HERSHEY, Pa. — Derry Township School District (DTSD) introduced three new school buses fueled by propane autogas into its fleet for the 2015-16 school year.

The Blue Bird Propane Vision buses have already saved the school district money by reducing fuel and maintenance costs.

“It’s our department’s goal to save money in transportation costs that can be used for better purposes. Our normal preventative maintenance will cost about $240 less per bus per year with the propane autogas buses,” said Steve Bell, director of transportation and garage operations for DTSD. “The downtime and other repair costs will definitely be less than our diesel buses.”

Along with being fiscally responsible, Bell said that the school district’s use of more environmentally friendly buses fits well into the district’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

“We’re delighted that Derry Township made its first purchase of Blue Bird Propane Vision buses, providing cleaner-operating transportation for its students at lower operating costs,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird.

Equipped with propane autogas fuel systems manufactured by ROUSH CleanTech, the buses will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by over 2,300 pounds and particulate matter by about 95 pounds each year compared with the diesel buses they replaced, according to ROUSH CleanTech.

“Derry Township School District is the latest in a growing community of North American school districts to discover the many benefits of propane autogas. It is better for the environment as well as the bottom line,” said Brian Carney, group account director for ROUSH CleanTech.

Another advantage DTSD has experienced with the propane buses is the quieter operating engine.

“Our school district appreciates the cleaner air to breathe and a sense of environmental responsibility for the whole community that comes with these buses,” Bell said. “The students and bus drivers, along with the general public, enjoy the lower noise levels, which will continue as our district gradually replaces its diesel buses with propane autogas models.”

Later this year, DTSD will take delivery of three additional Blue Bird Propane Vision buses. These buses, which will replace aging diesel models, will be deployed for the 2016-17 school year. The school district plans to continue adding propane buses to its fleet in the coming years.