State offers grant for propane buses
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

State and federal incentives are available that would make conversion to propane buses economically and environmentally friendly.

Propane buses cost about $12,000 more than new diesel buses but, with incentives, firstyear purchase and operating costs of propane buses could be $23,000 less than their diesel competition.

According to Michael L. Williams of the Texas Railroad Commission chairman, that agency is making incentive money available under a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Williams addressed approximately 40 area school officials on his statewide Breathe Easy campaign. Williams' main purpose was to present the facts of conversion from diesel to propane to operate school buses.

Propane sells for approximately $1.79 per gallon - almost $1.50 per gallon less expensive than diesel - which in Kilgore hovers at approximately $3.25 per gallon.

In addition to a 50-cents-pergallon federal rebate for propane, TRC offers up to $33,000 for each diesel bus scrapped and replaced with a new propane model.

School districts in Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Smith and Upshur are eligible under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, established in 2001.

Williams said that of the 36,800 school buses in the state, 1,533 are fueled by propane. Alvin Independent School District - south of Houston - operates a fleet of 73 propane buses.

"There are environmental benefits to using propane over diesel," Williams said. "Switching to propane cuts emissions by up to 83 percent over diesel buses."

According to Williams, propane use also would reduce dependence on foreign crude oil. "Propane is 90 percent domestic, and most of that comes from Texas," Williams said. "The rest comes from Canada. It is in the best interest of the country, because of our dependence on foreign crude, to start making this transition."

There are no propane school buses in East Texas, according to a commission report.

Williams said propane replacement funding is available year-round.

Don Paul, Blue Bird bus distributor; and Curtis Donaldson, of Clean Fuel USA, joins Williams on the campaign trail. Donaldson said local buses that make the switch could easily be fueled by local propane companies.

Paul said Bluebird is ready to manufacture the new buses and already has nearly 100 on order for districts in San Antonio, Denton and El Paso.

A model bus rolled off the assembly line in October of last year and the first of recent orders is slated to roll this week for delivery by the end of next week.

Paul said the buses get approximately five and a half miles per gallon, are equipped with an 8.1 liter General Motors engine and are easily diagnosed with an ordinary tech tool.

Joe Hooper, Kilgore Independent School District director of transportation, said the district is looking into the feasibility of conversion as budget time gets nearer.

"We all want to go green," Hooper said. "But, in the long run, is it going to save us that much more?"