Prince George's County Public Schools Director Kiva Baldwin told the Climate Change Action Plan Ad Hoc Committee on Oct. 29 that the district’s long-term goal remains full electrification of its bus fleet but that practical barriers — utilities, charging infrastructure and procurement — make an interim solution necessary.

"Propane allows us to kinda make some immediate progress toward emission reductions while continuing to replace the aging diesel buses under our replacement plan," Baldwin said.

Why it matters: PGCPS has roughly 1,200 buses and drove near 17 million miles in FY24. The district reported a reduction in routes this year (from about 1,200 routes to roughly 1,000) after a Formative audit and operational changes, but miles driven stayed near the prior level because of route consolidations. Baldwin said propane emits "15 to 20% less" CO2 than diesel and "reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 90%," and that propane infrastructure is substantially less intrusive to install than full electric charging at scale.

What staff reported: Baldwin said the district has 21 electric school buses on site and four mobile charging trailers (three Level 2 units and a Level 3 trailer). Vendors are supplying training and the district is reviewing driver licensing and endorsements needed to operate the different vehicles and chargers. Baldwin described a phased, place-based approach for electric buses where charging and service capability are present and available.

Grants and procurement: Baldwin said the district declined a federal Clean School Bus rebate that required the district to front costs and be reimbursed later. Instead, PGCPS applied for and was awarded a state NEA grant of $2,500,000 to procure up to eight electric buses. Baldwin warned that the district does not yet have a full infrastructure plan tied to those buses and is discussing options with the Maryland Energy Administration and utilities (Pepco and BGE).

Operational steps and safety: Baldwin described steps already taken to reduce emissions and improve safety: automatic idle shutdown at five minutes per state law, programmable Webasto heaters to reduce idling in cold weather, and new bus safety features such as seat belts and interlocks on newer bus models. Safe Passage coordinators have performed site bus-stop assessments; Baldwin reported 137 safety assessments and said coordinators meet with county Vision Zero and public-works staff to request sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic-calming measures where needed.

Committee and public questions: Members asked about alternative clean fuels, potential cost savings and partnerships for off-road charging. Baldwin said district staff are studying propane and other interim fuels and will return with detailed emissions and lifecycle comparisons. Committee members also urged continued advocacy for infrastructure funding and utility cooperation.

What’s next: Baldwin said the district will continue to pursue electric buses where feasible, use propane only as an evaluated interim step if it proves advantageous, and will work to align grant funding, infrastructure plans and vendor support before expanding electric deployments.

"This approach lets us begin achieving climate benefits now while building the infrastructure needed to support the full electrification process," Baldwin said.