Company asserts propane-powered school buses help budgets and environment

As schools reopen in DeKalb County and across the state, bright yellow school buses are again a familiar sight on roads and school parking lots. DeKalb County School District’s website states that the district is replacing aging diesel-powered buses over time with low-emission or alternative fuel vehicles, including some that are fueled by propane.  

DeKalb is among 34 Georgia school districts using propane school buses to transport up to 160,000 of the state’s public-school students daily, according to ROUSH CleanTech, developer of propane autogas technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles and school buses. ROUSH CleanTech is a division of the global engineering company Roush Enterprises.  

“There were more than 2,000 buses powered by propane autogas on Georgia roads in the 2025-26 school year, providing clean, affordable school transportation to communities across the state,” a ROUSH CleanTech report states.  

The switch is benefiting school budgets, addressing a problem that school systems nationwide are facing, according to the report, which states, “Across the country, hundreds of school districts have reported unsustainable fuel budget overages of nearly 20 percent, with some reporting that their costs jumped by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Propane autogas is typically 50 percent lower per gallon than diesel because it is a recycled material that’s made in America.”   

The report states that propane autogas sold for 75 percent less per gallon than diesel in 2026, and Georgia school districts are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars on fuel, because of propane school buses. “That’s money that stays in education,” it noted. 

“In 2026, diesel prices in Georgia skyrocketed to over $5.50 per gallon due to global supply disruptions, while pricing for propane — a domestically produced fuel — remained steady around $1.40 per gallon. The state fuel tax exemption put in place by Governor [Brian] Kemp expired at midnight on June 2, 2026, causing diesel prices to rebound by 37 cents per gallon,” the report continued.  

Four of the state’s largest school districts operate propane school buses, according to the report. DeKalb County School District is among them. The others are Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, and Henry County Schools.  

“In recent years, we’ve been exploring alternative fuels to offset the fuel and maintenance costs of diesel,” said Bernardo Brown, transportation director for Dekalb County School District, which operates a fleet of more than 1,100 school buses to transport approximately 50,000 students daily. “Propane has proven to be an incredibly cost effective and reliable fuel.” 

The ROUSH CleanTech report adds, “Bibb County School District, McDuffie County School System and Wilkes County School District also operate fleets with propane school buses, proving that a diverse fuel portfolio helps fleets of all sizes insulate their transportation budgets while reducing emissions and providing reliable service.” 

Paulding County School District, which operates one of the largest propane fleets in the country with 245 propane school buses, began adoption in 2015. Sissy Summerville, director of transportation for the district, said, “Not only are these buses lower emission, they’re reliable and saved us $2.33 per gallon in fuel costs last school year.” 

ROUSH CleanTech stated, “After a near-record high of $5.54 per gallon for diesel earlier this year, propane has remained remarkably steady at $1.40 per gallon.”  

The company said that in addition to reducing fuel costs, propane is a more environmentally friendly option. “Over the last 30 years, propane autogas technology has advanced to the point where propane school bus emissions are near-zero. Today’s propane school buses are 90 percent cleaner than the Environmental Protection Agency’s most stringent heavy-duty engine standard. Propane emits fewer greenhouse gases, smog-producing hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and virtually eliminates particulate emissions compared with conventional fuels like diesel.”