Know the Facts

Concerns about climate change, greenhouse gases, and health issues have sent legislators, environmentalists, and the media into an electrification tizzy. “We must discontinue using fossil fuels and switch everyone over to electric vehicles and heating systems,” they squeal. “And stop selling gas stoves!”

You may have heard the legend of Norwegian lemmings committing mass suicide. Due to their migratory nature, huge numbers of these herd-bound rodents have been known to leap en masse from cliffs into the sea, and many perish. This same attitude of rushing to judgment about fossil fuels is causing a misguided media and government frenzy. Let’s deal with the facts about climate impacts from propane (and other fossil-fuel-based products) against the true downside of widespread electrification.

ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES & HEATING SYSTEMS:

Using electric-powered vehicles and heating systems actually increases the amount of greenhouse gas emitted compared to clean-burning propane-powered fleets, personal vehicles, propane furnaces, and propane heaters.  It’s a matter of “carbon intensity,” which measures the amount of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases generated in energy creation. A real comparison must include the whole production cycle. Electric vehicles and grid-powered heating systems (on a national average) rely heavily upon coal-fed power plants to create the necessary electricity. That carbon intensity from the grid has been measured at 139 grams per megajoule. In most of the United States, that’s a filthy fact.  The carbon intensity for propane production, shipping, and combustion is far less, at only 90. Renewable propane is on the horizon, with a carbon intensity of less than 21.

SOLAR & WIND:

The hope that solar and wind power might be able to replace all existing coal-fed power generating stations can’t be realized. Scientific experts have run the numbers, and if we maxed-out wind and solar “farms,” they’d only be able to provide about 30% of the necessary power to keep us going at current usage levels. Even if we enjoyed sunny, windy weather daily and covered the landscape with wind turbines and solar panels, it’s a “no-go.” If the lemmings keep shoving for extreme electrification, that house of cards will quickly collapse.

THE GRID:

Another factor to consider is that the national electricity grid can’t handle the increased system load for recharging electric vehicles. This projected electric cars and trucks onslaught would require regular recharging from that already-overburdened grid. Blackouts, brownouts, and system outages are inevitable.

Couple that with the rare metals and materials needed to manufacture large, high-priced batteries. Lithium and cobalt are needed, among other components. There aren’t enough sufficient resources to safely gather these elements. Electric vehicles won’t be in every garage because it’s impractical, impossible, and solves nothing.

GAS POWERED STOVES.

Gas-powered stoves are not the environmental problem in your kitchen. To prevent any respiratory issues, it’s a matter of ventilation. Cooking creates smoke from food that affects users’ lungs, and that happens whether they’re applying heat with electricity, propane, natural gas, or wood. Run the cooking hood fan, or open a window to remove combustion and cooking artifacts, and you’ll be healthier! New York State has just implemented measures to curtail the sale of gas stoves. Still, scientific research has not shown any significant difference in asthma cases related to using gas stoves versus other cooking methods.

You may wish to contact your Congress representatives and state legislatures about your concerns and knowledge regarding the energy dilemma. We have plenty more to share about carbon intensity, which gives you, the reader, some weapons of practical truth. When you are facing off with someone who tries to argue against using fossil fuels in their lemming-syndrome cliff plunge towards enforced electrification, you have facts.

If you have questions about the benefits of using propane rather than electricity, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!