Your behavior appears to be a little unusual. Please verify that you are not a bot.


Propane Fuels America: New York

March 30, 2021 By    

LP Gas’ yearlong Propane Fuels America series takes a deep dive into how each state benefits from the propane industry. Here’s our report on New York.

Total odorized propane demand (2019): 432 million gallons

U.S. rank for gallons sold: 8

Gallon sales trend: New York has registered back-to-back gallon gains after selling 355 million in 2017 and 418 million in 2018.

Census region/division gallons: Northeast: 1.69 billion/Middle Atlantic: 915 million

Propane autogas school buses/districts and contractors: 763/94


Market pointers

• A Top 10 state for propane gallon sales in 2019, with about 70 percent of sales coming from the residential market. The Hudson Valley is one of the fastest growing U.S. regions for propane consumption – due to wintry weather, housing development and the overall attractiveness of the Catskills community.

Paraco Gas bobtail photo by Roger Rosenbaum/Brand-News-Team Inc.

Paraco Gas is one of the largest propane marketers in New York. Photo by Roger Rosenbaum/Brand-News-Team Inc.

• Superior Plus Propane (Rochester) and Paraco Gas (Rye Brook) are ranked fifth and 13th, respectively, on LP Gas’ Top Propane Retailers list of the largest U.S. companies.

• Tremendous growth in portable cylinders, especially for restaurants and ski resorts that need to heat new temporary spaces for customers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Propane has been accepted for this use in New York City boroughs – where it had not been widely allowed, according to the New York Propane Gas Association (NYPGA).

• A large public education campaign is drawing the NYPGA’s focus as it responds to the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The CLCPA, signed into law in 2019, mandates that at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity come from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar by 2030, and that the state’s power system be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2040.

• New York is making a strong push to advance the number of zero net energy homes in the state, and propane appliances can be an effective tool in the effort. The state has fairly high electricity prices, making counties with high shares of electricity for heating potential targets for propane expansion.


Fast facts

State association affiliation: New York Propane Gas Association (NYPGA), nypropane.com, which started prior to the 1960s but was first recognized by the state in 1971.

Programs: Safety training and safe installation rebates. The NYPGA says it is repurposing its installation rebate program in 2021 – toward consumer awareness and electrification of the state.

Marquee events in 2021: Three membership conferences a year – spring, summer and fall. Check with the association for details on this year’s events.

Before COVID-19: The propane industry in New York had contributed $1.7 billion to the 2018 state economy. It’s too early to assess COVID-19’s impact on the state’s gross domestic product.

“It’s been a hunker-down year with the pandemic, but members have done very well on many fronts – from health to business activity.” – Bruce Whitney, executive director, New York Propane Gas Association


What’s the weather?

Average temperature (2020): 47.8 degrees F

Annual heating degree-days five-year average (2015-19): 5,668
U.S. average: 4,090


Sources: Propane Education & Research Council’s U.S. National and State Propane Market Profiles; Annual Retail Propane Sales Report; propane.com; New York Propane Gas Association; U.S. Energy Information Administration’s State Energy Profiles

About the Author:

Brian Richesson is the editor in chief of LP Gas Magazine. Contact him at brichesson@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3748.

Comments are currently closed.