Which Way Did It Go?
The different avenues, both obvious and illusive, to find green to go green
By Stephane Babcock
TO MANY DISTRICTS, ALTERNATIVE FUEL GRANTS ARE THE
UNATTAINABLE GOLDEN EGG THAT IS BOTH ENTICING AND OUT OF REACH, SIMULTANEOUSLY. WITHOUT A GRANT WRITER ON STAFF, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORS AND THEIR DISTRICT SUPERVISORS ARE OFTEN OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE WHEN RESEARCHING AND APPLYING FOR FEDERAL MONIES. “School districts have a few options when it comes to locating grants and tax credits for the purchase of hybrids,” said IC Bus’ Keith Klad- der. “We recommend school districts contact their local clean air or clean fuel agency. Tese organizations are often aware of local, state and federal funding opportunities.” By staying in constant contact with these agencies, districts
have a better chance of learning when funds become available. Te same can be said of the EPA Regional Clean Diesel Collabora- tive, which functions as a local arm of the National Clean Diesel Campaign, often communicating available grant opportunities,
66 School Transportation News Magazine July 2010
according to Kladder, who also suggested school districts make contact with their local power company. “Grants through energy providers can be available and pro-
vide a “win-win” for the energy company and the school district. Usually start with the Demand Side Management or Energy Ef- ficiency departments,” he added.
Other Helpful Partnerships School bus manufacturers themselves could also have a hand in
helping districts locate and apply for grants for hybrid technology, natural gas and propane. “Typically these sources are in the know about potential local,
state and federal funding opportunities so a school district can move from diesel to propane, which is a clean burning, domes- tically-produced fuel,” explained Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH Performance.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92