CleanFUEL USA Announces Installation of Propane Autogas Refueling Infrastructure Equipment for 24 new Texas School Districts

Texas school districts embrace propane autogas, cutting nearly $1.2 million in annual school transportation costs and reducing environmental impact

GEORGETOWN, TX--Aug. 16, 2012:  CleanFUEL USA, a leading supplier of propane autogas infrastructure and engine systems, today announced more than 37 new or expanded contracts with Texas independent school districts for propane autogas refueling infrastructure equipment. The contracts are affiliated with recent grants from the Department of Energy (DOE) for $12.6 million and $3.1 million from the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) for vehicles and infrastructure. The grants are administered through the Railroad Commission of Texas.

CleanFUEL USA will provide new propane autogas refueling infrastructure equipment to several districts, which will support school buses running on propane autogas. Districts receiving installation of new equipment include: Austin Independent School District, Houston Independent School District and Arlington Independent School District.

With Texas lawmakers cutting public education financing by nearly $5.4 billion, school districts have been forced to make serious adjustments in several ways, such as increasing class sizes, reducing services and supplies, as well as the number of teachers, custodians, librarians and others. Some school districts are now selling advertising space on the sides of buses in an effort to redeem revenue, while others have even gone so far as removing bus transportation entirely.

"Watching Texas school districts realize the economic and environmental benefits of propane autogas has been extremely rewarding," says Curtis Donaldson, CEO and founder of CleanFUEL USA. "Propane autogas continues to gain momentum across the country as fleet managers in both the private and public sectors do the math and realize it makes incredible sense to use a domestically-produced alternative fuel that costs less than gas and diesel and has a smaller environmental footprint."

Propane autogas is the third most widely used transportation fuel globally, behind gasoline and diesel, and is proven to be a more attractive option from an economic and environmental standpoint. As the lowest greenhouse gas emitting fuel, propane autogas averages 40 to 50 percent less than gasoline and diesel per gallon. There are more than 52,000 autogas refueling stations and 17 million propane-powered vehicles worldwide.

Texas school districts previously working with CleanFUEL USA who received updated equipment include: Alvin ISD, Northside ISD, and Prosper ISD, who together saved roughly $858,000 last year in transportation costs through the use of propane autogas. Sheldon ISD, Conroe ISD and Humble ISD have saved more than a combined $130,000 in their first year. A full list of participating school districts can be viewed here.

"Enabling our school buses to run on an alternative fuel that is nearly half the cost of gas and diesel - and is cleaner burning, is a no brainer," says Jim Abney, Transportation Director, Alvin Independent School District. "CleanFUEL USA has been instrumental in helping our district conveniently access propane autogas for our transportation needs and has ultimately helped our school district improve our bottom line while reducing our environmental footprint at the same time."