MACON, Ga. — Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has marked the historic milestone of becoming the first school district in Georgia to serve all of its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses. WCS’ new fleet of electric and propane-powered buses eliminates regular diesel bus routes, significantly improving air quality for students and the surrounding community, while also significantly reducing operating costs.

Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, delivered 5 electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to Wilkes County Schools. The company’s electric school buses generate zero emissions and can carry approximately 60 students up to 130 miles on a single charge.

WCS can considerably lower its operating expenses by replacing diesel with electric school buses due to reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. School districts have reported paying a mere 19 cents per mile in energy costs for electric buses compared to fuel costs of up to 79 cents per mile for their diesel buses.

WCS will also rely on Blue Bird’s industry-leading propane buses for its student transportation needs. Blue Bird’s propane buses for the school district can carry approximately 60 students around 250 miles on a single tank of propane autogas. Propane school buses generate 96% fewer harmful emissions than their diesel counterparts.

In addition, propane-powered school buses help the school district to lower the total cost of ownership of its bus fleets by realizing fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared with diesel buses. WCS presently operates a fleet of 22 Blue Bird propane buses. Thus, the school district could save more than $1.2 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles.

“We are proud to be among the first school districts in the nation to launch a fleet of all electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Michelle Smith, superintendent of Wilkes County Schools. “Blue Bird’s zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses will help us to create a healthier environment for our students and our communities at-large while significantly lowering our operating costs. Together, we have transformed our ambitious vision of clean, sustainable student transportation into a reality.”

“We are delighted to supply Wilkes County Schools with our industry-leading, electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “Moving forward, students on all 25 daily routes will travel exclusively on zero- and ultra-low-emission buses to and from school. We applaud Wilkes County Schools for putting student and community health first.”

The leading provider of school bus fleet electrification-as-a-service, Highland Electric Fleets, installed five new Tellus charging stations to support the district’s five electric school buses. These chargers allow WCS to utilize overnight and downtime charging, ensuring the buses are always ready to meet transportation needs.

“We’re thrilled to be one of the partners helping Wilkes County Schools transition to a fully clean school bus fleet, bringing lasting air quality to students and cost-saving benefits to the school district,” said Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland Electric Fleets. “By adding electric school buses and charging infrastructure, WCS is investing in healthier, more resilient communities, while ensuring that students have a safe, reliable ride to school every day.”

WCS received a $2,335,000 grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) highly effective Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase its Blue Bird electric and propane-powered school bus fleet. This program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which provides a total of $5 billion over five years for clean school bus transportation nationwide. The EPA has already awarded nearly $3 billion through the landmark bipartisan initiative. The program to date will enable more than 1,300 school districts nationwide to replace old diesel buses with nearly 9,000 electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.

Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 2,000 electric-powered, zero-emission school buses in operation today.

In addition, Blue Bird is the only school bus manufacturer in the United States to offer propane-powered school buses. Today’s propane engine is 90% cleaner than the most stringent federal emission standard set by the EPA. New and even stricter emission standards will take effect in 2027. Blue Bird’s ultra-low emission, propane-powered school buses exceed those emission standards already today.

Wilkes County Schools purchased its advanced electric and propane-powered vehicles through Blue Bird’s authorized school bus dealer Yancey Bus Sales & Service in Austell, Ga.

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About Wilkes County Schools

Located in historic Washington, Georgia, Wilkes County Schools serves approximately 1,250 students within a diverse and inclusive rural community. Guided by the vision of “Excellence Without Exception,” the district is dedicated to transformative education, offering robust programs in STEM, fine arts, Career and Technical Education, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment. With a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and educator development, Wilkes County Schools fosters a safe, innovative learning environment. Grounded in community collaboration and a tradition of continuous improvement, the district prepares students to excel in an ever-evolving, competitive global workforce. For more information, visit www.wilkes.k12.ga.us.

