Houston Texas - Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams 2009 Breathe Easy Tour stopped today in Houston. The tour features multiple propane vehicles that are currently on the market. Alternative fuel vehicles are an option that enables area fleet managers to be economical with taxpayers money and reduce air pollution by replacing older school buses and service vehicles with new propane-fueled models.
Williams message: Propane is a cleaner cheaper Texas-produced fuel for school buses and other fleet vehicles.
Alvin ISD Transportation Director John Ralph was also recognized for his districts commitment to propane. Alvin ISD along with Angleton ISD Houston Gateway Academy and Splendora ISD is among the 40 Texas fleets that will share in the Railroad Commissions recently awarded $12.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant will help these fleets buy a total of 882 propane vehicles including 245 propane school buses and install or upgrade 35 propane fueling stations over the next two years.
Also on hand to help answer fleet managers technical questions were Curtis Donaldson with CleanFUEL USA in Georgetown Texas a manufacturer of propane fuel systems and dispensing equipment; Linda Stone with Rush Bus Sales of New Braunfels Texas the Blue Bird propane bus distributor for southeast Texas; Todd Mouw with ROUSH Performance a manufacturer of dedicated propane F-series pickups and E-series vans; and Bob Barnett with Flying J an operator of 24/7 propane fueling stations.
BUDGET SAVER
School districts in Rush Enterprises service area which includes all of southeast Texas are eligible for cash reimbursements of $7000 for each propane bus they buy. In addition all propane vehicles are eligible for the federal 50-cents per gallon rebate on propane motor fuel.
Based on miles traveled fuel economy and fuel-price numbers from a current propane school bus fleet Williams estimated school districts can save $3000 per bus each year by using propane. Fleets can estimate their own savings by entering their annual mileage fuel cost and miles per gallon data into the Grant Calculator on the Commissions website.
The cost savings fleets will observe with propane vehicles make them a common-sense choice. For school districts and other public fleets those savings taxpayers as well as their residents to breathe a little easier Williams said. Propane is less expensive than diesel and additional federal and local incentives for the purchase of propane fuel and propane-powered vehicles help make the financial benefits even stronger.
IMPROVED EMISSIONS
Texas operates about 10000 propane vehicles Williams said. By using alternative fuels such as propane and natural gas or by retrofitting older vehicles with technologies that reduce emissions fleets in Texas can run safely and cleanly for less money while using less foreign oil.
About 1500 (4 percent) of Texas school buses are currently propane-powered. About 35 Texas districts currently operate propane school buses and some have been using the fuel for more than 25 years. In addition three Dallas-Fort Worth area districts operate a total of about 40 CNG (compressed natural gas) buses.
A LONG HISTORY
Todays event in Houston is the fourth stop on Williams seven-city Breathe Easy Tour scheduled this month and next. The tour is the latest example of Williams eight-year effort to clean up the states school bus fleet.
Williams is a longtime advocate for alternative-fuel vehicles. Over the last two years his efforts have increased the number of propane buses in Texas by over 20 percent. During his tenure the Railroad Commission has honored numerous propane fleets for their commitment to air quality including Alvin ISD Angleton ISD Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) Dallas County Schools Denton ISD Lindale ISD Northside ISD (San Antonio) Port Arthur Transit and Seguin ISD.
Houston Texas - Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams 2009 Breathe Easy Tour stopped today in Houston. The tour features multiple propane vehicles that are currently on the market. Alternative fuel vehicles are an option that enables area fleet managers to be economical with taxpayers money and reduce air pollution by replacing older school buses and service vehicles with new propane-fueled models.
Williams message: Propane is a cleaner cheaper Texas-produced fuel for school buses and other fleet vehicles.
Alvin ISD Transportation Director John Ralph was also recognized for his districts commitment to propane. Alvin ISD along with Angleton ISD Houston Gateway Academy and Splendora ISD is among the 40 Texas fleets that will share in the Railroad Commissions recently awarded $12.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant will help these fleets buy a total of 882 propane vehicles including 245 propane school buses and install or upgrade 35 propane fueling stations over the next two years.
Also on hand to help answer fleet managers technical questions were Curtis Donaldson with CleanFUEL USA in Georgetown Texas a manufacturer of propane fuel systems and dispensing equipment; Linda Stone with Rush Bus Sales of New Braunfels Texas the Blue Bird propane bus distributor for southeast Texas; Todd Mouw with ROUSH Performance a manufacturer of dedicated propane F-series pickups and E-series vans; and Bob Barnett with Flying J an operator of 24/7 propane fueling stations.
BUDGET SAVER
School districts in Rush Enterprises service area which includes all of southeast Texas are eligible for cash reimbursements of $7000 for each propane bus they buy. In addition all propane vehicles are eligible for the federal 50-cents per gallon rebate on propane motor fuel.
Based on miles traveled fuel economy and fuel-price numbers from a current propane school bus fleet Williams estimated school districts can save $3000 per bus each year by using propane. Fleets can estimate their own savings by entering their annual mileage fuel cost and miles per gallon data into the Grant Calculator on the Commissions website.
The cost savings fleets will observe with propane vehicles make them a common-sense choice. For school districts and other public fleets those savings taxpayers as well as their residents to breathe a little easier Williams said. Propane is less expensive than diesel and additional federal and local incentives for the purchase of propane fuel and propane-powered vehicles help make the financial benefits even stronger.
IMPROVED EMISSIONS
Texas operates about 10000 propane vehicles Williams said. By using alternative fuels such as propane and natural gas or by retrofitting older vehicles with technologies that reduce emissions fleets in Texas can run safely and cleanly for less money while using less foreign oil.
About 1500 (4 percent) of Texas school buses are currently propane-powered. About 35 Texas districts currently operate propane school buses and some have been using the fuel for more than 25 years. In addition three Dallas-Fort Worth area districts operate a total of about 40 CNG (compressed natural gas) buses.
A LONG HISTORY
Todays event in Houston is the fourth stop on Williams seven-city Breathe Easy Tour scheduled this month and next. The tour is the latest example of Williams eight-year effort to clean up the states school bus fleet.
Williams is a longtime advocate for alternative-fuel vehicles. Over the last two years his efforts have increased the number of propane buses in Texas by over 20 percent. During his tenure the Railroad Commission has honored numerous propane fleets for their commitment to air quality including Alvin ISD Angleton ISD Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) Dallas County Schools Denton ISD Lindale ISD Northside ISD (San Antonio) Port Arthur Transit and Seguin ISD.
