School Districts Explore Alternative Fuels Amid Rising Diesel Costs
Millions of students are returning to school as school districts face higher diesel fuel prices. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the national average diesel price reached $5.30 per gallon, an all-time August high.
About 90 percent of the nation’s 480,000 school buses operate on diesel. Some districts have added alternative-fuel buses to reduce their exposure to changes in fuel prices.
Propane autogas is among the alternative fuels used by school districts, with more than 24,000 propane-powered school buses operating in 1,100 districts across 49 states, according to the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).
In Indiana, the Wa-Nee Community School Corp. reported paying an average of 99 cents per gallon for propane autogas last year, compared with local diesel prices that reached $5.06 per gallon. The district estimates it saves about $10,000 for every 30,000 miles driven with propane buses. Nearly half of its 56-bus fleet operates on propane, and the fleet travels about 450,000 miles annually to transport 2,500 students.
“Every year, we save money so that our kids can continue in sports and music programs with no fees,” says Amy Rosa, the district’s director of safety and transportation.