About Highland Electric Fleets

Highland Electric Fleets is the leading provider of electrification-as-a-service for school districts, governments, and fleet operators in North America. Founded in 2019, Highland offers a unique suite of products that make it simple and affordable to upgrade to electric fleets today. Active in 30 states and Canada, Highland is responsible for the first use of electric school buses in a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program and the largest electric school bus project in the United States to date. To learn more, visit www.highlandfleets.com.

The post Wilkes County Schools Leads Way as Georgia’s First District with All-Clean School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering to fund local education agencies (LEAs) in the state to purchase propane-powered school buses.

The Missouri Propane Education and Research Council said in a press release that DESE is providing $970,000 million in funding to school districts for the purchase of the propane school buses. School districts can apply for up to four propane buses at $24,250 each.

Application consideration will be based on data received. At the time of the release last month, the DESE said it had received over two dozen applications and about dozen more spots were available.

Guidance from DESE stated that school buses must meet certain eligibility requirements, including being a 2024 model or newer equipped with an EPA certified engine, and purchased rather than leased. LEAs will need to provide a title, certificate of origin, or a purchase order to the department, showing the purchase of the buses with grant funds, by June 15.

The applications are due Dec. 15. DESE stated that “after the initial application period, should funds remain available, a second round of funding will be offered using the same criteria that will be applied to the first round.”

Related: Missouri Director of Transportation Furthers Safety and Sustainability
Related: Propane Best Immediate Option For Greening Fleet, Says Rural Missouri School District
Related: School Districts Replace Diesel Buses with Propane, Electric

The post Propane Bus Grant Provides Funding Opportunities for Missouri Districts appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas — Consultant Jo Mascorro began day two of the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show with her four-hour keynote on de-escalation with dignity.

Specialized hands-on training that day included: the NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Bus Training, the Wheelchair Securement Boot Camp Training & Certification hosted by AMF-Bruns of America, and the Wheelchair Securement Training plus Special Needs Roadeo presented by Q-Straint. Classes on driver and aide training as well as the foundations of special needs transportation were led by industry veterans Launi Harden and Alexandra Robinson, respectively.

The day closed with a Safety & Technology Product Demonstration and Special Needs Ride & Drive where attendees got up close and personal with buses and technology that could help in their operations.

1 of 53

Images by Vince Rios Creative and Claudia Newton. 

The post Gallery: Specialized Training, Ride & Drive at TSD 2024 appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas — Attendees heard about the health, monetary and operational benefits of propane autogas school buses in a Friday session during the Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities Conference.

“What did you do differently, and how did you do it?” This was the question asked of Diana Mikelski, director of transportation for District 211 in Illinois, after she transported students with special needs to school in a propane-powered school bus rather than a diesel one. During the Friday session, sponsored by Blue Bird and the Propane Education & Research Council, she shared that educators were impressed with how calm, quiet and ready to learn the students were when they arrived at school.

She shared that her drivers also benefit from the cleaner air when loading and unloading students. Furthermore, both drivers and aides can hear and speak to students onboard without shouting. When the special needs propane bus was replaced with a diesel one during repairs, a parent noted that his child much preferred the quieter propane.

Steven Whaley, a Blue Bird alternative fuels manager, noted that noise and temperature considerations may be part of some students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Mikelski confirmed that both aspects could be much better managed on a propane bus.

In addition to students on special needs routes, those on general education routes also profit from the quiet, clean propane buses, Mikelski added. “I’m glad they can all enjoy these benefits,” she said.

“It’s also helping staff as well,” she said. Now her drivers prefer driving the propane buses, with some noticing fewer health symptoms. The rumbling noises and fuel smells are missing with propane buses as well, leading to community approval.

Mikelski said she had good buy-in with her mechanics due to all the work involved with diesel buses. “It’s a learning curve but once they knew it, they loved it,” she declared. The district doesn’t go through parts as fast and her budget has improved, she shared.

“We are constantly saving with propane,” she said.

