Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a mixture of several gases, 90% of which is propane.  Unlike other fuels, propane or LPG is a natural byproduct of natural gas production and petroleum refinement.  This means LPG is produced every day for no extra cost, just waiting to be used by efficient consumers.  Actually, the US produces 90% of its own propane (one incentive considering America’s dependence on foreign oil).

    LPG or propane is the most widely used alternative fuel to date.  Traditionally, it has been used for everything from heating or cooling residences or business to fueling barbeque grills.  More recently, LPG has been used as fuel for cars, trucks, and buses.  In the US, propane fuels over 350,000 cars on the road today.

    If the Town of Chapel Hill used propane in its offices and encouraged its use in households and business, it could effectively reduce its overall carbon emissions with this cleaner alternative fuel.

Source: EPA and Dartmouth research here

We will also examine the second possibility of building a power plant on-site that would have increased thermal efficiency, using either Combined Heating and Cooling (CHP) or Combined-Cycle Generators, as recommended by the DOE.

    Traditionally, using natural gas as a fuel for producing electricity creates roughly half as much CO2 emissions as burning coal (EPA website).

    Power plants as well as offices and households can reduce CO2 emission by switching to this energy source.
Typical Natural Gas powered plants in the US reach around 35% efficiency, but can reach near 50% efficiency by using combined-cycle turbines.

    Without much difference in cost, the Town of Chapel Hill and its citizens switch to this cleaner energy source to fuel their business or home.  For more information see North Carolina Natural Gas provider see PSNC at www.scana.com