Fresno Unified School District has announced it will purchase four more compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, bringing the number of CNG units to 63 out of a fleet of 97 buses.
According to the district, which serves more than 73,000 students in Fresno, Calif., CNG buses are better for the environment and better for students and drivers. Fresno Unified says each time the district replaces an old diesel bus with a low-emission model, the amount of pollutants generated in the community is reduced. The district notes it also has 10 clean diesel buses, which are low-emission and meet air quality standards.
Fresno Unified says it aggressively pursues funding for CNG buses and will use a grant administered through the state Transportation Improvement Program for the latest purchase. Using the grant, the district's cost per bus is $15,000 for a $186,000 vehicle. The Fresno Unified Board of Education approved the purchase of the buses at its board meeting Sept. 9.
