Energy Efficiency, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 12, 2023

Hannibal School District Receives Funds for Low Emission Buses

Hannibal Public School District #60 is utilizing funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program and the Missouri Propane Education & Research Council to reduce its carbon footprint with propane school buses. 

"As we researched the various alternative fuels, propane stood out as the best option for our school district," said Scott Speer, transportation director for the district, in a statement. "When comparing infrastructure costs, compressed natural gas buses would have required an extensive renovation to our facilities, and that has a significant cost. Conversely, propane is incredibly stable and does not require our facility to undergo extensive renovations. Simply put, propane was a way that Hannibal transportation could save taxpayer dollars while providing a cleaner alternative fuel to diesel.”

Located in northeastern Missouri, Hannibal Public School District received two propane school buses earlier this year with four more en route and an additional three on order. With the addition of the new propane buses, 22% of the district's fleet will run on clean, low-emission fuel.

The nine propane buses replace diesel buses that are about 20 years old and emit known carcinogens. Unlike diesel, propane autogas is a non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and non-corrosive fuel, and is classified as a non-contaminant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Four of the propane school buses will be awarded $22,000 per bus through the first round of funding of the Clean School Bus Program, which has the stated goal of replacing old diesel buses with clean-operating school buses.

The district will receive a $2,000 rebate per bus through the Missouri Propane Education & Research Council. The Council, created by state statute to provide propane safety and education programs, has pledged $1 million to help school districts transition from diesel buses to propane models.