MENU
SEARCHState director Ben Shew tells SBF that propane’s price and its availability in West Virginia are key factors in school districts’ interest in the alternative fuel. He says that switching to propane could save more than $3,100 in fuel costs annually per bus.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — School districts in West Virginia have a new fuel option for powering their school buses: propane.
On Thursday, the West Virginia Board of Education approved a waiver of Policy 4334 (Minimum Requirements for Design and Equipment of School Buses) in favor of adding propane as an alternative fuel source for the state’s school buses.
“The switch will save money and promote a cleaner environment,” said Jorea Marple, West Virginia’s superintendent of schools. “About 3,000 buses currently run every school day in West Virginia and travel over 46 million miles a year. The adoption of propane could save an average of $3,100 per bus annually.”
State pupil transportation director Ben Shew told SBF that the move to approve propane was related to a task force that the governor’s office assembled to evaluate the use of natural gas vehicles for state and local government. The task force was empowered to make recommendations to the governor by the end of September.
Shew said that propane’s price and its availability in West Virginia are key factors in school districts’ interest in the fuel.
“There is interest throughout the state, because our state produces natural gas, thus propane,” he said. “The reduction of fuel cost amounts to over $3,100 annually. ... A three-year ROI is pretty good.”
Propane joins compressed natural gas and biodiesel as approved alternative fuels for West Virginia school buses.
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including electric and propane bus deployments, new EV products, and an update from CARB.
Read More →
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including manufacturing expansions, major funding awards, and energy storage strategies.
Read More →
Electric school bus success hinges on long-term planning, which means smart financing, battery management, and service-based models that keep fleets reliable for years.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including new product announcements and bus deployments across the U.S.
Read More →
Nuvve’s latest partnership in New Mexico aims to help districts transition to electric school buses while strengthening local grid reliability.
Read More →
The push for electric school buses grows, but real-world hurdles mean districts are adopting EVs slowly and mixing them with diesel and propane.
Read More →
South Coast AQMD plans to replace 286 older buses with newer models, plus accompanying infrastructure, across 35 districts in the South Coast Air Basin.
Read More →
One program ends, another looks to be reimagined, and the Clean School Bus Program is in a holding pattern — here’s where each EPA program stands and what to expect moving forward.
Read More →
The Illinois district’s new electric bus fleet, supported by EPA grants, ComEd incentives, and Highland Electric Fleets, advances its commitment to sustainable school operations.
Read More →
