SunCast

556: Is 'Renewable' Propane Really Clean Energy or Just Hype?


Listen Later

I’m no fan of the hype train and misdirection foisted upon us by much of the traditional fossil fuel industry. So, when I met Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), I was happy to “entertain” a phone call to hear why he believes renewable propane can be dubbed a clean and sustainable energy source. Truthfully, I had zero intention of ever having him on the show. But after a delightful 30 minute jousting match over zoom, I was convinced that there was more to his narrative than meets the eye, and that it’d make a fun and entertaining (at the very least) episode for the SunCast faithful. And, I actually learned quite alot!

As Tucker explains, renewable propane — sometimes called biopropane, bioLPG, eco-propane and rLPG — is a drop-in replacement for traditional propane produced from petroleum refining. Rather than oil or natural gas, the sources of renewable propane include biomass, biogas, municipal solid waste and even corn or sugarcane. 

In today's eye-opening Tactical Tuesday, Tucker shares his vision of the potential of renewable propane and Nico challenges him on its role in the future of green energy. Tucker believes "safe, reliable and economical" renewable propane is part of the solution for an energy-efficient future. 

Will you agree? Or do you believe it’s just part of the massive greenwashing happening right now across the fossil fuel industry to convince consumers that “it’s not that bad” and “there are ‘clean-er’ options to how we’ve been doing this.”? 

PERC, operated and funded by the propane industry, views renewable propane as a viable energy source for powering homes, businesses, and vehicles due to its high energy density, clean burning characteristics, and cost-effectiveness. 

This episode takes me out of my comfort zone, as I reach across the aisle to explore renewable propane as an alternative to synthetic or fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, or gasoline. 

One key question I come away with “Is renewable propane, as it's generally called in the United States, the best term for this fuel?”

Tucker and I discuss this in depth and I admire Tucker’s willingness to engage. Please tune in to learn more about an alternative fuel that can potentially help us power our world, sustain our quality of life, and promote the justice and equity we seek.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

SunCastBy Nico Johnson

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

171 ratings


More shows like SunCast

View all
Climate One by Climate One from The Commonwealth Club

Climate One

564 Listeners

Energy Gang by Wood Mackenzie

Energy Gang

1,257 Listeners

Odd Lots by Bloomberg

Odd Lots

1,780 Listeners

Columbia Energy Exchange by Columbia University

Columbia Energy Exchange

392 Listeners

Currents by Norton Rose Fulbright

Currents

124 Listeners

Interchange Recharged by Wood Mackenzie

Interchange Recharged

495 Listeners

Redefining Energy by Laurent Segalen and Gerard Reid

Redefining Energy

127 Listeners

Inevitable by an MCJ podcast

Inevitable

168 Listeners

Switched On by Bloomberg

Switched On

101 Listeners

Volts by David Roberts

Volts

588 Listeners

The Green Blueprint by Latitude Media

The Green Blueprint

205 Listeners

Catalyst with Shayle Kann by Latitude Media

Catalyst with Shayle Kann

262 Listeners

Zero: The Climate Race by Bloomberg

Zero: The Climate Race

195 Listeners

Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins by Heatmap News

Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins

92 Listeners

Open Circuit by Latitude Media

Open Circuit

140 Listeners