Implementing Propane

Whaley reviewed Blue Bird’s current offerings of diesel, gasoline, propane and electric school buses as well as how they measure up to the continuously tightening California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards.

For those districts that may struggle with electrification, he proposed propane solutions as that fuel is safe, clean, easily accessible and good in cold weather. He shared stats from Anthony Jackson, transportation director for Bibb County School District in Georgia, showing that propane is about the same as diesel in cost per mile.

Tom Hopkins, business development manager for Blue Bird energy partner ROUSH CleanTech, explained that despite the current abundance of EV funding, districts should consider whether they can acquire, run, and train staff to operate those buses if said funding should wane.

Considering everything required of a school bus operation, Hopkins said that propane provided a relatively easy and cost-effective option to swap to. He noted that propane buses are about half as noisy as diesel buses, providing a “cleaner, healthier, safer ride to school.”

Related: School Districts Replace Diesel Buses with Propane, Electric
Related: School Bus Contractors Share Why They Switched to Propane
Related: Why the Solution is Propane and Electric for Bus Fleets
Related: Green Bus Summit Spotlights Clean School Bus Progress

Brian Raygor, national autogas business manager for propane provider Ferrellgas, addressed the scalability of propane autogas refueling infrastructure. There are permanent, temporary and mobile configurations.

He reviewed some options that the School District of Philadelphia had taken advantage of when it added 38 propane-powered school buses to its fleet on October 24.

“We can build the stations to meet your needs,” he declared.

Regarding contingencies, Raygor reviewed a rapid repair and mobile fueling solution that was put in place to assist Kansas City Schools when a school bus propane pump went down. Whaley advised districts to utilize the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator so they will have fuel when needed.

The post Students, Staff at Illinois District Approve of Propane School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

Marty Marks said it can be easy to get frustrated with the student riders when they don’t behave on the school bus. But he added that each day, students have a fresh start as they head to school.

Similarly, he said there is no place for transportation staff holding grudges or passing judgement. “Every day is a new day,” he added, echoing his favorite quote.

Marks started in the school transportation industry in 2005, when he became a school bus driver for his children’s school events. He started driving part-time for Neosho School District in Missouri as well as driving trips for four years. Marks then moved over 250 miles to the east, to St. Louis, where he worked for 10 years at First Student as a safety manager, later becoming a location manager. In 2019, he moved back to Neosho to serve as the director of transportation, a role he’s held since.

Each year, School Transportation News chooses 10 Rising Stars based on nominations submitted by school districts and companies around the industry. These individuals have shown exemplary commitment and dedication in the student transportation industry and continue to demonstrate innovation in their roles. This year’s Rising Stars are featured in the November magazine issue.

“Listening to the younger students,” he said of his favorite part of his job and what’s kept in the industry for 20 years. “Students have imaginations and want to share their thoughts. Students need adult attention and that’s what truly makes the job enjoyable.”

Jim Davis, the superintendent of schools for Neosho, wrote in his nomination that Marks has made significant contributions to enhance the safety, mobility and sustainability at the district. Davis said Marks leads a team of around 70 employees and substitutes and excels in fostering culture within district transportation as a whole.

“This is demonstrated by his staff retention and training opportunities provided on-site to best serve the needs of NSD,” Davis wrote. “Furthermore, under Marty’s leadership, area schools have participated in the annual bus rodeo, hosted at NSD. This annual bus driving and bus maintenance competition provides area schools the opportunity to showcase their skills.”

Safety

Davis said one priority for Marks has been achieving a high school bus inspection rating of 90 percent or greater, as scored by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Additionally, the district has earned the Exemplary School Bus Maintenance Award from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, recognizing a decade of excellent inspection scores.

“During the school year, Marty and his team also conduct on-site bus safety training with our students,” Davis continued. “The purpose is to educate all students within the Neosho School District bus safety and behavior expectations, regardless of if they are a daily rider.”
Prior to the new school year, Davis noted that a bus camp is also hosted, which provides new students an opportunity to tour the school bus, learn how to be responsible and safe on and around the bus, meet the drivers and take a ride on the bus. “The purpose of the bus camp is to help ease some anxiety that may come with being a new student daily rider and best prepare them for the first day of school,” Davis added.

