The State of Energy · Rocky Mountain Propane Association

Zions National Park transitions to Coal Powered Buses giving up Clean Propane Buses

·26 min·1 clip

They say the electricity for Zion’s electric buses produces three times the NOx emissions of propane.

1. The State of Energy episode centers on Zion National Park’s move from 39 propane shuttle buses to 30 electric buses. 2. Randy Witt hosts with Tom Clark, the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Propane Association, whose job is to argue for propane’s role in transportation and energy. 3. The episode asks whether the Zion switch is actually a cleaner, cheaper upgrade or a costlier tradeoff. 4. The hosts open by citing the Olympic torch, which has run on propane since Sydney 2000. 5. They say the Paris torch used renewable propane made from feedstocks, vegetable oils, waste greases, and residues. 6. They note that Beijing’s 2008 torch was fueled entirely by propane because of concerns about air quality and pollution. 7. The discussion then moves to Zion National Park’s shuttle fleet in Utah. 8. They say 95 million people have ridden on the propane shuttles over 25 years. 9. They describe the old buses as lasting far beyond the original 10-year life expectancy. 10. They also say the manufacturer stopped making the propane bus and parts became harder to find. 11. Randy and Tom argue that Zion spent $37.1 million for 30 electric buses after receiving $33 million in funding. 12. They say the old propane system already had bulk fuel deliveries, a refueling site, and maintenance facilities in place. 13. The hosts compare Zion to Acadia National Park, which they say also chose propane buses. 14. Their most pointed claim is that the electricity for the new buses produces three times the NOx emissions of propane. 15. They also cite an NREL study showing propane at $4.97 per trip and electricity at $4.91 per trip. 16. They say a later Rocky Mountain Power increase could push electricity costs higher than the study projected. 17. The tone is conversational and combative, with jokes, side remarks, and repeated returns to the same Zion numbers. 18. The format is a host-led discussion with occasional asides about Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes, and recent industry conferences. 19. Listeners interested in propane, transit policy, and fleet costs would get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners looking for neutral transit reporting or a short news recap may skip it.

As heard by us

A practical fleet-replacement discussion that weighs aging buses, maintenance, fuel costs, and infrastructure choices.

This episode treats Zion National Park's bus decision as an operations problem, not a slogan. Randy Witt and Tom Clark keep the focus on the practical pieces that matter: aging buses, parts shortages, bulk propane pricing, maintenance capacity, and the value of keeping a fleet…

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