Virginia Fleet Converts Vehicles to Run on Renewable Propane

Representatives from Virginia Clean Cities, Alliance AutoGas, Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), and the City of Petersburg attended a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event to speak on the importance of the fuel technology as the city of Petersburg’s police and shuttle vehicle fleets are converting 49 vehicles from gasoline to run on cleaner, low emissions energy source.

Renewable propane is proving to lower emissions in more states with Virginia investing in their first gallons.

“We want to celebrate and acknowledge the leadership that made this move to clean energy possible,” said Alleyn Harned, director at Virginia Clean Cities. “Transportation represents Virginia’s highest area of harmful emissions and is the costliest energy sector. Renewable propane is a major step forward to reduce emissions and lower the city’s fleet operating costs. As a transportation fuel, renewable propane brings improved energy security for Virginia and the region.”

Virginia Clean Cities focuses on air quality improvement, economic opportunity, and energy security through deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure.

Propane autogas vehicles with renewable propane have a lower lifetime carbon footprint than electric vehicles charged using the electric grid in Virginia.

“Renewable liquid fuels will be an important factor in reducing transportation sector emissions in the next 30 years,” said Stuart Weidie, CEO of Blossman Gas, the founding member of Alliance AutoGas. “The carbon intensity of renewable propane is lower than a battery electric vehicle and provides both a near and longer-term option to provide positive benefits for our environment. I am grateful for all the progression we have made to get to this point today and look forward to continuing our advancement with renewable propane.”

Blossman Gas serves in 16 states and delivers propane and efficient propane appliances to over 170,000 customers.

“Renewable propane autogas is already being used with great success by several fleets throughout the nation,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. “Widespread use would significantly magnify emissions reductions today without additional costly infrastructure upgrades. Because the chemical structure and physical properties are the same as conventional propane, renewable propane can be used for all the same applications.”

PERC is a nonprofit that provides propane safety and training programs. It also invests in research and development of propane-powered technologies.

Renewable propane is made from a mix of waste residues and sustainably sourced materials, including agricultural waste products, cooking oil, and meat fats. Renewable propane’s carbon intensity is four times lower than conventional propane and five times lower than diesel at the point of combustion.