Mobility

To ensure efficiency, Davis said Marks implemented new routing software from Transfinder. Marks noted that previously routing was a manual paper process, and the department was depending on drivers to route themselves.

Davis added that the purpose of implementing the software was to make the routes more efficient. And since implementation, NSD was able to eliminate a couple routes. “NSD runs approximately 50 different daily routes, not including extracurricular activities. Our district is located in the rural southwest corner of Missouri, where the longest route is an hour and a half and spans across two counties,” Davis said of district size.

Sustainability

Davis said NSD has a diverse fleet of diesel, gasoline and propane school buses. Marks said the diversification allows the district to utilize fuel prices to the best of their abilities.

“The purpose of the diverse fleet is to ensure the buses serve the district in the most efficient way to provide safety, cost savings and sustainability,” Davis wrote.

He provided an example, in which the district transported students to an extracurricular event that was three hours away.

“Marty instructed his team to drive the gasoline buses because the temperatures were expected to be dangerously cold,” he recalled. “A diesel bus driven by our neighboring school district would not start due to the weather, and rather than leaving students three hours away from home, our buses brought those students back and dropped them off at their school. Having a diverse fleet is not the norm within school districts, and we are thankful to have these buses to best serve students.”

Challenges

Marks said one of the biggest challenges at school startup is accurate student information, as many students move in and out of the district frequently. Having accurate student rosters is critical, he said. Additionally, he said, many students do not speak English, which is another challenge that transportation navigates.

“We are also currently using our ParentSquare system to send out mass messaging to help improve parent communications, by sending transportation information directly to parent emails,” he added.

Marks said the goal for the transportation department is to continue to improve its facility. “We want our facility to be among the best,” he said. “This will help to retain drivers.”

One way to do that is implementing a fueling software to better track fuel usage. Plus, he said NSD wants to continue purchasing buses with air conditioning as students are accustomed to it, and it’s better when there are high heat temperatures.

On a personal note, outside of work, Marks said he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and working around the house.

Related: Propane Best Immediate Option For Greening Fleet, Says Rural Missouri School District
Related: (STN Podcast E183) Making Progress: Wyoming Rising Star + Propane, Non-Yellow Bus Convos
Related: Roadeo Returns to Texas for Hands-On Emergency Training at TSD Conference

The post Missouri Director of Transportation Furthers Safety and Sustainability appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus seat belt legislation is back in Congress. STN’s November issue includes features on industry leadership, EV battery technology, and more.

“We find a way to make it happen.” Craig Beaver, administrator of transportation for Beaverton School District near Portland, Oregon, and the 2024 STN Transportation Director of the Year, discusses the paths that led him to his current storied leadership position, as well as the knowledge and technology that goes into school bus driver retention and clean bus trailblazing.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E234) Leadership, Awarded: Meet the 2024 Transportation Director of the Year appeared first on School Transportation News.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.– The School District of Philadelphia has taken a significant step toward a cleaner and healthier future for its students by adding 38 propane-powered school buses to its fleet. In a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Shallcross School Bus Garage, district officials, industry leaders, and community members gathered to celebrate this move to the near-zero emissions buses that offer students a safer, quieter ride. As the eighth largest school district in the nation, serving just under 200,000 students every day, the move to clean propane autogas buses positions the district as a national leader in clean student transportation.

“We are excited to be leading the way here in Philadelphia as we grow our low-emission school bus fleet and create a healthier environment for our students, drivers, and the community-at-large,” said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., School District of Philadelphia. “We are pleased to work with our top partner organizations to bring our very first propane-powered bus fleet to fruition. Together, we continue to turn our compelling vision of clean student transportation into reality.”

