Fort Valley, GA (PRWEB) May 11, 2012
With the school year coming to a close, Tippecanoe School Corp. (TSC) in Lafayette, Ind., is gearing up to teach students, parents and administrators the benefits of clean, safe and economical propane autogas with the deployment of the states five Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision school buses prior to summer break.
We live in a farming community, and our neighbors know that propane is a safe, reliable and environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline and diesel, said Kevin Neafie, transportation director of TSC, the second-largest school district in Indiana. TSC opened the doors to communication between everyone involved in our adoption of propane autogas. Our drivers are on board knowing they have a bus that is more comfortable and quieter to drive; our community is on board knowing the children are transported safely and their taxpayer dollars are being stretched further; and the district is on board knowing everyone involved is benefiting from the switch.
TSC worked with three key organizations to purchase the alternative fuel buses: Blue Bird dealer MacAllister Power Systems, propane distributor Ferrellgas, and the Energy Departments Greater Indiana Clean Cities. The deal was practically debt-free to TSC due to a $ 52,600 grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Development and the support of community business owners, who donated services during the installation of a 1,000-gallon propane refueling station for the buses. The county plans to install an additional refueling tank in the near future.
The Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision is the right, affordable choice for any school system looking to be environmentally and fiscally responsible, said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. Tippecanoe School Corporation will be a thriving example of the benefits of using American-made propane autogas. With the array of financial assistance available through grants and incentives, purchasing the Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision, or our propane-fueled 30-passenger Micro Bird Type A bus, is even easier and more affordable.
TSCs 78-passenger Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision buses meet all applicable School Bus Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards, Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board certifications, and uses the latest advancements in propane technology, including the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system and the Ford 6.8-liter engine.
Its exciting to see Tippecanoe School Corporation make the move toward propane autogas, following what the state of Indianas Department of Transportation has done with the installation of 115 refueling dispensers across the state, said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing at ROUSH CleanTech. School district adoption of this technology is a natural next step in the states push toward alternative fuels, specifically propane autogas.
As diesel prices bump against the $ 4.00 mark, the cost for TSC school bus drivers to fill up with propane autogas is $ 1.94 per gallon. These cost savings free up funding to be allocated toward other programs to enrich the communitys school children. These cost benefits are matched by the eco-benefits of propane autogas.
We are one step closer to TSCs goal of creating an environment that is conducive to better health for school children, said Neafie. The Propane-Powered Vision buses reduce emissions and virtually eliminate particulates released into the atmosphere.
About Blue Bird:
Blue Bird offers a complete line of Type A, C and D school buses in a variety of options and configurations. For 85 years, Blue Bird Corporation has continued to set industry standards with its innovative design and manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, Blue Bird provides comprehensive financial solutions through Blue Bird Capital Services. Today, Blue Bird has more than 1,500 employees, Georgia-based manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of dealers and service-parts facilities throughout North America. Its global presence can be seen in more than 60 countries through sales in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit the Blue Bird Corporation website at http://www.blue-bird.com.
About Tippecanoe School Corp:
Tippecanoe School Corp. is Indianas second-largest geographic school district, covering 465 square miles and serving nearly 13,000 school children across 20 individual schools. It is TSCs mission to strive to educated students to reach their academic potential in an environment that encourages confidence, competence and a desire for learning. For more information, visit the Tippecanoe School Corporation web site at http://www.tscschools.net.
