The demand for Natural gas is growing faster than US market can feed it. Alaska took an important step forward in bringing a huge supply of natural gas to our nation. The proposed $25 billion natural gas pipeline will take estimated 35 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from Alaska's north slope to the Midweastern markets.

Most people know propane as the fuel in a white container attached to a barbecue grill. But propane has long proven its versatility for heating homes, heating water, cooking, drying clothes, fueling gas fireplaces, and even as an alternative fuel for vehicles. However, most propane is used to make petrochemicals which are the building blocks for plastics, alcohols, fibers, and cosmetics, to name just a few.

Propane naturally occurs as a gas at atmospheric pressure but can be liquefied if subjected to moderately increased pressure. It is stored and transported in its compressed liquid form, but by opening a valve to release propane from a pressurized storage container, it is vaporized into a gas for use. Simply stated, propane is always a liquid until it is used. Although propane is non-toxic and odorless, an identifying odor is added by manufacturers so the gas can be readily detected. A unique feature of propane is that it is not produced for its own sake, but is a by-product of two other processes, natural gas processing and petroleum refining.

Hydrogen as an alternative to Propane, and how they compare

In learning more about Hydrogen, We find Hydrogen is used extensively today to make ammonia, methanol, gasoline, heating oil, and rocket fuel. It is also used to make fertilizers, glass, refined metals, vitamins, cosmetics, semiconductor circuits, soaps, lubricants, cleaners, and even margarine and peanut butter.

Hydrogen can even fuel today’s internal combustion engine vehicles.

Hydrogen can replace today’s natural gas for heating and cooling homes and powering hot water heaters. Hydrogen is the simplest, lightest element in the universe. It is made up of one proton and one electron. Because of its simplicity, it is believed by some that hydrogen is the root of all elements.

It’s Light, Hydrogen gas is lighter than air! When hydrogen escapes into the atmosphere, it is so light that it scatters immediately upward (it’s 14 times lighter than air). This means that a hydrogen spill won’t pool on the ground, pollute groundwater, or soak into clothing — it removes itself, making it one - if not the - safest gas for use in powering homes and vehicles.

It’s Everywhere! Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up more that 90% of all matter. On Earth, it is the third most abundant element in the Earth’s surface, found in water and all organic matter.

What’s It's Nature? In its normal gaseous state, hydrogen is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and is nontoxic, which makes it different from every other common fuel we use.

What Happens When Hydrogen Burns? Hydrogen burns readily with oxygen, releasing considerable energy as heat and producing only water as exhaust - no smoke or pollution to worry about. Hydrogen is a clean burning fuel!

Hydrogen could be the safest way to run our homes and cars for the present and future. Using Hydrogen gas as a fuel is one way you can help save the environment, and make a safer, cleaner world for our children.