MEMBERS ONLY NEWS

November 3, 2025

In Brief

Welcome to this week’s Members-Only Monday Morning Messenger from the Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA).

In the first story of the morning, a new federal Proclamation is shaking up the trucking industry. Find out what categories of vehicles and parts are now subject to tariffs—and what it could mean for propane marketers.

In the second story, a popular state grant program just reopened with millions available for cleaner school transportation. Learn who’s eligible and why early action matters.

In the third story, NPGA leaders gathered last month to discuss national propane priorities and launch an important new industry initiative. Get the highlights from this year’s Fall Meeting.

Additionally, a New Propane Master Class is being offered. You can find out when and what will be covered in our fourth story of the morning.

Lastly, the November issue of Texas Propane magazine is out now—featuring propane forging, propane fire training recap, October board meeting photos, and more.

Finally, take a look at our Quick Links for key resources, propane pricing updates, and compliance tools tailored to your business.

New Tariffs on Trucks, Parts & Buses

According to a White House fact sheet, last month, the President signed a Proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Act) to impose tariffs on imports of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and parts, and buses, to bolster American industry and protect national security, and incentivize domestic medium- and heavy-duty truck production.

The Proclamation imposes a 25% tariff on imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and truck parts.
Medium- and heavy-duty trucks include Class 3 to Class 8 vehicles, like large pick-up trucks, moving trucks, cargo trucks, dump trucks, and tractors for eighteen-wheelers.
For medium- and heavy-duty trucks that do not qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the tariff will apply to the full value of the vehicle. For medium- and heavy-duty trucks that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the USMCA, the tariff will only apply to the value of the non-U.S. content in the vehicle.
The tariff on medium- and heavy-duty truck parts will apply to key parts, including engines, transmissions, tires, and chassis.
USMCA-compliant medium- and heavy-duty truck parts will not be subject to tariffs imposed in the Proclamation until the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, establishes a process to apply tariffs to the non-U.S. content of the parts.
The Proclamation imposes a 10% tariff on imports of buses, including school buses, transit buses, and motor coaches.

Both the White House and the National Propane Gas Association have developed fact sheets on the new tariff. Both fact sheets are linked below.

White House Fact Sheet

NPGA Fact Sheet

Texas Clean School Bus Grant Officially Open

Funds available for districts statewide

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is now accepting applications for the Texas Clean School Bus (TCSB) Program, funded through the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). A total of $16.3 million is available to fund school bus replacement projects.

Key Details & Application Information

Application Period: October 29, 2025 – May 22, 2026, or until all available funds have been awarded. Note: Funds are typically awarded quickly, so early application is highly encouraged.

Who Is Eligible? Public school districts, charter schools, and county systems in Texas.

What is Eligible?
Replacement of 2006 model year or older diesel school buses with new propane-powered school buses.

Grant Amounts

Replacement Grants: Up to 80% of the eligible cost to replace an older school bus with a newer, cleaner model.

FREE Grant Help. For more information, to inquire about eligibility, or for complimentary grant writing services, please contact: Heather Ball – American Energy Institute
Email: heather@americanenergyinstitute.com Phone: 512-484-8535

View Details

NPGA State Director Report – Fall 2025

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) held its Fall Board of Directors Meeting in Burlington, Vermont, October 20–22, 2025, featuring committee and section meetings, policy discussions, and educational sessions.

Our NPGA Director from Texas, Mark Garrison, Allstar Fuel reports:

NPGAid Launch

NPGA President & CEO Steve Kaminski introduced NPGAid, a new disaster relief fund for full-time employees of NPGA member companies affected by unforeseen hardship. The fund—administered by the Emergency Assistance Foundation—provides tax-free grants, with all administrative costs covered by NPGA and donations matched up to $100,000.

Committee Highlights

Governmental Affairs: Updates covered the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the Energy Choice Act, and advocacy around LIHEAP funding during the federal shutdown. Breakouts focused on federal legislative, regulatory, and state-level issues. Staff reported 139 local or state actions restricting propane use across 28 states, while Maine became the 28th to enact energy choice legislation.
Regulatory Task Force: NPGA outlined engagement with PHMSA, FMCSA, and state regulators to clarify hazardous materials rules related to remote power shut-offs.
Supply & Logistics: Heard updates from RBN Energy on market trends and regulatory actions by the International Maritime Organization and FERC.
Manufacturer, Producer/Wholesaler, and Transporter Sections: Discussed upcoming programs and federal motor carrier initiatives.
Marketers Section: District breakouts addressed regional legislative and regulatory challenges, with summaries to follow by email.

