Michigan Propane, Clean Burning for Over 150 Years
CHEMISTRY
Because it vaporizes when exposed to air, propane has negligible effects on the ozone. Similarly, propane does not harm the soil and poses no hazard to drinking water or marine ecosystems. Propane is not mined like battery materials or extracted like oil. It is primarily manufactured from natural gas as a by-product of methane purification. Propane’s low carbon intensity is why it is an approved clean alternative fuel under the Clean Air Act.
RENEWABLE
A renewable version of propane is ramping up. It's produced by converting plant and vegetable oils, waste greases, and animal fat into fuel. It delivers a high-energy conversion so BTU’s aren’t wasted, and is price competitive and carbon neutral, meaning no new carbon is added to the atmosphere when renewable propane is burned.
ENERGY
The US Energy Star program gives propane a source site ratio of 1.01, compared to 3.03 for electricity from the grid. This means it takes 3.03 units of electricity to produce and deliver one unit of energy to a home, compared to only 1.01 for propane.
MI RENEWABLE PROPANE BASICS
Renewable Propane is nearly identical to traditional propane with one big exception — it’s not made from fossil fuels.
What is Renewable Propane Made From?
How is Renewable Propane Made?
In many cases, it’s produced as a co-product of biodiesel production. Feedstocks go through a series of complex treatments and are then merged with hydrogen in a process called hydrogenolysis, which purifies the energy content.
Environmental Benefits
- Landfill diversion: Recycling cooking oil and meat fats into biodiesel and renewable propane helps cut the amount of waste deposited in landfills.
- Carbon reduction: Converting animal fats and cooking oils into renewable propane is also an ultra-low carbon intensity process that can be scaled up. This process is five times better than diesel and gasoline and more than one-and-a-half times better than U.S. grid electricity.
Michigan Needs Fuel Diversity
Michigan’s Thumb BioEnergy is an important part of the state’s Fuel-Diversity. We need clean burning fuels for the vehicles that are on road today. Clean vehicle fuels like propane, biodiesel, CNG, and others will cleanly power existing cars and trucks.
Michigan science teacher explains why using propane to fuel vehicles and to heat homes is good for the environment.
Blackouts in Texas, soaring energy prices across in the U.S. and Europe all tied to adopting renewable energy too quickly.
PROPANE DECARBONIZES
Clean and renewable energy, like propane, accelerates Michigan's decarbonization efforts.
Decarbonization requires more cleaner energy options. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Scientific and Technical Information says that large emissions reductions are achievable through a broad range of opportunities, including the use of low carbon alternatives like propane. The electric grid isn’t always the cleanest answer. Currently, propane-fueled medium- and heavy-duty vehicles provide a lower carbon footprint solution in 38 U.S. states when compared to medium- and heavy-duty EVs charged from the electrical grid. Michigan is propane country. Our state’s propane reserves are abundant and clean burning which is why numerous fleets including busses, trucks and city vehicles run on propane.
PROPANE ENSURES EQUITY
Access to clean, affordable and renewable energy like propane ensures equity on the path to zero
Urban and rural low-income households, especially African American and Latino households, spend roughly three times as much of their income on energy costs as non-low-income households. In February 2021, EIA reported that electricity was 68% more expensive per million BTUs than propane. Energy should be affordable, so that no one has to go without, but the share of income that low-income households spent on electricity rose by 1/3 in the last decade. Everyone should have access to clean energy and home energy management tools, but utility programs that promote rooftop solar power, electric vehicles, and home energy storage are largely inaccessible to low-income households. Emission-free renewable energy isn’t free. Net-metering gives solar customers a credit on their bill when their rooftop panels generate excess power and the utility buys back the power. The power is paid for by other non-solar customers, including low-income households.
Propane is a Clean Fuel, Learn How Else Michigan Propane is Used:
Propane is the most widely used car and truck fuel in the world. Michigan has over 33,000 propane vehicles.
The Michigan Propane Commission offers a propane water heater or boiler rebate to rural residents and licensed installers.
Our grilling receipts are easy to make and put smiles on faces! Plus, we have some grill safety advice.
Michigan food truck safety is important to get your operation ready for the season. Learn about Michigan food safety regulations on this website.
Michigan cannabis growers and processors can learn propane safety since propane is used to extract cannabis oil / terpenes from plants.
Propane is a Clean Fuel, Learn How Else Michigan Propane is Used:
Propane is the most widely used car and truck fuel in the world. Michigan has over 33,000 propane vehicles.
The Michigan Propane Commission offers a propane water heater or boiler rebate to rural residents and licensed installers.
Our grilling receipts are easy to make and put smiles on faces! Plus, we have some grill safety advice.
Michigan food truck safety is important to get your operation ready for the season. Learn about Michigan food safety regulations on this website.
Michigan cannabis growers and processors can learn propane safety since propane is used to extract cannabis oil / terpenes from plants.
