The city of Lake Charles has purchased two new propane-fueled cutaway transit buses — a milestone in its effort to incorporate more vehicles that use the clean-burning fuel.
Over the past several years, the city has added 35 propane-powered vehicles — including mowers, trucks and forklifts — to its inventory.
Mayor Randy Roach said the goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in alternative sources of energy. Propane is a much cleaner fuel than gasoline, he said, and relatively inexpensive on the front end compared with other alternative sources, like natural gas.
Roach said as the city’s first propane-powered transit vehicles, the new transit buses, which carry about 18 passengers each, are an important addition to the city’s fleet.
“We have taken a major step to introduce propane into our transit system,” Roach said.
He said it’s now up to the new administration to evaluate the program and decide whether to continue adding propane-powered vehicles to its inventory.
“I would imagine that in the next few years they’ll look at it and evaluate it and make a decision on whether to expand,” Roach said.
He called the $200,000 combined price tag on the two transit vehicles “reasonable,” though it was slightly higher than the gas-powered options. But he said being good stewards of the environment is worth the extra cost.
“It shows that we are aware of the ozone issue and we’re trying to be responsible and make the investment where we can to use alternative sources of energy and minimize our impact,” Roach said.
Propane-powered mowers produce 40 percent less carbon monoxide emissions than traditional gasoline mowers, according to a city report.
The city reported using 12,750 gallons of propane in 2016. Based on this usage, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the year was roughly 23,704 pounds.
In addition to ensuring better quality of life for residents, Roach said, cleaner air protects local industries from being curbed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Calcasieu Parish has never been in non-attainment as far as ozone is concerned, but we’ve been concerned,” Roach said.
He said propane also saves on maintenance costs and could save the city money if gas prices were to spike again.
The city has three converted propane-powered trucks, four forklifts that operate on propane and 28 propane riding mowers. Roach said the mowers were at the top of the city’s list because they’re used all day, every day — making mowers “a significant contribution to the ozone issue.”
The move to propane began several years ago when the city, along with the Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission, assembled the Air Quality Task Force of Southwest Louisiana to help the region continue to meet EPA air quality standards. Roach said local UPS trucks have made the switch to propane as well.
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