NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA) and propane marketer Delta Liquid Energy (DLE) will host an open house here on July 1.

The event will commemorate the unveiling of more than 70 new Propane-Powered Vision school buses manufactured by Blue Bird Corp. and refueling equipment.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and local government officials, along with members of the police and fire departments, other school district leaders and the general public are invited to view the buses, as well as a 15,000-gallon propane storage tank and four refueling dispensers that DLE installed for STA at its refueling station.

Brief presentations of STA's commitment to utilizing alternative fuel vehicles will start at 11 a.m., and hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served throughout the day.

STA will use the propane-powered buses to serve LAUSD.

“This new state-of-the-art propane fueling station is safe, environmentally friendly and fast filling, with the capacity to fill four buses at the same time,” said Ted Olsen, DLE alternative fuel manager.

Olsen also said that DLE won STA’s fuel contract due in part to the company’s long history of using propane as a transportation fuel.

"Working with STA on this project has been a breeze," Olsen said. "The whole process of installing and constructing this project went so smoothly.”

With the aid of STA and LAUSD, DLE was able to complete the refueling infrastructure installation in three months.

STA has launched several "green" initiatives. In 2007, the contractor received grants toward the purchase of compressed natural gas buses for its Riverside, Calif., operations. The company also operates the largest fleet of biodiesel-powered buses in Ontario, Canada, where it operates as Student Transportation of Canada.