42,000 New Jobs, $29 Billion in Economic Gain Created if Propane GAS Act Passed by Congress

While propane autogas is projected to cost at least 30 percent less per gallon than gasoline for the next 25 years, the incentives found in the Propane GAS Act have been the determining factor for many fleet managers looking to transition away from conventional fuels. According to the ICF International study, the cost to the federal government for the Propane GAS Act will be "more than offset by the increased tax revenues at the federal, state and local government level."

"We are challenged in today's marketplace to go green," said Tom Armstrong, director of fleet at ThyssenKrupp Elevator, the largest producer of elevators in North America. "When we laid out all the fuels available, there was only one alternative that checked all the boxes, and that was propane autogas. Passage of the Propane GAS Act would make adopting propane autogas technology an even more desirable choice for fleets across the country." ThyssenKrupp Elevator has used ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas vehicles in their fleet for more than a year.

Last year, President Obama and the Department of Energy outlined specific environmental and energy security objectives for U.S. fleets. Intended to be a resource to stimulate adoption of domestic-based alternative energy such as propane autogas, the President created the National Clean Fleets Partnership. With 90 percent of U.S. propane supplies produced domestically — and an additional seven percent from Canada — passage of the Propane GAS Act would improve U.S. energy security while working to meet the Administration's goals through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25 percent compared to gasoline.

"The Propane GAS Act will allow us to bring even more propane autogas vehicles into our fleet," said Mike Baessler, fleet director for ARS/Rescue Rooter, which operates ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas vehicles in California and Texas. "We rely on incentives like these when we make decisions to use clean technology. And our customers benefit because we can pass down the savings from the reduced fuel and maintenance costs of propane autogas."

With up to 56,000 miles of pipeline, more than 6,000 retail dealer locations, and thousands of fueling stations across the nation, propane has strong transportation and distribution infrastructures and sufficient domestic fuel supplies to meet foreseeable consumer demands.

"If the leaders of our country want fleets to take action in achieving national goals for environmental sustainability and energy independence, they need to help put companies on the right track," said Thompson. "Winning the race for energy independence can be done with a budget-neutral proposition — and is something any good American would volunteer to do. The ICF International study shows how the Propane GAS Act can get it done."

To read the full report, visit Economic Impacts of the Propane Green Autogas Solutions Act of 2011 or visit www.roushcleantech.com/content/icf-study.