Morrisville, Vermont Embraces Renewable Propane: A Step Towards Carbon Reduction

In Morrisville, Vermont, a significant environmental shift is underway as a local fuel company strides towards embracing renewable propane as an eco-friendly energy source.

Bourne’s Energy, located in Morrisville, is pioneering this transition by introducing renewable propane into Vermont for heating purposes. A truck containing nearly 10,000 gallons of renewable propane now symbolizes this initiative outside their facilities.

This move comes after the Clean Heat Standard mandates energy suppliers to curtail their carbon footprint. Levi Bourne, the president of Bourne’s Energy, views this as a customer-driven transformation, stating, “We think it’s a product that our customers want to see available, and we’re excited to be able to bring that to consumers in the state of Vermont.”

While vehicles powered by propane engines received their first taste of renewable propane last summer in Vermont, the heating sector remained unexplored until now.

Bourne’s Energy plans to blend renewable propane with its conventional offerings and distribute it to homes and businesses nationwide. Despite incurring an additional cost of 30 cents per gallon compared to traditional propane, the company has committed not to pass on this cost to customers, at least initially.

The environmental merits of renewable propane are notable, as it is derived from non-petroleum sources like natural fats and vegetable oils. Its carbon intensity, signifying the emissions produced during production, varies depending on the feedstock used. Nevertheless, the Propane Education & Research Council reports that renewable propane is four times less carbon-intensive than its conventional counterpart.

Experts emphasize that while renewable propane represents progress, burning the fuel emits greenhouse gases. However, considering the Clean Heat Standard Bill, it offers a step in the right direction. As local fuel companies explore options like renewable propane, they aim to find the most effective solutions for delivery and pricing to support sustainability efforts.

Ryan Lamberg, owner of Tied Branch Consultants, expresses his support: “Even if the green model spits back, this is only a 10% reduction. I’ll take a 10% reduction as long as it’s not petroleum.”

In this evolving landscape, Matt Cota from Meadow Hill Consulting anticipates more local fuel companies will experiment with renewable propane and similar alternatives to align with the Clean Heat Standard Bill’s objectives.