The Missouri Propane Education and Research Council recently presented Student Transportation of America with a check for $20,000 for its acquisition of new propane school buses, which are in service throughout the Kansas City Public Schools district.
The rebate presented to STA is part of MOPERC’s Clean Bus Replacement Plan, which has committed $1 million to help Missouri school districts transition from diesel to propane buses. The plan offers rebates of $2,000 per propane bus, up to 10 per district or contractor, at the time of delivery.
“MOPERC’s Clean Bus Replacement Plan can benefit dozens of school districts and communities throughout the state regardless of location,” says Steve Ahrens, president and CEO of MOPERC. “We’re offering these rebates to leverage funding to school districts and bus contractors who adopt propane buses, either through Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust funds or on their own. For the current fiscal year, we’ve reserved 27 propane bus rebates under the MOPERC plan.”
KCPS contracted with STA to acquire the Blue Bird Type C propane buses. The school district expects to save about $500,000 annually in fuel costs, and another $55,000 savings each year in maintenance costs.
“By helping STA lower its acquisition cost of these propane school buses, the school bus contractor can then help KCPS lower its operating costs with lower fuel and maintenance costs,” Ahrens adds.
“STA has made a significant investment in adopting propane school buses for KCPS and other school districts across the country,” adds Ryan Zic, vice president of school bus sales at ROUSH CleanTech, which manufactures the propane fuel system for the Blue Bird Vision. “And, it’s state and federal funds, like MOPERC’s and Volkswagen’s EMT, that create further opportunity to acquire this clean-operating technology.”
