Regional Propane Autogas Fleet Program Helps Diversify U.S. Transportation Energy
HARRISONBURG, Va. – April 23, 2012 – Between the rising cost of gasoline and $1 billion in proposed government green tax credits and grants for alternative fuel vehicles, the wheels of change are in motion for clean transportation energy in America today. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is currently making headlines, but there’s another domestically produced clean fuel that will play a vital role in the national clean energy equation: propane autogas.
The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is already helping fleets go green and save money on fuel and maintenance costs by switching to affordable, American-made propane autogas. This regional alternative fuel program for public and commercial fleets is administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University. So far, it has eliminated nearly 130 tons of greenhouse gasses and displaced more than 110,000 gallons of gasoline.
“Propane autogas offers significant advantages for U.S. fleets that want to lower their fuel costs and reduce emissions,” says Virginia Clean Cities Executive Director Alleyn Harned. “Diversifying our transportation energy sources is essential to solving the energy crisis, and the Program has been an effective way to ensure more U.S. fleets are aware of autogas and have access to this cost-effective clean fuel.”
Like compressed natural gas, propane autogas is a domestically produced clean fuel that costs less than gasoline. Autogas is a financially viable alternative fuel choice for fleets because initial cost of implementation is so affordable.
Autogas fleets currently save more than $1 per gallon compared to gasoline, and many report reduced maintenance needs. Vehicles powered by propane autogas produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline vehicles, including 20 percent less carbon monoxide, 40 percent less nitrogen oxide and 10 percent less carbon dioxide. Also, since 90 percent of the U.S. propane autogas supply is made-in-America, fleets running on autogas are doing their part to enhance energy security.
About The Program
The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is comprised of public and private partnerships throughout 10 states in the Southeast U.S., Denver and Pittsburgh. Over its four-year span, the Program will put more than 1,200 clean autogas vehicles on the road and implement more than 30 autogas fueling stations. Supported by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, the original Program award was $8.6 million, totaling more than $19 million with partner contributions. Alliance AutoGas provides autogas fueling infrastructure and conversion equipment for Program fleets, with fellow co-founding partner Blossman Gas supplying fuel. To learn more, visit www.usepropaneautogas.com or email info@usepropaneautogas.com.
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