January 22, 2008
The TreeHugger Interview: Allen Schaeffer, Diesel Technology Forum Executive Director
By Andrew Posner
Allen Schaeffer is the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. We spoke about the benefits, and surprising attributes, of clean diesel, and the role it has to play in dealing with climate change.
TreeHugger: Obviously, one of the key advancements for clean diesel has been the promulgation of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. Can you speak to the availability of clean diesel fuel?
Allen Schaeffer: In the U.S., right now we are really in a unique position because we have the cleanest diesel in the world, but in the next few years the EU and Japan are phasing in the ultra low sulfur diesel fuel as well. So the US is a leader in this fuel policy. The ultra low sulfur fuel hit the streets in October of ‘06 and EPA required that at least 80% of highway diesel fuel be ultra low sulfur (defined as less than 15 parts per million), and by December 31st, 2010, 100% must be ULSD. This was a regulation that was passed in 2000, so it was 7 years before it was fully implemented. Today, over 90% of all the highway diesel fuel is ULSD, which can be used by all diesel engines, new and existing. As a result, by and large, in most parts of the country, certainly any urbanized or suburban area, it’s widely available. Read the full story.
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