BPN Chronicles Propane’s 100 Years in America

One hundred years ago, on May 17, 1912, the first residential LP Gas system was installed at a farm house near Waterford, PA., about 100 miles from Pittsburgh.

 That date is designated as the official beginning of the propane and liquefied petroleum gas industry in the U.S. Propane, then marketed as Gasol, was used by the household for both heating and cooking. The installation had propane flowing from two cylinders with low-pressure regulators set in a cabinet outside. To salute the 100-year rise of our versatile energy source, Butane-Propane News has published a history of the LP Gas industry, “Propane in America: The First 100 Years 1912-2012.” The book chronicles the birth of the industry, its many commercial and residential applications, technological breakthroughs, challenges faced during economic depression and armed conflict, and its remarkable rise following World War II. Leaders of the industry are profiled, and their important roles in advancing the fuel highlighted.
The first 10 chapters of “Propane in America” provide a decade-by-decade narrative of the LP Gas industry, from the 1910s through the 2000s. Subsequent chapters mark the founding the Propane Education & Research Council, safety initiatives in the industry, and the evolution and benefits of LP Gas association membership.      It has been an extraordinary century for the propane industry, notes National Propane Gas Association president and CEO Rick Roldan. We have grown tremendously from our initial beginnings as a source of lighting to being a global source for clean energy. Today, more than 44 million American families use propane to fuel their furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, outdoor grills, fireplaces, washers and dryers, and cooking ranges.   As the World LP Gas Association celebrates its first quarter century this year, BPN wishes our industry friends a happy anniversary, and to commemorate, with us, the history of our Exceptional Energy.