Many Missouri school districts have already applied to the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education’s Propane School Bus Grant program, and funds are going fast. The program has been so popular that within a few weeks, DESE has received 24 applications. Fourteen more are available. DESE is providing funding assistance in the amount of $970,000 million to school districts for the purchase of school buses powered by propane. Missouri school districts can apply for grants of $24,250 per propane bus, up to four buses per school. 

According to finalized data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average residential price of grid electricity in the U.S. increased 6.3% between 2022 and 2023. Further, the average commercial price of electricity rose 1.4% over that same period of time. Between 2013-2023, residential electricity rates increased 31.9%; the cost of commercial electricity increased 22.7% over the last decade as well. 

RICHMOND, Va. — June 6, 2024 — In round three of the Environmental Protect Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program funding, more than $6.7 million has been allocated for the purchase of clean propane autogas buses. Fifty-eight districts have been tentatively selected to receive a total of 269 propane autogas buses to replace the nation’s aging, dirty diesel buses. For every propane autogas bus purchased as part of the Clean School Bus program, the EPA will provide transportation directors with up to $30,000.