School Transportation News Magazine | September 2009
AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS SET TO BEGIN, GRADES ARE ON EVERYONE’S MINDS, BUT STUDENT TRANS-
PORTATION OFFICIALS MUST WEIGH WHICH TYPE OF FUELING SYSTEM WILL MAKE THE GRADE FOR THEIR FLEET — AND BUDGET. Balancing cost, convenience and EPA Clean Air requirements is no easy task when compar- ing diesel-powered school buses to their alternative-fuel counterparts. Maintenance, infrastructure, fuel sources and fluctuating prices all factor into the decision-making process. While some may find the initial expenses of alternative-fuel buses and fueling infrastructure too prohibitive, others
have utilized grants and government rebates to defray the start-up costs for CNG or propane-powered school buses. Brian Feehan is the vice president of the Propane Education & Research Council. He said that PERC worked closely
with Blue Bird on the launch of its propane-fueled Type C school bus in 2008, providing an initial grant of $700,000. “Blue Bird’s propane-powered Vision school buses exceed EPA standards for 2010,” Feehan said. “We’re seeing quite
a few school districts across the country introducing propane-powered school buses in their fleets. Tis is being driven by many factors, including the environment and the economics of it as well.” Feehan explained that EPA grants and federal incentives, including the 50 cents per gallon and 50 per- cent incremental-cost tax credits, can cover much of the purchase price of an alternative-fuel school bus (see
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