 | | | Alternative Fuel School Bus Buydown
| | |
The MSRC is helping to offset the cost of clean, compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane school buses for both public school districts and commercial student transportation providers within the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Unlike other programs, these incentives are available regardless of whether the bus operator is replacing vehicles or just expanding their fleet. The MSRC’s Program takes different forms for public and private school bus operators.
School Districts – Buy-down Program
Public school districts can benefit from buy-down incentive funds up to $60,000 per vehicle toward the purchase of CNG or propane school buses. The incentive monies go directly to each school bus vendor to buy-down the cost of a bus, which is then available for purchase at a lower cost. Bus purchasers do not need to apply for Clean Transportation Funding to receive this benefit. For more information, please call (909) 396-3269. Two bus vendors have been qualified to participate in the program:
• A-Z Bus Sales, Colton – 951-781-7188. A-Z Bus Sales is the local distributor for Blue Bird buses
• BusWest (locations in Carson and Fresno) – 800-458-9199 or 800-331-6183. BusWest offers Thomas Built full and mid-sized Type D vehicles
Student Transportation Providers
Private providers of student transportation services will apply for incentives, execute participant agreements, and the MSRC will fund incentives up to the amount necessary to ensure compliance with AQMD Rule 1195. Interested parties should call the AQMD Fleet Rules Implementation staff at (909) 396-3063.
For both aspects of the Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives Program, actual incentives will be adjusted to reflect any federal tax credits which will be claimed by either the bus purchaser or vendor, or any tax credits received subsequent to the award will be turned back into the MSRC school bus program. Funding is limited and cannot be guaranteed.
The MSRC began its first alternative fuel school bus incentive program in 1994 with the goal of replacing older, diesel or gasoline Type I school buses with new low-emission, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) dedicated CNG school buses.
| 
|
| | |
