Council Rock buses to use propane

NEWTOWN One of Bucks County's largest school districts will power its 150 school buses with propane, switching from the more traditional diesel fuel.

Council Rock recently awarded the fuel contract to Rhoads Energy, based in Lancaster. It will install propane fueling stations at the district's two bus depots in Newtown and Wrightstown Townships at a cost of about $245,000, with work beginning early this summer.

Bob Reinhart, the district's director of business administration, estimates Council Rock will lower its fuel costs by $2.5 million over the next seven years, according to a news release.

"The agreement with Council Rock demonstrates our commitment to actively serving school districts that want to evaluate and plan for the switch to alternative fuels," Rhoads Energy CEO Michael DeBerdine III said in a statement. "Council Rock's shift to a propane-powered fleet also emphasizes that the trend towards alternative fuels is building serious momentum." - Ben Finley