The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allocated more than $5 billion in the third round of funding for the Clean School Bus Program. This funding will be used to purchase 269 clean propane autogas buses for 58 school districts across the nation. The program prioritizes high-need local educational agencies, rural, and tribal school districts.
Propane autogas buses offer numerous advantages compared to diesel buses. They reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 96%, have a range of 400 miles, and can continue to operate even if the electric grid is down.
The EPA will provide transportation directors with up to $375,000 for every propane autogas bus purchased as part of the Clean School Bus program. This funding is intended to help school districts cover the cost of purchasing and operating these clean-burning vehicles.
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) applauds the school districts that have chosen to prioritize student health and the environment by investing in propane autogas buses. PERC believes that propane autogas is an excellent choice for school transportation due to its low total cost-of-ownership, reduced emissions, and improved uptime.
Over three rounds of funding, the EPA program has allocated more than $5 billion for 8,427 electric school buses and 440 low-emissions propane buses. However, PERC notes that the program could have funded as many as 92,635 propane buses for the same amount of money. This would have resulted in a significantly greater reduction in harmful NOx emissions.
PERC emphasizes that the goal of the Clean School Bus Program is to reduce emissions as quickly as possible to provide children with a safe, clean, and healthy ride to school. According to the Department of Energy, there are more than 450,000 school buses in the United States, and the vast majority run on diesel. PERC believes that replacing diesel buses with clean propane autogas buses is an effective way to improve air quality and protect the health of children.
For more information on propane solutions for school transportation, visit the Propane Education & Research Council website.
