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California Opens Re-Evaluation of Flawed South Coast Air District "Fleet Rules" Barring Clean Diesel Alternative

Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, noted that the South Coast Air Quality Management District's fleet rules were approved in 2000 and 2001. Since then, industry has made continuing strides in producing cleaner engines and fuels and is on track to meet stringent federal emission reduction mandates that take effect in 2007.

"The South Coast AQMD's de facto ban on clean diesel was flawed from the outset for several reasons, foremost being the fact that there is no environmental benefit to be gained by dictating the use of natural gas-powered engines over clean diesel power. The District simply chose not to acknowledge the tremendous technology transformation that diesel has undergone in the last decade, and the reality that clean diesel will be as clean as natural gas when the new federal standards take effect.

"By requesting a waiver from the state, the District has provided the Schwarzenegger Administration an opportunity to place science and fact above outdated perceptions about diesel. Today's diesel-powered trucks and buses produce eight times lower emissions than those built just 15 years ago. By 2007, on-highway diesel engines will produce near-zero emissions and will be certified to the same emissions standards as natural gas.

"The State of California has wisely adopted fleet modernization mandates that allow all engine and fuel technologies to compete to meet emission reduction standards. By rejecting the District's policy of denying public and private fleet operators in Southern California the option to select either clean diesel or natural gas fleet vehicles, CARB can advance both environmental and economic objectives."

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The Diesel Technology Forum represents engine makers, fuel producers and emissions control manufacturers. It brings together the diesel industry, the broad diesel user community, civic and public interest leaders, government regulators, academics, scientists, the petroleum industry, and public health researches, to encourage the exchange of information, ideas, scientific findings, and points-of-view to current and future uses of diesel power technology. For more information about the Forum visit our web site at www.dieselforum.org.