Fatal flaw found in Mercer Island School District’s propane-bus pilot project

A pilot project that would use propane to fuel Mercer Island school buses has encountered a fatal flaw, Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano told school board members at their regular meeting March 10.

A pilot project that would use propane to fuel Mercer Island school buses has encountered a fatal flaw, Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano told school board members at their regular meeting March 10.

The district was initially looking into the permitting process for installing a 1,000 gallon propane tank at its North Mercer Complex, located near the school district’s bus lot. To fuel its entire bus fleet, the district would need five tanks, which project manager Brandy Fox said were each 16 feet long and over three feet tall.

During a site visit with the city’s fire marshall Herschel Rostov, building official Don Cole and licensed fire protection engineer Eric Tuazon, Fox said it became clear that the setback requirements for the propane tank could not be met.

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Fox said there was “maybe” a tiny area where the district could place a tank, though it would be subject to a seismic analysis on anything within a fall radius. With nearby stadium poles at the adjacent high school football field as well as multiple looming trees, the outlook for such an analysis didn’t appear promising.

Another factor was the other surrounding buildings, which include the Mercer Island PEAK facility and the Northwood Elementary playground.

“I think the overwhelming sense by everyone who’s looked at it … is that this site with 2,000 children surrounding it absolutely cannot be the place where we put that kind of a fuel that is as volatile as it is,” Fox said.

Fox added the district looked into propane fueling stations off-island, with travel costs presenting an issue. Because the propane project was outlined in the school district’s transportation levy, Plano said the district would need to inform the community why the propane change won’t be happening.

“The issue is we don’t have the ability to have the tank permitted, nor does the city,” he said.