Fuel Diversity: Propane and Nuclear in Ohio’s Energy Strategy

Ohio’s Energy Future

Ohio’s energy policy is entering a new era. As the state balances affordability, reliability, and emissions targets, lawmakers and utilities are showing a renewed interest in nuclear energy. But in a landscape marked by aging infrastructure, political baggage, and weather-related outages, one energy solution alone won’t solve the problem.

Ohio needs low-emission, dispatchable, and flexible power sources. While nuclear offers long-term baseload power, propane is available right now — and it’s already playing a key role in heating homes, fueling fleets, and providing backup power across the state.

Propane’s Role in Ohio

Heating Homes Without the Grid

More than 450,000 Ohio residences rely on propane for their primary heating needs. In areas where natural gas pipelines can’t reach, propane steps in as an affordable, portable solution. It powers furnaces, water heaters, and backup generators throughout rural Ohio without grid reliance.

Propane is a go-to fuel for storms and outages because it can be stored on-site and delivered anywhere. It helps ensure families stay warm and operations continue even when the electric grid fails.

Powering Fleets With Lower Emissions

Propane also plays a growing role in transportation. School districts and municipalities across the U.S. are adopting propane-powered buses to reduce emissions and save money, and Ohio is no exception.  

Why Fuel Diversity Matters

The Risks of a Single Energy Source

Ohio’s energy grid faces the same risks as much of the Midwest: fluctuating weather, fuel supply issues, and increasing electric demand from EVs and data centers. Relying solely on one energy source — fossil fuels, renewables, or nuclear highlights significant vulnerabilities.

Propane as a Stability Solution

Meanwhile, propane provides a solution to these vulnerabilities. When the power goes out, propane keeps running. When natural gas prices spike, propane offers a cost-stable alternative. It supports reliability by ensuring an energy failure will not leave the state at a standstill.

Nuclear’s Potential and Limitations

Ohio remains one of the few Midwestern states with operational nuclear plants: Davis-Besse and Perry. But recent developments highlight both promise and caution:

Operational Setbacks and Political Support

  • In October 2024, Perry Nuclear Plant experienced a radioactive water leak, exposing operational vulnerabilities.
  • In March 2024, Vistra Corp. acquired Energy Harbor, taking over operations at Ohio’s two nuclear plants.
  • In December 2024, the state passed a bill labeling nuclear as “green energy,” signaling growing political support.
  • In August 2024, FirstEnergy agreed to a $20 million settlement over the HB6 bribery scandal

    These events reveal a mixed picture: while nuclear remains a low-emission baseload option, it faces regulatory, financial, and reputational hurdles.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy AFDC, Argonne GREET 2022, EIA Ohio Grid Profile (2023)

Why Nuclear Is a Long-Term Play

Most importantly, nuclear takes time. Building or upgrading facilities takes decades, and permitting, public review, and financing all slow deployment.

That’s why propane matters now.

Propane and Nuclear are Better Together

Different Strengths, Same Mission

Propane and nuclear serve different roles, and that’s precisely why they belong in the same energy mix. Nuclear delivers steady electricity to the grid. Propane heats homes, fuels vehicles, and powers off-grid communities,

Building a Resilient Energy Mix

Ohio needs layered, complementary energy sources to prepare for extreme weather, high demand, and energy transitions. The smartest path forward is a diversified energy portfolio that includes propane, nuclear, and many other energy sources—an “all of the above approach.”

Ohio’s Path Forward

Propane isn’t just a stopgap — it’s a long-term, clean-burning, Ohio-ready solution. It reduces emissions compared to gasoline and diesel, costs less to operate, and doesn’t require new infrastructure to deploy.

What Ohio Can Do Now

Together with nuclear, propane can help Ohio achieve its climate goals without sacrificing reliability or affordability. The state doesn’t need to choose one energy source over another. It needs to select all of the above, and start with what works now.