Propane Now 50 Percent More Expensive Than Last Year

 

Facility managers for rural schools and other public buildings in rural communities are preparing to take bids for the propane they will need next heating season, and there could be some surprises: propane prices on wholesale markets are about 50 percent higher than they were one year ago. Propane is a byproduct of petroleum refining, so the difficulties with increasing the petroleum supply are also limiting propane production. This ensures that price volatility for the fuel will continue, and that alternatives such as local biomass heating will become increasingly competitive.