Kentucky lawmakers will be asked to consider incentives for commercial haulers to convert from gasoline to propane fuel. The legislation is being developed by Louisville Representative Steve Riggs. Riggs chairs the House Local Government Committee which heard a presentation Wednesday on propane fuel. “For commercial fleets it would be more things like rebates or tax incentives or something of that nature,” said Riggs.
Riggs says his measure would likely focus on companies with smaller fleets of ten trucks or so. Melissa Howell with the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition says propane powered school buses are gaining in popularity. “Where you’re gonna see the greatest growth in propane use on roads in Kentucky over the next 12 months, for the calendar year 2016, will be in school buses,” explained Howell.
Wayne Winters with Crittenden County schools testified before the panel. Winters said the additional cost to purchase propane buses can be made up in overall fuel savings in year three. Hardin County Representative Jim Duplessis says all energy avenues deserve attention. “Propane is not as efficient as gasoline and even less efficient than diesel, so we need to take everything into account and that’s all I was raising the issue on,” Duplessis said. “Not that I have any problems with it.”
Duplessis says propane deserves attention, as does Kentucky produced biodiesel. ?