The district’s propane-powered buses, developed by Blue Bird Corporation and powered by ROUSH CleanTech engines, are projected to reduce emissions significantly compared to their diesel counterparts. In real-world testing, ROUSH CleanTech’s ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) engines produced 96% fewer NOx emissions than clean diesel alternatives and virtually eliminated particulate matter. According to the EPA, these pollutants can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis and can cause children to miss school.

“Congratulations to the School District of Philadelphia for its commitment to reducing emissions with cost-cutting propane school buses,” said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “Propane autogas is an affordable, abundant American fuel that allows school districts to reduce their operating costs while helping to preserve the environment.”

Propane-powered school buses provide districts with the lowest total cost of ownership. According to Blue Bird Corporation, school districts benefit from fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared with diesel buses. Thus, SDP’s propane-powered bus fleet could save the district more than $2.1 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles. The district can reinvest those savings into classroom initiatives and student resources.

“We are thrilled to supply the School District of Philadelphia, one of the largest in the nation, with our industry-leading, ultra-low-emission propane school buses,” said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “SDP already operates five Blue Bird electric, zero-emission school buses. Utilizing electric and propane-powered school buses, the school district combines the most technologically advanced clean school buses in its fleet leading the way to creating sustainable student transportation.”

As part of this initiative, the district has also invested in new propane refueling infrastructure at the Shallcross School Bus Garage as part of a partnership with propane supplier, Ferrellgas. An 18,000-gallon propane tank has been installed to allow for efficient and convenient on-site refueling. This not only reduces downtime for refueling but further supports the district’s efforts to lower operational costs compared to diesel.

“Propane is a low-carbon energy source that produces up to 96% less toxic emissions than diesel school buses while also offering a lower total cost of ownership,” said Michelle Bimson Maggi, vice president corporate for Ferrellgas. “Ferrellgas is proud to add the School District of Philadelphia to our growing list of customers nationwide who have transformed their fleet by making the switch to propane autogas. Their decision to add clean-burning alternative fuel buses into their fleet will benefit students and local taxpayers for many years to come.”

With this adoption, there are now more than 1,000 propane autogas school buses operating in Pennsylvania every school day. In total, there are more than 22,000 propane-powered school buses transporting 1.3 million students across the United States.

“At the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), we believe that every child deserves a safe, clean, healthy ride to school. The School District of Philadelphia is showing true leadership by choosing propane as a clean energy solution and providing that ideal ride,” said Bridget Kidd, COO of PERC. “They are not just investing in buses; they are investing in the future of their students and the well-being of the community. By adopting this innovative technology, the district is setting an example for others across the country.”

This clean energy initiative was made possible through a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia, the Propane Education & Research Council, Ferrellgas, ROUSH CleanTech, and Blue Bird Corporation, all of whom are committed to advancing sustainable transportation solutions for schools.

About The School District of Philadelphia: The eighth largest school district in the country currently serves just under 200,000 students guided by our five-year strategic plan, Accelerate Philly. Our students are accelerating academic achievement. We prioritize the social-emotional well-being, mental health, intellectual and physical safety of all students and staff. We also align our resources, trainings and accountability structures to a limited number of innovative and research-based priorities. visit philasd.org.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

About Blue Bird Corporation: Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About ROUSH CleanTech: ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of advanced clean transportation solutions, is a division of the global engineering company Roush Enterprises. ROUSH CleanTech develops propane autogas technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles and school buses. With more than 50,000 vehicles on the road, the Livonia, Michigan-based company delivers economical, emissions-reducing options for fleets across North America. Learn more at ROUSHcleantech.com or by calling 800.59.ROUSH.

About Ferrellgas: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Its Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is sold at over 68,000 locations nationwide. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2024. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at www.ferrellgas.com

The post School District of Philadelphia Prioritizes Student Health, Cuts Operating Costs with Propane Autogas Bus Fleet appeared first on School Transportation News.

