An Oregon-based beverage distributor has cut the company's greenhouse gas emissions by over 20 percent and saved an estimated $10,000 in fuel costs in the seven months since it converted 10 gasoline-powered cargo vans to run on propane autogas, according to the company's fuel supplier.

General Distributors, Inc. distributes beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages to taverns, fuel stations, and grocery stores in 11 Oregon counties. General Distributors currently operates 50 cargo vans, including 40 that continue to run on gasoline. Each vehicle travels 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year, according to propane distributor Blue Star Gas.

"Cost savings and longevity both influenced our decision to switch to propane," said Don Lewis, chief financial officer of General Distributors. "With the low cost of propane autogas, we’ll see payback from our conversion to propane in less than three years."

Blue Star Gas installed a 1,000-gallon propane autogas fueling tank at the General Distributors headquarters and converted 10 Chevrolet Express one-ton cargo vans to propane autogas with Prins fuel systems. The propane distributor will assist with future propane autogas vehicle conversions and provide ongoing safety training and technical support.