This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
In Search of Affordable Alternatives: How can school districts solve the dilemma of costly fueling & energy infrastructure?


Written By Debbie Curtis


D


espite budget constraints during the COVID-19 outbreak, some school districts are still continu- ing forward with new alternative fuel and power purchases. And for them, there are many factors


to consider when transitioning from diesel or tradition- al gasoline to alternative fuels or even electric. Which energy source will best suit a district often boils down to infrastructure costs and the resources that are locally available? Checking local ordinances is also vital, since these vary by state and type of fuel. For example, a compressed


32 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2020


natural gas (CNG) maintenance bay may need meth- ane detectors tied to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It’s also wise to consider the resiliency of fuel supplies. Power outages or natural disasters may interrupt fuel delivery or make dispensing the fuel into the buses impossible. Many districts are keeping their diesel buses for field trips while adding various alternative fueled buses to their fleets. “Diversity is good,” said Scott Hanstedt of renewable


natural gas developer and distributor U.S. Gain, “espe- cially when we’re talking about fuel supply and pricing.”


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