EPA program promotes propane autogas for school buses

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2022 Clean School Bus Program gives school bus transportation directors the opportunity to reduce emissions and costs in their fleet by switching to propane autogas school buses.

For every propane autogas bus purchased through the EPA program, transportation directors could qualify for up to $30,000 in rebates.

The program will award $5 billion over the next five years to replace existing school buses with cleaner options, prioritizing high-need, low-income, rural, and tribal school districts.

“The goal of this program is to ensure energy equity by removing as many aging, dirty diesel buses from the road as quickly as possible in areas that have been historically underserved,” says Stephen Whaley, director of autogas business development with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “The fastest and most cost-effective way to achieve that goal is with propane autogas. Propane offers the lowest total cost of ownership, providing savings a school district will see year over year. That’s how we revolutionize clean student transportation.”

Propane autogas buses can reduce harmful nitrogen-oxide (NOx) emissions by 96 percent and have nearly zero particulate matter emissions, according to PERC. When compared to electric school buses, propane autogas buses can offer a lower cost per pound, reduce greenhouse gases and provide fleets with up to 400 miles on a single refuel.

In the first round of funding, which opened in May, the EPA expected to award $500 million in rebates for 2022. School transportation directors interested in taking advantage of the funding can create an account on sam.gov to ensure rebate eligibility.

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