By Troy Gillard

Blue flame of the future?

Propane a viable clean energy alternative: Association president

Sep 6, 2019 | 9:58 PM

Could propane play a key role in helping Canada meet its clean energy goals? The president of the Canadian Propane Association certainly thinks so.

Nathalie St-Pierre says there’s too much focus these days on pitting oil and gas versus things like solar and electric and not enough focus on other alternatives, such as propane.

“We want to be considered as a renewable fuel,” she said at the CPA’s Alberta Seminar in Red Deer on Friday.

St-Pierre noted that propane, a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, is already commonly used as a clean-burning fuel source in many parts of the country.

She feels its impact could be greater if propane received the same federal subsidies as other fuels such as diesel.

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“Let’s be part of the mix. It’s not just about natural gas, you can’t get it in a lot of communities. We think propane can play a significant role.”

St-Pierre would like to see the transportation industry be more active in using and promoting propane as it is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions.

She said it may not be viable to switch from gas/diesel to electric just yet because not all provinces are producing “green” electricity.

“Maybe the tailpipe emissions of the car (are) green, but the production of that electricity may not be as green. You have to assess the whole life cycle of that fuel or that vehicle. That’s where propane can really play a role.”

Recent scientific advances that make it possible to produce propane without using fossil fuels.

It would cost a vehicle owner $6,000 to $7,000 to convert from gas/diesel to propane; something St-Pierre says can be made more feasible through subsidies.

The vision of the CPA is to be the authoritative voice to promote propane as a safe, clean, versatile and innovative Canadian energy product and work collaboratively on behalf of its 400 member companies across the country.