Propane Council Donates $25,000 to Schools Driving Propane Buses

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- School buses already make up the largest share of mass transportation in the U.S. and are the safest mode of transportation to and from school. This year, however, the yellow bus is getting an upgrade. More than 650,000 students will ride a school bus powered by the alternative fuel propane this back-to-school season.

"Diesel has long been the standard in school transportation, but for districts that want to reduce harmful emissions, save money and create a safer, healthier ride, propane is an excellent alternative," said Roy Willis, Propane Education & Research Council president and CEO.

Recognizing these benefits, schools across 47 states – a total of almost 11,000 buses – have transitioned to propane. In fact, propane bus sales have increased by 436 percent since 2012.

The trend prompted PERC to start a campaign to teach communities about the benefits of propane-powered transportation. The Council is partnering with journalist and former teacher Jenna Bush Hager and the nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org to donate $25,000 to teachers at schools adopting propane buses.

"It's clear when you talk to school administrators and transportation departments that they are saving more than just dollars and cents by going with propane buses," said Hager. "The switch is improving their school as a whole and giving them the opportunity to invest in more teachers or school programs."

The Propane Education & Research Council's donation will benefit teachers at four schools this fall in school districts in San Antonio, Indianapolis, Orlando and Reno.

The transition from diesel to propane buses has been reported in at least 20 of the top 25 designated market areas, and four of the 10 largest school districts in the country are using them. Among the health and safety advantages of propane buses is that they are quieter than diesel and they reduce exposure to diesel exhaust, which the World Health Organization classifies as a carcinogen.

"As a former teacher and parent, I know that the school day begins and ends on the bus," Hager said. "When we give our kids a safer, healthier start to the day, it can improve their entire experience in the classroom and at home, too."

For more information on propane school buses, including bus safety tips for parents and kids courtesy of the National Association of Pupil Transportation, visit BetterOurBuses.com. To donate to teachers in your local community, visit AdoptAClassroom.org.

Propane Education & Research Council: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit organization established, operated, and funded by the propane industry. PERC drives technology development to expand adoption of propane as a clean, domestic, and affordable energy source and leads safety and training efforts among propane retailers and consumers. PERC programs benefit a variety of industries including fleet vehicle management, landscaping, residential and commercial building, agriculture, and material handling. For more information, visit Propane.com.

Jenna Bush Hager: Jenna Hager is a contributing correspondent on NBC's Today show and an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. She is also the author of The New York Times best seller Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope, which she wrote after traveling to Latin America in 2006 as an intern with UNICEF. Ana's Story is based on the life of a 17-year-old single mother with HIV, who struggles to shield her child from the life she had of abuse and neglect.  Hager remains involved with UNICEF and is the Founding Chair of UNICEF Next Generation, an initiative dedicated to motivating younger generations to help save and improve children's lives around the world.

Hager holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also co-author of two children's books: Read All About It! and recently, Our Great Big Backyard.

Hager is the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. In 2008, she married Henry Hager with whom she now has two daughters, Margaret Laura "Mila" (3) and Poppy Louise (1).

AdoptAClassroom.org: AdoptAClassroom.org gives teachers a hand by providing much needed classroom supplies and materials to help their students learn and succeed. As an award-winning 501(c)(3), AAC makes it easy for donors to provide funding and support to K-12 classrooms in public, private and charter schools throughout the U.S.  On average, teachers spend $600 of their own money each year to equip their classrooms - 20% of teachers spend more than $1000 annually. Since 1998 AdoptAClassroom.org has raised over $22 million and benefited more than 5 million students throughout the U.S. AAC holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. For more information, or to adopt a classroom, please visit www.adoptaclassroom.org.

For More Information:
Jeff Salem
Swanson Russell
402-437-6409
[email protected]

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SOURCE Propane Education & Research Council

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