RICHMOND, Va. — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is proud to announce the third annual National Propane Day on October 7, 2024 an opportunity to celebrate propane’s essential role in powering the everyday lives of Americans nationwide. The celebration also honors the hardworking men and women of the propane industry who ensure our lives are powered safely and efficiently with clean, affordable energy.

“Propane is more than just an energy source; it’s a critical component in keeping businesses, homes, and essential services running smoothly, safely, and efficiently,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. “This is especially true for fleet owners who rely on propane autogas for everything from transporting students safely to and from school, to ensuring goods are delivered on time, to providing essential public transportation options for communities across the nation.”

As energy resiliency and sustainability remain top priorities for fleet owners, PERC encourages everyone to explore propane’s benefits as both a vehicle fuel and as an option to provide reliable, off-grid charging for electric fleets. Additionally, more fleet owners are tapping into renewable propane for their fleet’s energy source. Made from sustainable materials like vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oil, renewable propane offers the same reliability as conventional propane, but with an even smaller carbon footprint.

Propane autogas-powered vehicles including school buses and commercial fleets reduce harmful emissions compared to other energy sources. There are thousands of propane autogas vehicles on the road from coast to coast. It is an ideal energy source for medium-duty (Class 3-7) vehicles that need a range of up to 400 miles per day and the ability to carry a heavier payload, all while significantly reducing emissions.

Today’s propane autogas engines are 90% cleaner than mandated EPA standards, with effectively zero particulate matter emissions and 96% fewer nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than clean diesel engines. When these engines run on renewable propane, the emissions reductions move the industry even further down the path to zero.

“By adopting propane autogas vehicles and propane-powered EV charging, fleet owners are taking bold steps to significantly reduce their environmental impact and diversify the nation’s energy mix,” Perkins said. “By incorporating propane, Americans can reduce the strain on the electric grid while maintaining a cleaner and more resilient energy infrastructure.”

On October 7th, communities, businesses, and propane advocates across the country will join the Propane Council in celebrating National Propane Day. PERC invites fleet owners to learn more about how propane can provide them with a safe, resilient, and sustainable energy source at Propane.com/Fleet-Vehicles.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

The post Celebrate the Resiliency and Reliability of Propane Autogas During 3rd Annual National Propane Day October 7th appeared first on School Transportation News.

School districts will once again have funding opportunities to replace diesel school buses with zero- or low-emission vehicles through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Program.

The Clean School Bus Program is a five-year, $5 billion program that was signed into law through the 2001 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by President Joe Biden. It provides $5 billion over fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to fund the replacement of zero- and low-emission school buses. Under the CSBP grant and rebates, the EPA stated almost $3 billion was awarded to fund approximately 8,700 school buses, approximately 95 percent of which are zero-emission.

The EPA announced on Thursday the opening of the 2024 CSBP rebate application period, which the agency anticipates awarding up to $965 million, with the potential to modify the number based on the application pool and “other factors,” EPA stated.

The application will remain open until Jan. 9, 2025, at 4 p.m. EST.

Additionally, EPA now doubles the maximum allowed number of school buses funded per application from 25 to 50. Eligible applicants can apply to receive funds for electric, propane and/or compressed natural gas buses. Plus, the funds can go toward the purchase and installation of charging infrastructure, workforce training, consulting costs for bus deployments and bus warranty costs.

The EPA added that it will also provide additional funding per bus for ADA-compliant buses and for applicants not located in one of the lower 48 contiguous states to cover shipping.

