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Nevada School District Relies on Diverse Fuel Portfolio
                                     for Clean, Budget-friendly Fleet
                   hrough a diverse portfolio of clean fuels in its
                   school bus fleet, Washoe County School Dis-
                   trict has navigated continually changing state
            Tlegislation requiring government fleets to op-
            erate clean, alternative fuel vehicles. Spanning moun-
            tainous regions of Reno, Sparks and other unincorpo-
            rated communities over 6,342 square miles, the district
            transports about 19,000 students on 265 bus routes to
            100 schools each day. Each bus averages 100-200 miles
            on daily and special education routes.
                                                               products and additional staff time are not needed.“The
                   A leader in clean transportation efforts, the   overall cost per mile is about 13 cents less per mile than
            district — which is the second largest in Nevada — has   diesel,” said Scott Lee, transportation director. “The
            operated alternatively fueled buses since 2000. The   parts are also much less expensive than diesel, for the
            district initially purchased compressed natural gas   most part. It's a lot less oil and one small, single filter.”
            buses after receiving a grant for a CNG station. The   District technicians report ease of maintenance for the
            transportation department then ventured into biodies-  propane buses. The buses can be serviced with stan-
            el followed by propane autogas in 2014 when govern-  dard Blue Bird and Ford diagnostic equipment. “Many
            ment grant funds became available.                 of our technicians already have experience working
            Improving Air Quality                              with Ford engines, and they find that propane engines
                                                               are straightforward and easy to maintain,” said Kelley.
                   “When state legislation about alternatively
            field vehicles for large fleets was passed, Washoe   A Supportive Network
            County School District embraced alternative fuels to       To extend its networking capabilities and best
            reduce emissions and improve air quality. Our fleet   practices, the district joined the Energy Department’s
            is 100% compliant,” said Jon Kelley, fleet operations   Reno-Tahoe Clean Cities program in which Kelley has
            manager. Washoe County School District first integrat-  been an active member on several committees. Kelley
            ed propane autogas by adding seven propane school   is also past vice chairman of the Rocky Mountain Fleet
            buses into its fleet in 2014, with additional propane   Management Association, Nevada Chapter. “Being an
            school buses purchased in subsequent years. Today,   active member of both groups allowed me to better
            about one-fifth of the district’s 350-bus fleet runs   my own processes and abilities, which directly affect
            on propane. The district's propane buses emit fewer   my duties with Washoe County School District and the
            smog-producing hydrocarbons and virtually eliminate   community in a positive way on a daily basis,” he said.
            particulate matter when compared to conventional   Washoe County School District’s experience with fuel
            diesel. The buses also drive toxic nitrogen oxide levels   diversity highlights how propane autogas continues
            down to near-zero levels and beat the federal require-  to provide a simple solution to the complex problems
            ments by an average of 54% across the greenhouse gas   posed to school district transportation fleets. “My
            family.                                            advice to other school districts considering propane
            Reducing Costs                                     school bus adoption? Do it,” said Kelley. Lee agreed,
                                                               saying, “Now that we have been using them for 10
                   Currently, Washoe County School District    years, we have found that they are a viable product.”■
            enjoys a 278% per gallon savings when comparing pro-
            pane to diesel. The dramatic fuel savings have helped             Source: Todd Mouw is executive vice president
            the transportation department continually improve                 of sales and marketing of ROUSH CleanTech, an
                                                                              industry leader of advanced clean vehicle tech-
            preventative maintenance protocols for its fleet. Post-           nology. Mouw has more than two decades of
            2008 diesel buses also require complicated emissions              experience in the automotive and high-tech in-
            equipment, along with expensive maintenance parts                 dustries. As former president of the NTEA Green
                                                                              Truck Association, Mouw helped set standards in
            and fluids. The district saves both time and money                the green trucking industry. To learn more, visit
            with propane buses because the extra maintenance                  ROUSHcleantech.com.



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