PRESS RELEASE
August 12, 2022
JEROME, IDAHO—Last Tuesday, Congressman Mike Simpson, representing Idaho 2nd district, met with Tom Daniels, Regional Energy Manager with Valley Wide Cooperative, and Tom Clark, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Propane Association, to talk about the importance of propane as a clean and alternative energy source.
During the meeting, the group talked about Idaho businesses that regularly use propane, like dairies, manufacturers, and fleet-based businesses, like bus companies. Daniels highlighted Twin Falls-based Valley Wide Cooperative customer Mid-Columbia Bus Company who has switched out many of their buses from diesel to propane-fuel. “Propane has the lowest carbon content of any fossil fuel, emitting fewer emissions into the air,” says Daniels. “It’s an economical alternative to gas or diesel, especially in fleet vehicles like delivery trucks or school buses.” Clark laughed and said, “Propane buses can make your kids smarter.”
Clark, who represents propane companies throughout the region, talked about the attention that electric vehicles are getting in both the media and government dollars in the form of tax credits. He said, “It’s a misconception that people have that electric vehicles are 100% clean. In most places, electricity is ultimately powered by coal or nuclear power. As an alternative, propane is a much cleaner energy source. We need propane included in legislation surrounding alternative energy.”
The pair also talked to Congressman Simpson about propane use in the home and how it can help homeowners achieve a zero-energy footprint. They shared how homeowners use propane in cooking ranges, water heaters, and fireplaces (among other applications), it offsets the carbon footprint created through a home’s electricity use.
Both Daniels and Clark agreed that propane has a broader application in the industry than is often given credit for. Clark says, “People mostly see propane as a secondary energy source, used when the power goes out to fuel a generator. Yet, it has so much potential in businesses and homes. Ultimately that is the message we are trying to get out.”
To finish the visit, the group took a picture in front of a Valley Wide Cooperative propane delivery truck fueled by, you guessed it, propane.
About Valley Wide Cooperative:
Valley Wide Cooperative is the largest supplier of propane in Idaho. Since 1920, they have empowered its agricultural members to increase their bargaining power and gain market share to achieve economies of scale through its four divisions of business: Agronomy, Energy, Feed, and Farm Supply Stores.
Check out the Valley Wide Cooperative website: https://www.valleywidecoop.com/
Media contact: Erica Louder, 208-731-3863 erica.louder@valleywidecoop.com
