I'm new to this board, and searched for "Propane" with not much results. Does anyone know,or could guess about the availability of propane if(and when) the rollover is more than a "bump in the road"? Would this fuel source be more or less likely to be available than diesel? I've heard it stores almost indefinately.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 1999

Answers

This forum targets electrical utility issues. For propane information, you can go to the Yourdon "Time Bomb 2000" forum at:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=TimeBomb%202000%20(Y 2000)

and look in the Alernative Energy archive. Many threads on propane to be found there. To go direct, use:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-one-category.tcl?topic=TimeBom b%202000%20%28Y2000%29&category=Alternative%20energy

Good Luck.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 1999

Jeanne, since the information I'm about to post came from a town meeting with a rep from our local electric and gas utility, I'll assume it's enough on topic to be okay here.

A rep from our local water board related that as part of their contingency plans (the only thing they're doing, by the way) that they had switched their emergency generator to use propane instead of gasoline. After that, the representative speaking for the electric and gas company said that one of the more probable effects of any Y2K problems might (not will, but might) be a shortage of propane in our area. (northeast) That's the first I'd heard of any opinions along that line, and I don't have any other details. The only other thing I know is that our water rep, after hearing this report, mumbled something like "you mean my contingency plans might be out the window?".

I hope you can access more information at the links which were provided by LP.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 1999

Is there a propane problem - For a very simple general idea, in a few words - Propane is a product of natural gas processing and/or petroleum refining. Most of it comes from the south central US, eg east Texas, Lousiana, etc. It is normally transported by pipelines to other parts of the country with electrically powered compressor stations every 20 to 100 miles, each powered by local electricity, normally with NO backup power supply. Shut down one portion of the line and the whole line stops. The system is highly computerized. So, in addition to having their own y2k computer problems with the pipelines, they also have problems with the local electric power supply powering the compressors.

Now, you figure it out. Is there a propane problem?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 1999

I forgot to mention, many electric utilities are powered by gas. There are nearly 400 gas power plants here in Texas alone. These depend on pipelines for fuel supply. They have the same problems with pipelines that propane does, so that makes the pipeline discussion an integral part of the grid electrical power discussion. It's the same problem, a big circle, to get power we need fuel, to get fuel we need power and both systems have y2k problems.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 1999

Boy, its getting late. Still forgot to mention, diesel and refined gasoline are also shipped around the country to regional terminals by pipeline, from where it is distributed by truck. I realize that this is off topic, but ties into the question and discussion.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 1999