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UPGRADE FALLOUT EXPECTED IN FLORIDA AND
CALIFORNIA
"Hundreds of gas stations around the state of Florida may be forced
to shut down because of a new insurance regulation that requires them to
have a double-walled underground storage tank by the end of the year,
reported CBS 4-TV. Even though the new tank deadline is not until December
31, 2009, insurers have already begun cutting off station owners who will
not or cannot upgrade to the new tanks, which can cost up to $400,000. It is
illegal to operate in Florida without pollution insurance, and an estimated
20% of the state's approximately 8,000 to 9,000 stations have yet to make
the change, the report said."—CSP
Daily News, January 27, 2009.
"Dozens, and potentially hundreds, of gas stations around California are
choosing to shut down rather than comply with a state mandate that would
require owners to purchase new equipment to reduce vapor emissions at the
pump, reported The Pasadena Star-News. As of the end of December
2008, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) had heard
back from 3,109 of its 4,500 sites about EVR Phase II: 76, or 2.4%,
indicated that they will be shutting down on April 1, 2009, rather than
upgrade their sites, Dimitri Stanich, public information officer for the
California Air Resources Board (CARB), told the newspaper. Some 1,400 of the
SCAQMD's sites have not yet responded. About 12,000 dispensing facilities
will be affected statewide."—CSP
Daily News, January 28, 2009.
ETHANOL
The United States could replace nearly a
third of its gasoline consumption with ethanol, mainly made from plant
waste and special energy crops, in about 20 years, according to a study
released February 10 by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors. The
study explains that the price of oil would have to rise to about $90 per
barrel to make cellulosic ethanol economically competitive.
"A possible attempt by the Senate to raise the
federal cap on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline
was quashed this week after a coalition of refiners, automakers and
environmentalists voiced opposition to the provision, which could have
become part of the economic stimulus bill. The Senate was weighing a
provision that would have raised the federal cap on ethanol blending in
gasoline past 10%. Automakers have long argued that they cannot issue
warranties on car engines that will run on gasoline blended with more than
10% ethanol."—Oil
Daily, February 12, 2009.
BIOFUELS IN AIRLINERS
In recent weeks, Air New Zealand,
Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines successfully flew commercial
airliners partially powered by sustainable, second generation biofuels made
from plants that don't affect food or water resources. Air New Zealand used
jatropha, Continental operated with a 50 percent biofuel blend derived from
algae and jatropha and a 50 percent traditional kerosene jet fuel, and Japan
Airlines used a combination of camelina (84%), jatropha (15%), and algae oil
(1%).
DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) NOTES
Pilot Travel Centers LLC, Knoxville, Tennessee, announced that it will
roll out 25 bulk diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) dispensing centers per quarter,
staring the third quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010.
Approximately 100 of Pilot's locations will have bulk dispensing
capabilities at the fuel island while all 328 truck stops will have packaged
quantities available.
APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS
OPW Fueling Containment Systems, a division of OPW Fueling Components,
Smithfield, North Carolina, has named Greg Kennedy as its director of
operations. He has held various positions within OPW Fueling Components in
Cincinnati over the past nine years.
Northeast Petroleum Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Schenectady,
New York, has appointed Michael Crandall service director for its
Schenectady home office and Utica branch. He brings 32 years of industry
experience to the new position. Phone: (518) 355-2747. Email:
mcrandall@nepetroleumtech.com.
JD2 Environmental, Inc., West Chester, Pennsylvania, announced
that Tinamarie V. Smith has joined the company's management team as an
associate. Tina brings more than 30 years experience in environmental,
safety and health management to JD2. She spent the last 27 years with
Sunoco.
OMNTEC Mfg., Inc., Ronkonkoma, New York, named E. L. Shannon and
Associates to represent the company in North Carolina, South Carolina
and southern Virginia, beginning February 1. OMNTEC also appointed
Rice-Christ Inc. to represent the firm in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, effective February
10.
OPW announced, effective February 1, 2009, that R&D Marketing,
Inc., Issaquah, Washington, will represent OPW Fueling Components, OPW
Fuel Management Systems and Richards in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and
Hawaii. With this change, OPW district manager Keith Simon will now focus
his efforts selling OPW Fueling Components products in California and
Nevada. OPW district manager Bob Hyatt will now represent OPW Fueling
Components, OPW Fuel Management Systems and Richards in Arizona, Idaho and
Montana.
National-Spencer, Inc., Wichita, Kansas, has appointed FMG-LLC/SFICO,
Maitland, Florida, as its industrial and petroleum accounts representative
for the territory including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South
America. National-Spencer has also appointed CAM Associates Inc., New Lenox,
Illinois, as its representative in northern Illinois, eastern Wisconsin and
western Indiana.
Petroleum Solutions, Inc., headquartered in McAllen, Texas, has hired
Les Boren to its sales team. Boren has over 30 years experience in the
industry and has worked extensively in sales, service and design of
lubrication systems for automotive and industrial applications. Working out
of the San Antonio office, he can be reached at (210) 661-2489 or
lboren@petroleumsolutionsinc.com.
