Missouri school district receives $20,000 for LPG-fueled buses

The Missouri Propane Education & Research Council has committed $1 million to help school districts transition from diesel to propane buses. Photo: Missouri Propane Education & Research Council

The Missouri Propane Education & Research Council (MOPERC) presented Liberty Public Schools a check for $20,000 for its purchase of 10 new Blue Bird propane-fueled school buses.

The propane school buses are currently in service for the district’s daily and activity routes, which have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By choosing propane buses, we are seeing dramatic cost savings,” says Jeff Baird, transportation director for Liberty Public Schools. “Money saved in transportation becomes available for other education expenses related to the classroom. Taking care of our students’ needs is top priority because they’ve sacrificed so much during the pandemic, and our propane buses help us do that.”

According to MOPERC, Baird heard about the benefits other school districts in the area experienced after switching to propane school buses. Liberty Public Schools’ most recent diesel price is $1.86 per gallon, while locked in at $0.79 per gallon for propane. He says the district expects to cut its fuel costs by 35 percent on propane buses.

“There are now more than 300 propane school buses operating in Missouri,” says Steve Ahrens, president and CEO of MOPERC. “Liberty Public Schools joins other districts across the state not only experiencing the economic benefits, but also improving the health of its students, drivers and community. These buses are clean-operating and eliminate strong-smelling fumes and harmful tailpipe emissions found with diesel buses.”

The rebate presented to the school district 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, at the time of delivery.