TIFTON — A road show organized by the Clean Cities Coalition and the Propane Education and Research Council brought a propane-powered Blue Bird school bus to Tifton Wednesday morning to showcase alternative fuel options for fleet vehicles.

The seminar was held at NESPAL on the University of Georgia Tifton Campus where representatives from CCC, PERC and Yancey Bus Sales and Services explained the benefits of switching to propane.

According to Ed White of Alternative Fuel Solutions and PERC, propane is the up-and-coming solution for alternative fuel which are being seen on the markets today.

“It’s a great improvement to the environment and it’s also economically efficient,” White said Wednesday morning at the conference. “Propane is the only alternative fuel being looked at that is really ready for prime time use.”

White said that there are many benefits to switching to propane use including the fact that propane is non-toxic to the environment and has a high octane of 104.

Also, the United States produces 90 percent of all commercially used propane so it is domestically available.

According to White, PERC has been working to bring propane systems to a variety of vehicles including sedans, light- and medium-duty trucks, forklifts, lawn mowers and postal delivery trucks.

Jay McDuffie of Yancey Bus Sales and Service heads the propane-powered school bus efforts.

According to McDuffie, they have been able to create alternatively fueled school buses for around $13,000 compared to the $180,000 to $200,000 it takes to create other alternately fueled vehicles using hybrid diesel.

Charise Stephens of CCC said that the road show is moving statewide taking propane products that are being offered as alternative fuel vehicles and giving demonstrations.

To contact reporter Chivaun Perez, call 382-4321.