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District Praised for Propane Buses

Texas Railroad Commission chairman Michael Williams has presented a cheque to The Denton school district’s transportation programme for more than $390,000 for its alternative fuel initiative.

He praised the district for using more than 90 propane buses that help keep the air clean for schoolchildren in the area. The cheque represented more than $82,000 from the commission’s propane bus rebate programme and a $308,000 reimbursement from Blue Bird bus distributor Rush Enterprises.

Williams said Denton sets an example for other Texas districts by having one of the largest alternative fuel fleets in the state. By choosing to use propane over diesel, the district and 35 others had taken a positive step that was cost effective and made them less dependent on foreign oil, he said.

“I’m excited about it,” Williams said. “It helps the school districts to make a decision that’s in the best interest of the taxpayers and the students of the district.”
Since the US’s Alternative Fuel Program’s inception in 1995, The Denton has added 96 propane buses to its fleet. The district will eliminate 30 diesel buses and replace them with 44 additional propane buses.

Gene Holloway, district trans-portation director, said by choosing to use propane fuel, the school district will save $400,000 annually.

Ray Braswell, school district superintendent, said money is tight and the economy is uncertain and any way that the district can cut costs is a positive thing. He said for every dollar that is saved by using propane, a dollar can be put toward instructional use.

“This money is putting mon-ey back into the classroom,” he said.

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