Oklahoma School Buses to Run on Natural Gas

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 3/6/2009 1:04 PM
Last Modified: 3/6/2009 1:04 PM

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State University will convert more than 20 of its buses to run on compressed natural gas with money expected through the federal stimulus package.

The $4.2 million in stimulus funds would be allocated to OSU through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and was approved Friday by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents.

Also at the meeting, OSU officials announced the university has saved more than $5 million in the past 18 months through an energy conservation program.

Those systemwide savings will offset the utility cost to the university for bringing five buildings online at the Stillwater campus this year.

Before the meeting, Rick Krysiak, the director of the OSU Physical Plant, said the conservation program has taught students and faculty simple ways to save energy costs.

"We're not going out replacing equipment, we're changing people's habits," he said.
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer