power Generation Where You Need It
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is proud to introduce the latest offering in the Propane Presents Technology Series, a webinar series that focuses on showcasing propane technology and equipment from the country's leading innovators.
 
You are invited to join us on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET for the latest webinar in this series featuring two new innovative technologies in the commercial power generation market. Chuck Justus of Evergreen Power and Darrin Moorman of Moser Energy will join PERC to discuss how their propane-powered towable units bring the power where you need it -- from construction sites to hotels to events, the applications are endless.

Save the date for the PPGA Annual Conference and WPGA Chairwoman's Board Meeting, October 27-29, 2021. Accommodations are available at Kauai Beach Resort. Kauai Beach Resort is offering special rates of $229 for Mountain/Garden view rooms and $259 for Pool/Ocean view rooms for conference guests. To ensure this rate, please reserve your room before September 27, 2021 by calling 808-245-1955 and mention PPGA or Reserve Online. When reserving online, select the “View More Rooms” dropdown button at the bottom of the page to view all available rooms. Please be aware that these discounted rooms are limited so reserve yours early.
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The information contained herein is provided as a service by the Pacific Propane Gas Association (PPGA) for the purpose of education, communication, and information and PPGA accepts no liability relative to the contents, accuracy or use of these services. Nothing in this publication is intended to be construed as legal advice. The user is strictly cautioned to seek legal assistance when attempting to determine any legal rights, responsibilities and procedures with respect to business affairs, coding, or other legal aspects of operating a propane company. PPGA disclaims any and all liability for injury and/or other damages which result to a user from the material offered or discussed herein.