NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News Public Schools received Blue Bird's milestone 15,000th propane bus.
The school district is slowly moving from diesel to propane-fueled buses.
Sixty-two of the district's 335 school buses are now fueled by propane. Newport News Public Schools has been using propane-fueled buses for two years.
The new bus comes after a West Virginia University study showed propane buses reduce harmful nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere.
Shay Coates, the Newport News Public Schools Director of Transportation, said the propane-fueled buses are quieter, save money and are safer for the environment than their diesel-fueled counterparts.
"It's cleaner, you smell the diesel on the road, the fumes, you don't get that with a propane bus so it's safe for our school and the area, our citizens," said Coates.
The district plans to add 11 more propane buses by the end of 2019.