PERC approves 21 projects at December 2024 meeting

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved the following 21 dockets during its December 2024 meeting in Naples, Florida.

• $11,224,600 for PERC’s 2025 integrated marketing and communications plan, which encompasses total programming for all markets, digital development, corporate communications and market support, and environmental thought leadership.
• $2,250,000 for the 2025 Propane Construction Research and Data Collection Program, which will gather data from builders on homes built or remodeled in 2025.
• $988,100 for 2025 industry engagement, which covers outreach and meeting expenses to educate the industry about consumer education efforts, environmental messaging, market growth and commercialization efforts, and safety and training programs.
• $913,000 for 2025 workforce outreach and education, which supports propane workforce training, external audience training to allied markets, and technical school curriculums.
• $800,000 for a two-year project that will support the creation and updating of Propane Emergencies curriculum, program outreach and more.
• $725,000 to fund market data and research initiatives in 2025, including data sets that inform the state of the industry and progress toward strategic goals.
• $700,000 to support business development activities for a Reliable Horsepower industrial engine line expansion.
• $650,000 for the Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program, designed to collect data from participating commercial and industrial businesses to inform research about propane use in the commercial building industry.
• $604,835 for 2025 autogas market business development activities.
• $567,250 for 2025 residential market business development activities.
• $550,120 for 2025 agriculture and off-road market business development activities.
• $506,350 for 2025 commercial market business development activities.
• $433,850 for 2025 material handling business development activities.
• $421,000 to support the execution of product development, research activities and business development, plus key components of PERC’s strategic plan.
• $350,000 for the 2025-26 Propane Farm Research Program, which compensates agricultural producers for documenting propane’s performance on the farm. Added research opportunities target diesel displacement and prime power generation.
• $250,000 for disaster recovery as well as a “building back safely” program following the hurricanes that hit the southeastern United States in 2024. Specifically, the funds will benefit homeowners in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The program, administered and promoted by the state associations, will provide funds to match states’ safe appliance rebate funds.
• $203,808 for a direct injection LPG demonstration truck. This docket funds the conversion of a 5.3-liter L8T engine of a 2024 GM Silverado from gasoline to a direct injection LPG system.
• $200,000 to develop and build a durable off-road system demonstration engine (19-56 kilowatts) that is Tier V compliant and a feasible alternative to diesel.
• $200,000 for PERC Education Program (PEP) administration. The project supports the design and development of online training programs for PEP-recognized instructors, conducting in-person instructor training and virtual instructor training.
• $157,750 to support the creation of curriculum, training and outreach about propane to metal recycling facilities through the Recycled Materials Association and the Recycling Education and Research Foundation.
• $60,000 for the 2024 Utilization Technology Development (UTD) consortium. UTD is a research-based nonprofit organization composed of natural gas distribution companies focused on the development of safe and efficient end-use gas technologies. PERC continues to work with UTD to co-fund product innovation and development activities.

PERC will meet virtually on Feb. 12 and in person on April 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina, ahead of the National Propane Gas Association’s Southeastern & International Propane Expo.