"We think it's a big deal to be a good citizen and try to look at overall concerns that have come out nationally on school buses, and safety concerns for students who ride on buses powered by diesel," Jordan transportation director Jim Hinckle said.

Cache and Logan school districts' joint transportation services department is seeking money from the Utah Legislature and federal grants to replace buses and move to alternative fuels, the department's director Wayne Reese said.

The districts also have implemented an idle-reduction policy, barring idling for more than five minutes. They are looking at using cleaner biodiesel fuel, which Reese says was recently introduced in Cache Valley. They didn't get a grant to buy preheaters to warm winter air on buses without running the engine, but Reese hasn't given up hope.

"We are very active, and concerned, and trying to obtain resources to do that," Reese said. "In our (statewide transportation directors) meetings, everyone's concerned about the emissions."

But its not an easy sell for cash-strapped school systems, that must weigh improving bus fleets against hiring teachers or buying books. Jordan's efforts were assisted by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The nonprofit Utah Clean Cities, closely associated with the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, is working with public and private bus fleet bosses and concerned residents to combat vehicle pollution with alternative fuels. Its outreach focuses on school buses, director Beverly Miller said.

Natural gas technology is expensive, but running it isn't, Miller said. She expects the engine prices to come down in time.

Meanwhile, other funding sources could be tapped, including federal initiatives — one of which is before Congress for funding now, Monahan said.

Utah Clean Cities is working on asking the Department of Energy to help fund a curriculum focusing on strategies to reduce idling.

The Union of Concerned Scientists also suggests retrofitting buses with soot traps to cut toxic pollution by 85 percent or more, and switching to alternative fuels.

"School districts are just struggling terribly," Miller said. But, she adds, "they've got to start doing something. They've got to start taking steps. The body of knowledge is just overwhelming."

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