Diesel Fuel Switch Should Be Smooth
By Robert Tuttle
Ninety percent of the diesel fuel consumed in the U.S. meets new low-sulfur specifications required at the pump by Sunday, the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.
EPA rules require that at least 80 percent of the highway diesel sold at the pump have a sulfur content of no more than 15 parts per million, down from 500 parts per million previously. The new fuel -- ultra-low-sulfur diesel -- will reduce air pollution from diesel engines by 90 percent, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said Tuesday.
"This is the single greatest achievement in clean fuel since lead was removed from gasoline," Johnson said.
Some retail trade organizations, including the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, were concerned earlier this year that adequate supplies would not be available by the deadline. The groups had told the EPA that they might need a waiver of the rules in the first few months after implementation until supplies were sufficient to meet the requirement.
"Nationwide, it looks like it should be a pretty smooth transition, but we are concerned there might be some regional issues," said Mindy Long, spokeswoman for the truck-stop organization.
The conversion to the new fuel contributed to diesel shortages in Nebraska and Iowa in July and August.
All diesel engines will be able to run on the ultra-low-sulfur diesel.
Diesel engines in cars and trucks starting in the 2007 model year will only be able to run on the new fuel.
The new diesel is expected to cost about 3 cents a gallon more, Johnson said.
www.bloomberg.com
Print This
