Regarding EPA’s recent “good neighbor plan” ruling:
The future of energy in Utah has been cast as a series of struggles between unyielding sides: federal regulators vs. fossil fuel interests. Climate activists vs. climate deniers. Bad vs. good (it’s anyone’s guess which is which). Those of us on the ground in energy industries know it’s not that simple, and we are working on a path forward every day.
Look at the propane industry. Most propane is made from a fossil fuel (natural gas), but it is low-carbon and produces low levels of pollutants like ground-level ozone, particulate matter (also known as soot), carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide (SOx) and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) compared to gasoline and diesel. Propane also produces about 40% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than an equivalent amount of average electricity produced by the U.S. grid.
Propane, like other fuels including natural gas, is increasingly being made from renewable sources like used cooking oil and even plants. Propane made this way is even lower in carbon and has the potential to reach a carbon intensity of zero or below. So, whose side is propane on?
In Utah, propane is on your side if you want reliable energy and cleaner air. When the electric grid falters, a propane-powered generator or propane-assisted renewable microgrid can keep the power flowing. When you want a cleaner ride to school for your kids, a propane bus scores higher than a diesel one. To heat your home, cook your food, warm your livestock, or deliver your packages, propane is on your side.
While the two “sides” slug it out in courts and legislatures over energy’s future, Utah’s 59 local propane companies will continue to deliver.
Tom Clark, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Propane Association, Ogden
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/oswGmyP
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