Mesa Public Schools has purchased 55 Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision school buses and six wheelchair accessible buses to increase its propane bus total to 89. The district, which has a goal of operating the nation’s first all-propane yellow bus fleet, expects to save $4.43 million in operating costs over a five-year period.
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George Taylor of Kansas City (Kan.) Public Schools was determined to find funding for alt-fuel buses. Now, with 47 CNG buses and four hybrids, the district is contributing to cleaner air and saving $350,000 in one school year.
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From fueling training to regular tank inspection to a properly equipped maintenance facility, there are many factors to consider when operating school buses on propane autogas and compressed natural gas to ensure employees’ well-being. Industry officials discuss these and other components, along with the built-in safety features of some of today’s buses.
Read More →Senate Bill 275, signed by Gov. Gary Herbert last Thursday, establishes a governing body to facilitate conversion of fleets in the state to alternative fuel vehicles, specifically those powered by compressed natural gas. Murrell Martin, pupil transportation specialist at the Utah State Office of Education, tells SBF that he believes the new law will provide a framework for school districts to move toward alternative fuel options for school buses.
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With Blue Bird recently netting its biggest-ever order of propane school buses — more than 400 — President and CEO Phil Horlock is ebullient about the fuel’s potential. Here, he discusses alternative fuels, the state of school bus sales and other pertinent topics.
Read More →McClung, who served in the transportation department at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio from 1977 to 2000, passed away on March 9 at the age of 65. McClung was a longtime supporter of using alternative fuels to power school buses, and he was instrumental in converting the district’s fleet from diesel to propane.
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Senate Bill 275 would establish a governing body to facilitate conversion of fleets in the state to alternative fuel vehicles, specifically those powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). In a press conference on board a CNG-powered school bus, Gov. Gary Herbert calls for everyone to improve the state’s air quality, and he spotlights the bill as one way to reduce heavy vehicle and fleet emissions.
Read More →Long-running public television program MotorWeek does a segment on Pennsylvania's Lower Merion School District, which has close to half of its 114 buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The district plans to go all-CNG when more fueling stations are available.
Read More →Dallas County Schools is among the school systems in the state running buses on the fuel, and it reportedly saves about $500,000 annually with the $0.50-per-gallon tax credit. Officials from the Propane Council of Texas say that with the recent extension of alternative-fuel tax credits, districts will be able to save more money this year.
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The director of transportation and fleet service at Colorado's Adams 12 Five Star Schools has orchestrated adjustments to school bell times to make busing more efficient, for an overall savings of $900,000. He has also set up mechanic apprenticeship programs to help young people enter the field.
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