Seguin ISD saves 33% on fuel costs with propane-powered school buses
Seguin Independent School District (ISD) is reducing its fuel costs and limiting harmful greenhouse gas emissions by operating school buses on clean, domestically produced propane autogas. The school district, which has been running propane-powered buses for six years, estimates that using the alternative fuel saves 33 percent on fuel costs.
Seguin ISD is the largest school district in Guadalupe County, covering 365 square miles and servicing 7,556 students. There are 85 buses in Seguin’s fleet, including 57 diesel buses and 28 propane-powered buses. Seguin uses 71,950 gallons of propane per year, and has installed one on-site fueling station—a popular, affordable option for vehicle fleets that choose propane autogas.
Phia Rigney, Seguin ISD’s Transportation Director, says that the economic and environmental benefits of propane autogas originally caught the attention of the district. “The biggest selling point was the fact that the fuel burns a lot cleaner than diesel—which means cleaner air for the students and community of Seguin,” Rigney said. “We plan to continue purchasing propane buses. The preventative maintenance saves money because propane buses use less oil and can go longer between oil changes.”
Seguin ISD is just one of more than 75 Texas school districts operating buses on propane autogas. “Currently, there are more than 2,000 propane-powered buses across the state,” said Jackie Mason, Education & Marketing Director for the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT). “We expect that number to continue to grow. Propane autogas is a clean, safe and reliable way for school districts to reduce emissions for their students and create healthier budgets.”
Many school districts are able to save money by participating in national and statewide incentive programs. Seguin ISD took part in both a Railroad Commission of Texas incentive program and the $.50 per gallon alternative fuel tax credit from the federal government. With the initial reimbursement for the purchase of propane buses and the rebate on fuel, Seguin ISD has saved $500,000 since 2008. For more information about incentive programs, please visit www.FuelingTexas.com.
The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) created the Seguin ISD case study as part of its Propane Autogas: Fueling Texas campaign. The public awareness campaign has traveled across the state and produced a wide range of educational materials to promote the benefits of running vehicles and mowers on clean-burning propane autogas. To find out more about propane autogas, visit www.FuelingTexas.com.
About the Propane Council of Texas
The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 dedicated to educating the public and the propane industry on safety and on the newest clean-burning propane technologies. ProCOT is the state entity that represents the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), which was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA) of 1996. The program is funded with small fees from the propane industry and goes to fund several safety programs, as well as the commercialization of new propane technology. Visit www.procot.org for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Jordan | 512.524.5456 | amy@formation.fm
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