PERC approves consumer campaign for 2022

June 6, 2022 By Brian Richesson

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved the following funding requests during its spring meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.

$5,265,623 for the 2022 environmental campaign and partnership with states program. This project continues a docket funded last year in which PERC matched state rebate dollar allocations to promote the Energy for Everyone brand and new messaging pillars at both the national and state levels. It aims to increase the consumer awareness of propane as a clean energy. The original project amount was set at $4.7 million, but PERC OK’d additional funding for the states.
$617,000 for an online tool that aids in the completion of the written fire safety analysis as required under NFPA 58 for bulk propane installations. Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants is a partner on the project.
$591,500 for 2022 industry engagement, covering PERC outreach and meeting expenses from May through December.
$570,000 for a market data and research program, which PERC says will help create an easier way for teams to understand the data needed to expedite decision-making and develop dashboards and visuals for quick access to up-to-date data and reports.
$458,250 to support the activity of the Learning Center, PERC’s learning management system, in 2022. The council calls the Learning Center the nerve center for storage and delivery of its online educational programs.
$430,000 for 2022 workforce outreach, which features a digital media buy targeting CDL drivers and a podcast with Mike Rowe.
$120,000 for a manufactured housing sales center partnership in which propane marketers are asked to engage with their local sales center to promote propane model homes. The program will cost share with propane marketers up to $6,000 for each sales center location to install “live burn” homes operating on propane. According to PERC, the project would build on a successful test in Virginia with Pat’s Manor Homes and expand to more sales centers across the country.
$110,000 to begin a study that will measure the performance and emissions of propane/DME blends in spark-ignited engines. This marks one of the first U.S.-led tests around propane/DME blends, says PERC, which is working with the University of Michigan.
$28,000 for the Ohio Propane Education & Research Council (OPERC) to create a state rebate program that will incentivize autogas dispenser installations. OPERC believes that a broad network of autogas dispensers must be available and open to the public for Ohio propane retailers to find success with autogas platforms. Ohio hopes the project will lay the groundwork for other states to follow.