Industry Update from IPGA’s Executive Director

It’s a beautiful morning in Central Illinois, and on my way to the office, I saw it with my own eyes. I had heard the rumors, but it’s true: the first combines are firing up, and the harvest has begun, which means winter isn’t far behind. For those of you who believe, take note; the persimmon seeds in Jacksonville show spoons and the woolly worms are all black.

With that said, I thought it was a good time to give you an update on what’s going on at the IPGA. Well, that’s not entirely true – Renee told me she needed my article for the newsletter by the end of the day!

Here’s a little update. Things have been quiet with the Capitol out for summer break. We are not anticipating any movement on energy legislation in the near future, but I’ll keep you updated if anything changes.

The stretch energy code is currently in front of JCAR, and according to our sources, the committee believes it’s not ready yet. They are expected to send it back to the ICC for further work. I’ll continue to monitor this situation.

With things moving slowly in the General Assembly, I’ve had some time to read articles sent to us by our friends at the Clean Energy Choice Coalition, of which we are a part. I’ve attached one below that caught my eye, as it affects all of us. I’ve also been dealing with this issue myself. Have you looked at your power bill lately? Mine has more than doubled this summer, which was alarming considering it’s been a relatively mild season, with only a few temperature spikes. In fact, I’ve only had my air conditioner on three times, for less than a week total. That’s right – I’m old school. I grew up without air conditioning, so I enjoy having the windows open for fresh air.

This article comes from the East Coast, and as we know, what starts on the East or West Coast usually finds its way to Illinois. As you read it, keep in mind that very few electric companies in Illinois generate their own power. They buy the electricity they deliver to your home on the open market. As I’ve learned, that’s why my bill has increased, and according to the article (which I confirmed with Ameren last week), it will likely continue to rise. We are not building new power plants, and wind and solar cannot produce enough power to meet growing demand. This will affect everyone, though most people don’t realize it yet. Here’s the article:
https://www.baconsrebellion.com/pjm-capacity-auction-prices-explode-due-to-supply-crunch/

On a different note, as I mentioned previously, I did get the propane shuttle bus from Missouri and took it to some transit and school districts. I didn’t make it to as many districts as I’d hoped, but I feel it was a successful start to a long conversation that will continue this fall. A few transit districts are interested and may want to test the bus for a week or so in the future.

What didn’t surprise me was the response I received at every transit district I visited: “I didn’t know we could get a propane-powered shuttle bus. That sounds better than electric!” If you have a county or public transportation district in your trade territory, stop in and introduce yourself. Don’t treat it as a sales call – you’re not there yet! Make it a call to introduce yourself and provide information on how they can save money in their day-to-day operations. Tell them to review the packet, and if they have any questions, they can reach out to you. If you don’t hear from them in a month or two, follow up and ask if they have any questions. This is a slow sale, but if you need help, feel free to call me. I can assist, but I can’t make the sale for you. However, if you stick with it, it will result in gallons.

I know many members already supply diesel to some of these districts and don’t want to lose those accounts. Here’s a wake-up call: YOU CAN LOSE THEM TO ANOTHER PRODUCT YOU CAN PROVIDE AND KEEP THEM AS A CUSTOMER, OR LOSE THEM TO ELECTRIC! It’s coming – the state is pushing these districts to try electric buses. If you need information packets, contact our office.

Our fall safety meetings start next week. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to do so. Todd will be covering fall and winter preparations, including some topics that we’ve noticed get overlooked at times. He has some great information for you.

That’s all for now. I hope you all have a good, dry harvest season. Remember, the goal is for everyone to make it home each night. You do an amazing job taking care of your customers. Stay safe!

Brad