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Switch To Ultra-Clean Diesel Going Smoothly, EPA Says

By Bruce Geiselman
 
Oct. 11 -- New ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel has become widely available at throughout the country, meeting an Oct. 15 deadline established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"I´m please to announce the single greatest achievement in clean fuel since lead was removed from gasoline more than 25 years ago," EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson told reporters Oct. 10. The new fuel is 97 percent lower in sulfur content than previously available diesel fuel, but costs a few cents more per gallon.

Conventional diesel engines using the fuel will experience a reduction in soot emissions of at least 10 percent, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which supports the move. Those reductions could be dramatically boosted by installing additional pollution control equipment.

However, the greatest environmental benefits will be achieved by new diesel engines being introduced next year. The availability of cleaner-burning diesel at the pump will enable the use of new pollution control technology in cars, trucks and buses that will reduce emissions from diesel engines by more than 90 percent. In addition, the new engines will be 30 percent more fuel-efficient and produce less carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

"In addition to the fuel economy and carbon emissions benefits, drivers of this new fleet of clean diesels can also look forward to lower maintenance bills, longer engine life and typically lower fuel costs," Johnson said.

The new fuel contains 15 parts per million or less of sulfur, a decrease from 500 parts per million. The reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter will prevent nearly 20,000 premature deaths and tens of thousands of respiratory illnesses each year, according to the EPA. When fully implemented, the Clean Diesel Rule will result in $150 billion in health and welfare related benefits each year, according to agency estimates.

Environmental Defense, an advocacy group, applauded the EPA´s announcement, but called on the agency to now direct its attention at reducing diesel emissions from other sources.

"Delivering low sulfur diesel fuel to the pump will pave the way for cleaner school buses and freight trucks that make the air safer to breathe," said Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense senior attorney. "We urge EPA to complete its important work securing cleaner diesel engines for America by lowering the harmful soot and smog from diesel locomotives and ships."

More information about the EPA´s clean diesel programs is available at www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel.