The community of Browning is about 45 miles south of the Canadian border inside of the Blackfeet Indian Nation, just west of Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. Browning Public Schools is the district that serves nearly 2,000 students in the area, a region U.S. News and World Report classifies in its school rankings as “fringe rural.”
Our staff — from sales reps to service techs and support staff — are located all over the U.S. and the one thing we have in common right now, aside from our continued commitment to advancing clean alternative fuels, is that we’re seeing increasing fuel costs at gas stations all around the country.
Blue Bird’s Steven Whaley, alternative fuels manager for the school bus manufacturer, first reviewed the company’s diesel, gasoline, propane and electric school bus options as well as deployment numbers, pricing comparison and clean energy statistics.
Propane, he said during Sunday’s Lunch and Learn session, has a low carbon intensity footprint, is safe enough to use for cooking and is domestically produced. Blue Bird’s propane bus, he specified, was certified to an ultra-low NOx emissions level. He added that propane buses are suited for both rural and urban settings, plus their quiet operation means students arrive at school calmer.
Earlier this year, Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., announced the launch of an $11.1 million five-year pilot program to deploy 28 electric buses across seven counties in western Maryland. The goal of the project is to help school districts meet Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, which requires public schools to operate zero-emission vehicles.
With decades of experience in student transportation, we, too, are invested in clean, low-emission school bus options. But, there are 1 million public school students traveling millions of miles to Maryland’s 1,400 schools each day, and we respectfully question the value and long-term impact of Potomac Edison’s investment.
In an effort to save on operating costs and help protect the environment, BeST Transit is converting its fleet to operate on propane autogas.
Working closely with Roush CleanTech, Ferrellgas and Coach & Equipment, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, BeST now has six propane-fueled, fixed-route buses in service, moving the authority closer to its goal of having 70 percent of the fleet running on propane.
With the goal of transitioning its fleet to 50% alternative fuels by 2030, the school system added 52 new propane buses in 2026 and has 83 on order for 2027.
At ROUSH CleanTech, our work is grounded in trust, quality, innovation and American values. As our team talks with school districts, transit agencies and postal service contractors operating propane vehicles, we see more and more that, in the midst of rapidly changing global and domestic events, they can continue to depend on the real solution we’re providing through advanced propane engine technology.
A Pennsylvania mass transportation system has set a goal of converting 70% of its fleet to run on propane. In February, the Pennsylvania secretary of transportation joined BeST for a ribbon cutting to unveil the new propane buses.
Blue Bird CorporationBLBD, a leader in electric and low-emission school buses, has entered into an agreement to acquire Girardin Group’s stake in the 50/50 Micro Bird joint venture in order to gain full ownership of the business. The deal is valued at approximately $200 million, with 30% to be paid in cash and the remaining 70% in Blue Bird common stock. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Two Washington Counties, two school leaders and two fleet managers came together in February with a shared focus: exploring the transition from diesel to propane-powered school buses.
Virginia Clean Cities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing alternative fuels and cleaner transportation options, facilitated a conversation with Washington County, Virginia Public Schools about what a shift to propane could mean for its fleet. While presentations and data are helpful, school leaders agreed that seeing the technology firsthand offers valuable perspective.
