The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | JANUARY 2017 17 All Classes to be held at the Beckett Training Center, Sturbridge, MA CONTACT: GEORGE LANTHIER 508.421.3490 VOICE 508.421.3477 FAX www.FiredragonEnt.com NORA BRONZE OIL HEATING SCHOOL - NIGHTS Begins January 17, 2017 MA OILBURNER LICENSE CLASS – 4 HOURS February 3, 2017 MA OILBURNER CODE CLASS – 4 HOURS February 3, 2017 BASIC GAS SCHOOL - DAYS Begins March 13, 2017 NORA BRONZE OIL HEATING SCHOOL - DAYS Begins March 27, 2017 ANNUAL TUNE-UP FOR OIL-FIRED UNITS – 8 HOURS April 25, 2017 RIELLO 40 SERIES OIL WORKSHOP – 8 HOURS April 26, 2017 MILLIVOLT GAS SYSTEMS – 8 HOURS April 27, 2017 * = Date Change Systems, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. "We currently operate 28 of our 31 trucks on propane. The other three were vehicles we purchased in a business acquisition and will be replaced with autogas or of a weight class that does not yet have a propane or gasoline engine available. So basically, we run every vehicle we can on autogas, from a Toyota Tacoma, to pickup trucks, service trucks, bobtails and even a heating oil bulk truck. We've converted a Mustang, a race car and a Zamboni. I calculate our annual cost savings for running propane at about $80,000." Alliance AutoGas provides a turnkey solution to its customers as well as support and guidance. Propane autogas bi-fuel vehicle conversions save Alliance AutoGas customers an average of 35% on fuel costs, Johnson says. "Autogas helps consumers save money and helps propane businesses sell propane year-round, all the while being better for the environment and never having to source from outside the U.S.," she says. There are two main components of the Alliance: the fuel portion and the equipment portion. On the fuel side, the Alliance gives members marketing materials and sales training for use in soliciting new autogas accounts, and the nationwide dealer network helps sign up accounts. "They also prospect new autogas accounts on their own, and give the gas load to whatever dealers operate in that area, so in that way they can help you grow gallons with very little effort on your part," Overbaugh says. On the conversion side, the Alliance is the official importer of the Prins conversion kit, Overbaugh says. "They import the kits, obtain EPA certification, and sell them to installers, as well as providing extensive training to those installers. We at Ehrhart Energy are both fuel and equipment members of the Alliance." Alliance AutoGas members receive special pricing as well as resources such as mar- keting materials and access to the organization's member library. "The more members we have, the more systems there are on the road, so yes, we are always looking for ways to grow our network and provide the opportunity for a cleaner burning more cost effective fuel," Johnson says. Como Oil & Propane in Duluth, Minn., is currently in its fourth year as an Alliance member. Donald Tetreault, Midwest regional vice president, says being part of the Alliance gives Como Oil & Propane the expertise and support of all the other members. "We're all working towards the common goal of increasing AutoGas awareness and sales," Tetreault says. "We're the sole distributors of the Alliance Engineered Fuel Systems, including parts, service and warranty." Tetreault envisions school bus fleets, Alliance AutoGas comprises more than 120 propane marketers and conversion centers in North America. Previous page: A service van operated by Jackson Heating & Air, a company with locations in LaGrange, Ga., and Opelika, Ala., is fueled with autogas. BECAUSE THE FUEL BURNS EFFICIENTLY AND INFLICTS LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON ENGINES THAN GASOLINE OR DIESEL, IT HELPS REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALLIANCE AUTOGAS