SAN DIEGO — Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) earned a “Propane Hero” award on Tuesday during the Green Fleet Conference held here for its efforts to operate school buses on the alternative fuel.  

LAUSD purchased 90 Blue Bird Corp. Propane-Powered Vision school buses last year to meet California's stringent clean air requirements and to reduce fuel costs, according to Ted Olsen, alternative fuels manager for Delta Liquid Energy. Olsen accepted the award on behalf of the district from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and the Western Gas Propane Association President Lesley Garland.

“Delta Liquid Energy is very excited to be partnering with the Los Angeles Unified School District,” Olsen added. “The district is setting a great example by running low-emission propane autogas school buses. The interest in propane autogas vehicles is growing both in the private sector and government fleets.”

SuperShuttle, which provides airport transportation services, also received a “Propane Hero” award. The company switched to propane-powered vans at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and plans to convert vehicles in California to propane, according to Regional General Manager John Secrest, who accepted the award.

The Green Fleet Conference gave transportation managers a chance to test drive vehicles fueled by propane, including a General Motors G-4500 cutaway van, a Ford F-250 pickup truck and a zero-turn-radius propane-fueled Ferris riding lawn mower. Refueling dispensers were also on display.

Representatives from Ferrellgas, Roush, CleanFuel USA, and Delta Liquid Energy were in attendance to answer questions about their vehicles, equipment and fuel.

The Green Fleet Conference is an event held by Bobit Business Media, publisher of SCHOOL BUS FLEET. For more information, visit www.greenfleetconference.com.