Posted by jdemaris on October 17, 2010 at 06:01:09 from (67.142.130.23):
Our little town has basically gone nuts with spending - via the school budget. Our little town, where enrollment in the school has gone steadily down for the past 30 years, is now doing a $30,000,000 "upgrade." I'll be long dead before it's paid off. In fact, it will be falling apart before it's paid off. My only escape is to get the heck out of this area. The school vote was full for fraud. I know this because I witnessed it first-hand. NO IDs were taken, and many underaged and non-resident people voted - many more then once. Note also - that State law for school budget votes suggests . . . but does not demand ID.
Now - more to the point. They are having a vote to buy new school buses that run on propane instead of diesel. The grossly-overpaid school boss just sent out a newsletter, explaining that . . . not only is propane half the cost of diesel, the State government will also kick in a 50 cents per gallon rebate on the propane fuel. So, buying these new busses is a "great deal" for all.
Expressed in BTUs - 1 gallon of propane = 84,300 BTUs, and 1 gallon of diesel =129,000 BTUs.
The cost per gallon has propane yielding 33,720 BTUs per dollar, and diesel yielding 41,206 BTUs per dollar. Propane is NOT cheaper by any means. We are in the Northeast where propane often cost twice what it does out west.
Now, take into account the fuel mileage. The newest technology bus running on propane gets 4 MPG. The diesel version gets 8 MPG. What is the average cost to drive a bus 100 miles? The propane bus cost $62.50. The diesel bus costs $39.37. How about the whopping 50 cents per gallon subsidy from the state for propane? That lowers the price of a 100 mile trip down to $50, which is still more then the diesel bus. That 50 cent subsidy must be renewed every year and may not last forever.
Add to that, the new propane buses cost more, AND the school has to install propane refueling equipment. Also, these buses won't be able to "leave home" too far, since NY has very few propane fueling stations.
My biggest beef is - the school and the people working there are supposed to be promoters of knowledge . . . not hype and ignorance. It seems all these school officials can see - is the dollar price for a gallon of propane is less then the dollar price of a gallon of diesel - and nothling else. In this case, the "gallon" means nothing. Only the energy bought per dollar is what counts.
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