Lewis County C-1 School District in northeast Missouri has taken a big step forward to substantially reduce harmful emissions and costs by adding new four Autogas school buses to its fleet. The district had purchased the 2022 IC Bus LPG buses last fall, and are now operating on regular routes that span 410 square miles and five counties.

“Anything we can do to provide a cleaner environment and less pollution being breathed in by our students is something I believe strongly in striving to accomplish,” said John French, superintendent of Lewis County C-1 School District. “We believe the savings gained from our alternative fuel school buses will eventually lead to more money going into the classroom, which will, in turn, reduce the local tax burden.”

The district received Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust grant funds totalling $20,000 per bus for two of the LPG buses, and $37,500 per bus for the other two. Additionally, the district received a $2,000 rebate per bus through the Missouri Propane Education & Research Council. The Council has pledged $1 million to help school districts transition from diesel buses to Autogas models.

“Diesel school buses emit toxic chemicals that can damage the lungs and irritate the skin and eyes of children,” said Steve Ahrens, president of the Missouri Propane Education & Research Council. “With Autogas school buses, Lewis County has taken an important step to safeguard the health of its students, staff and community. It’s important to note that the district will achieve reduced emissions while also significantly lowering its fuel and maintenance costs. We’ve seen this when districts adopt LPG fleets that replace diesel buses—transportation funding is freed up for education funding. That helps taxpayers breathe a little easier, too.”

The district currently fuels its Autogas buses at a local provider site, but is considering the addition of on-site LPG refuelling infrastructure, which includes a tank and a dispenser.

Autogas school buses are clean and affordable solutions that eliminate the particulate matter and harmful emissions found with diesel buses. There are more than 300 LPG-powered buses operating in Missouri and more than 20,000 across the U.S. For more information, please check this link.

14 April 2021