Propane Education and Research Council

Propane Education and Research Council
Formation February 1998 (1998-02)[1]
Type 501(C)6
36-4192410
Location
  • Washington D.C.
Coordinates 38°54′18″N 77°02′28″W / 38.905°N 77.04114°W / 38.905; -77.04114Coordinates: 38°54′18″N 77°02′28″W / 38.905°N 77.04114°W / 38.905; -77.04114
Revenue (2015)
$27,154,734[1]
Website www.propanecouncil.org

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) is a U.S. trade association that serves the propane industry. Created after the enactment of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996,[2] the Council is authorized by federal law to collect a fee (a checkoff) on every gallon of propane sold to fund programs to enhance safety, training, research and development, and consumer education.[2] Opponents describe checkoff programs like PERC as inequitable and a tax on the consumer.[3]

Consisting of 21 members representing marketers, producers, and the public, PERC is officially authorized to “develop programs and projects to enhance consumer education and employee safety and training, provide research and development of clean and efficient propane utilization equipment, (and) to inform and educate the public about safety and other issues associated with the use of propane.”[2] Its offices are in Washington, D.C.

Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush, is a spokesperson for the Propane Education and Research Council.[4] PERC contributes to causes related to propane adoption.[5]

The Propane Education and Research Council is a government approved commodity checkoff program funded by a compulsory fee of a half cent per gallon of propane. It is therefore subject to congressional oversight. The GAO found in 2010 that PERC did not devote enough money to propane research, preferring to spend on "consumer education."[6] PERC told the GAO that it taught 60 million consumers annually to safely use and manage propane grills. The GAO said, "It is unclear, however, whether such activities helped to reduce propane incidents and accidents, which is one of PERC’s stated strategic goals for safety and training."

References

  1. 1 2 "PERC Form 990 2015". ProPublica. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pub. L. No. 104-284, 15 USC 6401, 110 Stat. 3370 (Oct. 11, 1996)" (PDF). US Congress.
  3. ↑ Sabet, Michael (April 2010). "UNDERSTANDING THE FEDERAL COMMODITY CHECKOFF PROGRAM" (PDF). Penn State Law. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Foster-Frau, Sylvia (Sep 29, 2016). "Jenna Bush Hager visits local elementary, grants teachers $10k". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Propane Council donates $5,000 to Lemmon Valley teachers". KOLO TV. Sep 27, 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Federal Oversight of the Propane Education and Research Council and National Oilheat Research Alliance Should Be Strengthened" (PDF). Government Accountability Office.
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