Industry Updates

PERC President & CEO Tucker Perkins emphasized training and safety and noted propane growth potential in power generation and combined heat and power.

NPGA’s state advocacy team discussed carbon tax challenges and data center opportunities for propane marketers.

Featured Sessions

AI in Business: NPGA’s Member Services Committee hosted a panel on using artificial intelligence in operations, customer service, and marketing.
Energy Outlook: Author Robert Bryce presented on the future of hydrocarbon fuels globally and domestically.

Councils & Committees

The Women in Propane Council honored Founder Nancy Coop and shared updates on expanding programs and membership growth.

The Young Professionals Council hosted a business meeting and networking event.

The NPGF Scholarship Committee announced its next Golf Tournament for April 18, 2026, and confirmed the scholarship application window (Dec. 15–Feb. 15).

Closing Reception

NPGA concluded the event with a tailgate-themed celebration honoring outgoing Chair Mike Hopsicker.

School of Energy: Propane Master Class Scheduled for Next Month

Thursday, December 4, 2025

All-Day Online Session

Gain a deep, fundamentals-driven understanding of propane markets from the experts at RBN Energy. This all-day Propane Master Class combines expert presentations, live Excel modeling, and interactive discussions to provide participants with a comprehensive view of the propane value chain — from the wellhead to the burner tip — and how supply connects to demand across domestic and international markets.

The course features a live presentation with Q&A complemented by a few pre-recorded modules for deeper dives into specialized topics. Participants will explore propane pricing and economics, demand fundamentals, wholesale and retail market dynamics, and the critical role of retailers in connecting supply to customers.

Together, these sessions build a comprehensive understanding of the forces shaping today’s propane marketplace — equipping attendees with insights they can apply immediately in their operations and strategic planning.

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Course Agenda

Welcome & Introductions

Module 1 – Big Picture: Wellhead to Burnertip

Propane’s role in the broader energy landscape and its journey from production to end use.

Module 2 – History of Propane

How supply, demand, and infrastructure have evolved to shape today’s market.

Module 3 – Start of the Journey

Natural gas production outlook, processing, and midstream transportation, featuring Texas RRC District 3 data from the Permian. Includes NGL storage, fractionation, and refinery supply.

BREAK

Module 4 – Heading Toward Destinations

Pipeline infrastructure, exports, and grades of propane, with RBN’s Export Economics Model showing how terminal expansions and rail flows connect to global trade.

Module 5 – Valuation: Propane Pricing & Economics

Core fundamentals behind pricing and value formation — seasonality, regional spreads, and market indicators guiding commercial decisions.

LUNCH

Module 6 – Introduction to Demand

Petrochemical, residential/commercial, industrial, and agricultural demand drivers, featuring RBN’s Petchem Economics Model illustrating how feedstock and weather influence consumption.

Module 7 – Wholesale & Retail Propane

Terminal mapping, transport logistics, and the role of wholesalers and retailers, supported by RBN’s Wholesale/Retail Pricing Model to demonstrate contracting and delivery dynamics.

Excel Modeling Sessions + Live Q&A

Registration

Fee: Through November 7th – $550. After November 7th – $750.

If you have any questions regarding the master class, please contact Adrian Gomez at agomez@rbnenergy.com

November Texas Propane Magazine is Out

Check out these November stories in this month's magazine:

Forged By Propane: The Art of Heat – How a Texas Maker Turns Propane into Precision Steel
Bridging the Flame: Record Turnout Marks 2025 Propane Emergencies Training in College Station including two pages of photos
Time Running Out: Enroll in the 2025 Texas Duty to Warn Mailing Program
Gallon Sales Increase for Texas in 2024: New Annual Propane Sales Report Released
PERC Update: Don’t Miss Out on Up to $10,000: Help Local High Schools & Trade Schools Adopt Propane Curriculum
Propane in Focus: Out & About | Photos from the TPGA Board Meeting
In Memoriam: Members we've lost.
Propane with Purpose: All in One Fire Pit