If you're in the Show-Me state and ready to say "Show me the propane!" luck is on your side, because state funds are available for the 2024-25 school year (but running out fast).

The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education’s (DESE) Propane School Bus Grant program is now live. In fact, less than a month after the application window opened, 24 applications have already been received. Just 14 more are available.

DESE is providing $970,000 million in funding assistance to school districts for the purchase of propane-powered school buses. Missouri school districts can apply for grants of $24,250 per propane bus and up to four buses per school.

All Missouri local education agencies and charter schools are eligible to apply.

The application deadline is December 15, 2024, and will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis.

To be eligible, new buses must...

1. Have a propane drivetrain. 

2. Be model-year 2024 or newer. 

3. Be certified to conform with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Missouri Minimum Standards for School Buses. 

4. Be maintained, operated, insured, registered, and fueled according to manufacturer recommendations and state requirements. 

5. Be equipped with an EPA-certified engine. 

6. Be purchased and not leased or leased-to-own.

"Propane buses are a sustainable and cost-effective option for public transportation and school districts," the Missouri Propane Education & Research Council said in a media advisory. "They are near-zero-emission, which helps reduce air pollution. Propane is also non-toxic to the environment and doesn't harm soil, surface water, or groundwater. Propane buses start reliably in cold temperatures, have an operating range of up to 400 miles, and use fuel that is widely available, even in rural areas."