Connecticut Welcomes First Gallons of Clean Renewable Propane

HARTFORD, CT (September 15, 2023) – The Pride Travel Center received an ultra-low emissions upgrade today thanks to the delivery of the first gallons of low-carbon renewable propane in Connecticut. The travel center, which is known for being the first in the United States to house multiple alternative energy options, received the gallons during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut, Hocon Gas, Ray Energy, the Propane Education & Research Council, and the Propane Gas Association of New England.

“Renewable liquid fuels will be an important factor in reducing transportation sector emissions in the next 30 years,” said Craig Peters, Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut. “I am grateful for all the progress the state of Connecticut has made to offer this option to residents, and I look forward to continuing our advancements with renewable propane.”

Vehicle fleets around the nation have been significantly lowering their emissions by running on conventional propane autogas for decades. Now, renewable propane is growing in popularity as an even more sustainable and carbon neutral energy source. Propane autogas vehicles operating with renewable propane have a lower lifetime carbon footprint than electric vehicles charged using the electric grid in Connecticut. Plus, they’re able to provide these low-emissions benefits at a fraction of the cost of electric vehicles.

Renewable propane has no fossil fuel origin and is methane free. It’s created from a variety of renewable feedstocks, including camelina plant oil, vegetable oil, animal fats, used cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal tallow. New research also shows it can be made by breaking down plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and by converting captured carbon dioxide into renewable propane.

With new innovations, it can even be used alone or in innovative blends with other renewable or low-carbon energy sources—including conventional propane—to further reduce carbon emissions. At the point of combustion, renewable propane’s carbon intensity is four times lower than conventional propane and five times lower than diesel.

“The Pride Travel Center understands that the future of transportation is clean, and renewable propane is one of the solutions on the wide path to zero that we’ll need to take to one day achieve zero emissions,” said Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development with the Propane Education & Research Council. “This is a monumental step forward to provide Connecticut with cleaner air, to provide the state’s fleets with an affordable energy option, and to provide energy security to the region.”

During the ceremony, David Gable, president of Hocon Gas was awarded with the Green Transportation Champion Award from Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut. Gable was instrumental in securing renewable propane in Connecticut among a host of other propane projects for the state.

“It’s hard to measure the positive change Dave has made for the people of Connecticut,” said Peters. “Through his work with Hocon Gas in securing clean propane programs across the state, he has implemented significant and lasting sustainability initiatives that are bringing cleaner air to communities across Connecticut.”

For more information on renewable propane in Connecticut, visit ct-ccc.org.

About Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut: Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut is a coalition of stakeholders that has been designated by the U.S. Department of Energy since June 1999 to carry out the mission, vision, and goals of the program. Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut supports programs and projects that decrease our dependency on imported oil and reduce air pollution. We work with stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and transportation technologies. Learn more at ct-ccc.org.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.