RETAIL PETROLEUM NOTES
Kum & Go LC, West Des Moines, Iowa, has signed an agreement to purchase
37 Cody's Convenience Stores in southwest Missouri.
Sunoco Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced that it will sell
165 sites in the eastern United States. Of that number 134 are operating
retail sites, 14 are currently non-operating locations but are expected to
re-open, and 17 are commercial properties. Sunoco currently has 1,114
stations.
Road Ranger LLC, Rockford, Illinois, has acquired 15 Fast Break
Food Market gasoline and convenience stores in the Louisville, Kentucky,
area.
Crescent Oil, Independence, Kansas, has filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy. Crescent said it incurred $12.8 million in losses last year on
the back of enormous volatility in fuel prices as well as skyrocketing
financing costs associated with acquiring and developing new convenience
stores. In related news, Appalachian Oil Co. (Appco), Blountville,
Tennessee, also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Appco operates 55 stores in
northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia and southeastern Kentucky.
Both Appco and Crescent are owned by Titan Global Holdings.
All 11 Kwik Way Inc. convenience stores in Billings, Montana, were
closed last week, reported the Great Falls Tribune.
Hess Corp., New York, New York, has acquired 11 retail sites owned by
Christy's of Cape Cod, Hyannis, Massachusetts.
"The Delhi government will soon provide land for 40 CNG filling
stations," said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.—PetrolPlaza,
February 11, 2009.
DEATHS
P. R. "Renny" Blanchette, a 35-year industry veteran with Emco Wheaton
and Bennett Pump, passed away January 23 after a long battle with heart and
kidney disease. He was 69. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Donna; a
son, Gary, who works for On-Site Marketing, Inc. in Houston; another son,
Dr. Mark Blanchette; a sister; and three grandchildren.
Gene Robertson, a 32-year veteran of the petroleum equipment industry in
the Seattle area, died January 27 at the age of 65 after a long illness. He
worked for SME Solutions for 22 years and the last 10 years at Northwest
Pump & Equipment. He is survived by his wife, Bonny, and two children, Tom
and Elizabeth.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Alaska service and construction firm. Alaska Fuel Systems Inc., 11641
Barr Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99516, has applied for service and construction
division membership in PEI. Lance Leonard is the owner of the firm, which
was established in 1991. The company installs, inspects, tests,
maintains and removes underground tanks, aboveground tanks and
fueling systems. Sponsored for PEI membership by Gregg Miller, NWPump,
Portland, OR.
California service and maintenance firm. Kaiser Commercial Petroleum, P.
O. Box 1058, Linden, California 95236, has applied for service and
construction division membership. Greg Kaiser is the owner of the firm,
which was established in 2005. Kaiser services and maintains petroleum
equipment. Sponsored for PEI membership by Gayla McCormick, RushPtr,
Litchfield Park, AZ.
Florida engineering and construction firm. MDM Services, Inc., 1055
Kathleen Road, Lakeland, Florida 33805, has applied for membership in the
service and construction division. Paul Doss is the engineering manager for
the firm, which was established in 1986. The company designs and builds
commercial, industrial and marina fuel facilities and builds retail
convenience stores. Sponsored for PEI membership by Lucas Ford, LucasFord,
St. Petersburg, FL.
Florida petroleum construction services provider. Moonlight Petroleum
Services, 4815 East Busch Boulevard, Suite 203B, Tampa, Florida 33617, has
applied for service and construction division membership. Abdel Khdair is
the primary contact for the company, which was established in 2003. The
company specializes in the installation and removal of aboveground and
underground storage tanks. Sponsored for PEI membership by Joey D.
Batchelor, GuardTech, Jacksonville, FL.
Maryland installation and repair firm. Commercial Fuel Systems, Inc.,
P. O. Box 71, Mount Airy, Maryland 21771, has applied for membership in
PEI's service and construction division. Daniel R. Darragh is vice president
of the firm, which was established in 1972. The company installs, maintains
and repairs fueling systems for government and private facilities. Sponsored
for PEI membership by Glen Corkill, SourceIL, Addison, IL.
Michigan contractor and repair company. Gillhespy Inc., 532 Granvill
SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, has applied for membership in the service
and construction division. James Fizer is the owner of the company, which
was established in 1922. The firm offers full-service fuel system
contracting and repair. Sponsored for PEI membership by Mark A. Leak, LeakPtrEqp, DeWitt, MI.
ADMITTED TO PEI
- OTI America, Fort Lee, NJ (mfr)
- Discovery Tank Testing, Inc., North Palm Beach, FL (S&C)
- McKinney Services, Inc., Chipley, FL (S&C)
- A & H Petroleum Services, Winnipeg, Manitoba (S&C)
- SS Innovations, Yorba Linda, CA (aff)
- Ilyas Baga, Hudson Gas, North Bergen, NJ (O&E)
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