WASHINGTON (April 6, 2011) — With President Obama’s recent announcement of the National Clean Fleets Partnership, the propane industry and its manufacturing partners are well positioned, today and in the future, to provide innovative technologies and vehicles fueled by propane autogas, America’s No. 1 alternative energy source for transportation.

“The propane industry applauds our nation’s leaders for bringing about new clean energy goals, and it stands ready to do more,” said Roy Willis, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “Through PERC, the propane industry has invested millions of dollars in research and development to bring new fleet applications fueled by propane autogas to the market. Working with our manufacturing partners, fleet managers have many propane autogas products to choose from that help achieve sustainable environmental goals and decrease our country’s dependence on foreign oil without sacrificing performance.”

President Obama highlighted the importance of securing America’s energy supply, saving consumers money at the pump and creating a cleaner environment, as he addressed the nation last week. “We cannot keep going from shock to trance on the issue of energy security, rushing to propose action when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall again,” President Obama said during his speech at Georgetown University on March 30. “It is time to do what we can to secure our energy future.”

Ninety percent of the propane consumed in the United States is produced domestically. Thousands of refueling stations across the country make propane autogas convenient and available, with more propane autogas stations than any other alternative fuel. Propane autogas is the only alternative fuel with fueling stations in every state.

There are more than 15 million vehicles operating on propane autogas worldwide. According to the Energy Department, there are more than 270,000 on-road vehicles operating on propane autogas across the United States. Propane autogas, a recognized alternative fuel according to the Environmental Protection Agency, fuels vehicles in such fleets as Frito-Lay, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, Schwan’s, Red Top Cab, and SuperShuttle.

Light- and medium-duty trucks and vans fueled by propane autogas are available from a number of industry-leading manufacturers, including Roush CleanTech for Ford Motor Co. commercial vehicles, and General Motors commercial fleet products through a partnership with CleanFuel USA.

“The Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative and the White House’s newly announced National Clean Fleets Partnership share a common goal with the propane industry — to introduce state-of-the-art technology that makes fleets more sustainable,” said Willis. “In recent years, the propane industry has partnered with Clean Cities Coalitions to develop programs for propane autogas deployment projects, including vehicles and infrastructure.”

Working with equipment manufacturing partners, PERC supports the research and development of new propane autogas engines and vehicles and provides safety and training. For more information on PERC and its programs, visit http://www.autogasusa.org. For more information on the National Clean Fleet Partnership, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/01/fact-sheet-national-clean-fleets-partnership.

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The Propane Education & Research Council was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of Public Law 104-284, the Propane Education & Research Act (PERA), signed into law on October 11, 1996.  The mission of the Propane Education & Research Council is to promote the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source.