• AOL’s Autobloggreen wrote about how Alliance AutoGas is helping to expand the network of propane autogas stations in the U.S.

• The lawn and landscaping team for the national mall in Washington D.C. just gained six new clean propane autogas mowers.

• DIRECTV plans to expand its propane autogas vehicle fleet over the next year.

• U.S. Sen. Bob Casey outlined legislation Monday that would add more alternative fuel stations along U.S. highways.

• Legislation sponsored by New Jersey Senators Bob Smith and Linda R. Greenstein was approved in the Senate to help the state’s transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles.

• A Wisconsin Alliance AutoGas partner and fleet customer has increased its clean fleet to 10 propane service vans, with fuel supply and support from Charter Fuels.

• Finally, listen to Autogas for America founder and Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie discuss why propane autogas is an ideal fuel for fleets.

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EDMOND — To the Editor:

Regarding the recent article about lengthy refueling times for the City of Edmond’s compressed natural gas vehicles (“City’s bus conversion to natural gas hits snag,” The Edmond Sun, March 14, 2012), city officials should know about another abundant, American-made alternative fuel that will save money on fuel costs, while also taking much less time to refuel.

Propane autogas is clean-burning, yields savings of more than $1.25 per gallon and achieves 90 percent range compared to gasoline. Autogas technology is also much more cost-effective to implement than CNG. While converting light-duty vehicles to CNG can costs tens of thousands of dollars, propane vehicle conversions run about $5,500, according to fueling and conversion network Alliance AutoGas. You can install 15 autogas stations for the price of one CNG station.

In addition, filling up a propane-powered vehicle takes the same amount of time as fueling a traditional gasoline vehicle — while, as the article stated, fueling CNG vehicles can take upwards of 45 minutes, even for fast-fill stations. This is lost time that translates to more vehicle and personnel down-time, and money lost for both commercial and private fleets.

Fleet owners and managers are beginning to realize that the upfront costs associated with natural gas are more significant than industry lobbyists would have us believe. In the past two years, many have looked to propane autogas for a clean fuel solution that’s affordable and accessible to American fleets. Autogas and natural gas are both environmentally friendly, domestically produced and cost less than gasoline per gallon — but autogas is simply more practical in terms of upfront costs, logistics and implementation.

Stuart Weidie
Swannanoa, N.C.

STUART WEIDIE is president of Alliance AutoGas and founder of Autogas for America. More information may be found at www.autogasforamerica.org.