Virginia Governor’s Conference on Energy to include Propane as Alternative Fuel Solution

WASHINGTON (October 13, 2010) — At the first ever Governor’s Conference on Energy, Roy Willis, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), will talk about the research, development, and commercialization of propane vehicles and how that work helps the United States achieve its objectives of reducing dependence on foreign oil and cleaning up the environment.

Hosted by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, the conference will cover state and federal regulatory activity, alternative energy projects, research and development at Virginia universities, and energy insights and emerging technologies from government and business leaders. Stuart Weidie, president of Alliance AutoGas, a network of propane retail and conversion companies, will speak during the “Virginia Energy Innovators” panel. T. Boone Pickens will make the keynote speech.

“It is appropriate that propane participate in this important, forward-thinking conference,” said Roy Willis. “In Virginia and around the country, propane vehicles can play a vital role in providing a cost effective solution for transportation, with economic and environmental benefits that can be recognized immediately.

“Propane already is used by millions of Americans for transportation, commercial, industrial, and agricultural applications,” continued Willis. “With 55,000 miles of pipeline, more than 6,000 retailer dealer locations, and thousands of propane fueling stations, propane is readily accessible and ready to do more.”

According to U.S. Department of Energy, propane is already fueling approximately 270,000 fleet vehicles, including buses, trucks, taxis, and delivery vans, across the United States. Worldwide, more than 13 million vehicles run on propane. There are more propane fueling stations in the United States than there are fueling stations for any other alternative fuel, including ethanol. Propane is the only alternative fuel with fueling stations located in every state.

PERC promotes the safe and efficient use of propane as an energy fuel for its cost-effectiveness, efficiency and productivity, reliability, portability, and environmental friendliness. For more information on PERC and its programs, please visit www.autogasusa.org.

For more information about the conference, visit www.vsbn.org.