GRACE — Grace School District is using a new bus fueled by propane autogas, which should help lower operating costs and make less of an impact on the environment, according to a news release.

“Our new propane school bus offers the economic and environmental benefits we are looking for with new technology that our district is excited to be a part of,” said Lloyd Sorensen, Grace School District’s transportation supervisor, in the news release.

The Blue Bird Vision Propane school bus starts in cold temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, warms up quickly, and has less particulate matter and nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions than diesel buses, according to the news release. It also costs less to run.

“The new Blue Bird bus is equipped with Ford Motor Company’s 6.8L V10 engine powered by a ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system. Historically, propane autogas costs about half the price of diesel per gallon and reduces maintenance costs due to its clean-operating properties,” according to the news release, which adds that Valley Wide Cooperative installed an onsite propane autogas fuel station for the district to use. “Currently, Grace School District pays 89 cents per gallon for propane autogas compared with $2.10 per gallon for diesel.”