Available Funding Per School Bus: 

 

Electric School Buses
Priority:
Up to $325K + charging for Type D
$245K + charging for Type A & Type C

Non-priority:
$170K + charging for Type D
$115K + charging for Type A & Type C

 

Propane
Priority:
Up to $35K for Type D

Up to $30K for Type A & Type C

Non-priority:
Up to $25K for Type D

Up to $20K for Type A & C

 

CNG
Priority:
Up to $45K for Type D

Up to $30K for Type A & Type C

Non-priority:
Up to $30K for Type D
Up to $20K for Type A &C

Source: EPA

Related: Inspector General Report Cites Inefficiencies in EPA Clean School Bus Program
Related: EPA Takes Technology-Neutral Approach in Finalizing Phase 3 GHG Rule
Related: EPA Funds 2,675 More Electric School Buses Across 36 States
Related: Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates
Related: Second Installment of Zero Emission School Bus Funding Available in N.Y

Applicants will also be required to submit one or more of the following supplemental forms: school district approval certification (for third-party applicants such as eligible contractors and nonprofit school transportation associations), school board awareness certification, and/or utility partner template (for those applying for EV buses).

All forms must be signed by an authorized representative prior to submitting the application, the EPA stated.

EPA said it anticipates notifying applicants of their section status in May 2025. Read more about the 2024 rebate program.

The post Fourth Funding Opportunity for EPA Clean School Bus Program Opens appeared first on School Transportation News.

This content is brought to you by the Propane Education & Research Council. 

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency announced awards for round three of its clean school bus rebates. As with previous rounds, most of the funding went to electric school buses. To date, the EPA program has allocated more than $2.8 billion for 8,427 electric school buses and 440 low-emissions propane buses.

While the five-year program justifiably aims to replace the nation’s aging, dirty diesel buses, electric models should not be the default replacement of choice. Research shows that more affordable options can lead to lowering emissions faster.

School buses travel more than 3 billion miles each year, providing transportation to more than 25 million American children every day. The rebates, therefore, have the potential to make a huge impact on air quality and decarbonization by replacing existing school buses powered by diesel. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program allows applicants to request battery-electric, propane or compressed natural gas buses.

Eliminating diesel-powered buses is a vital goal. Diesel fuel has a high carbon intensity, and when burned, emits ground-level air pollution that is unhealthy to breathe. Electric vehicles address some of the problem, but don’t actually solve the climate change issues we face today.

Unfortunately, the U.S. electric grid is not as clean as most people think. While renewable energy is being added at a considerable pace, fossil fuels are still being used to meet peak energy demand. The average carbon intensity of the U.S. electric grid is roughly 137 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule (gCO2eq/MJ). In comparison, conventional propane has a carbon intensity of 79 gCO2eq/MJ, and renewable propane made from the cover crop camelina has a carbon intensity of only 20 gCO2eq/MJ.

Leaving conventional diesel behind is a good move, and it can happen today with a combination of clean energy resources.

Rebate applicants and the EPA should also consider cost in their deliberations. At $375,000 each, electric buses with charging infrastructure cost about three times more than a propane-powered bus. The cost-prohibitive nature of electric models means school districts may only be able to convert a small portion of their fleets, especially in disadvantaged communities where budgets are often constrained. By choosing propane-powered buses, districts can replace three times the number of diesels to lower CO2, NOx, SOx and particulate matter.

School districts nationwide are realizing that converting traditional fleets to EV is no simple solution. The environmental benefits are less clear, and the grid is simply not ready to service the load. As journalist H.L. Menken once said, “For every complex problem, there’s a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 60% of U.S. electricity still comes from fossil fuels. The cleanliness of the grid varies by state, so it’s important to understand how electricity is being produced regionally.

While major investments are being made in renewable energy, the transition is not happening at a fast enough pace to keep up with load growth. Transmission infrastructure delays and permitting requirements are two major challenges that must be overcome to accelerate grid decarbonization. Grid operators have announced concerns about being able to reliably serve demand due to the intermittent nature of renewables and the retirement of older, dirtier power plants.

Eliminating things like diesel fuel because clean, affordable alternatives are available is a responsible step. This is the wide path ahead — using a variety of ever-cleaner technologies to match the daunting energy-intensive challenge. We applaud EPA’s Clean School Bus Program and hope to see the agency’s awards embrace a holistic view.

Visit propane.com to learn why propane school buses are the smart choice for today’s student transportation needs.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Why the EPA Shouldn’t Favor Electric School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.