The Alaska Propane Technical Summit on Wednesday, Aug. 24, hosted 30 government officials, operational experts representing North Slope companies and other potential stakeholders to discuss how Roush CleanTech’s propane autogas technology can promote job growth and environmental sustainability in Alaska, while turning a native natural resource into an economic gain.
The summit followed a nine-month demonstration of two Roush CleanTech propane autogas Ford F-250 pickup trucks, coordinated by the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority, to give Alaskan private and public fleets a look into how this readily available alternative fuel performs in sub-zero temperatures.
“We actually reinject millions of gallons of propane back into the North Slope every day,” says Harold Heinze, ANGDA chief executive officer. “We need to find good local uses for the vast quantities of propane our state produces, and propane autogas has the potential to accomplish this and so much more. Roush CleanTech has the on-road technology to employ propane autogas for all the construction vehicles used in this part of the state, turning a current liability into economic stability. Oil companies are among the heavyweights considering propane autogas as an option to power their fleet over diesel.”
The state of Alaska has been using one of the propane autogas trucks, and many private and public fleets in Alaska have been driving the second truck, including CH2M Hill, the State of Alaska fleet services, CONAM Construction, the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and the City of Anchorage. The National Park Service in Denali National Park and Matanusaka Electric Association also plan to demo the vehicle. Roush says the CleanTech propane autogas trucks weathered conditions up to 55 degrees below zero.
“These trucks are performance workhorses, even in the harshest Alaska weather conditions,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of Roush CleanTech. “Propane autogas is the perfect ‘zero compromise’ alternative fuel solution for fleets looking for a fuel that’s readily available, environmentally friendly and economical – without sacrificing horsepower and performance. Propane autogas could become an export product and job creation source in Alaska.”
