Additional Resources Save and Share Did You Know? The Carl Moyer Program in California has invested more than $60 million to help farmers modernize diesel irrigation pumps and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided up to $450,000 for retrofit upgrades per farming operation. Clean diesel also provides emergency systems that ensure the safety of mine workers. The equipment used to rescue nine mineworkers trapped underground near Somerset, Pennsylvania in July 2002 was diesel-powered. From the crane that raised and lowered the rescue capsule to the pumps that removed water from where the men were trapped, the rescue team relied on clean diesel technology to get the job done. Recent News Air Rule Helps Farmers March 28, 2008 Colusa Sun-Herald (CA) A deadline extension from the state Air Resources Board earlier this month could benefit North State growers who use remote diesel engine pumps to help irrigate crops. [more] Millions Awarded To Fund Cleaner Construction Equipment October 16, 2007 Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee DIAMOND BAR, Calif. – Efforts to control one of the last remaining large sources of air pollution in California got a major boost today, thanks to a program that is seeking to expand from three to 33 the number of state-approved... [more] Recent News Automakers Predict Sales of Diesels Will Gain in U.S. Clean at Last; Diesel Makes a Green Comeback Clean, Diesel in One Breath Cleaner Diesel at Pumps Today No Fuming Over Fuel Change in California

 

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Off-Road Diesel Power

The equipment used in farming, mining and construction is uniquely qualified to do demanding work. No other power source shares diesel’s reliability, durability and fuel-efficiency for these off-road applications.

Diesel engines power more than two-thirds of all farm equipment in the United States. Farm tractors, combines, irrigation pumps and other equipment are the workhorses in an industry vital to our national economy and quality of life. In addition, diesel engines are uniquely capable of doing demanding construction work – from lifting steel beams and digging foundations to drilling wells and trenches. Plus, America’s mining sector relies heavily on diesel power to harness natural resources such as precious metals, iron, oil, gas and coal.

The Workhorse of Farms and Ranches

Diesel-powered equipment is a major part of the supply chain that moves crops from the farm to the dinner table. Nearly 90 percent of all agricultural trucks in the U.S. are diesel powered, and most all American railroad cars and marine vessels are powered by diesel.

The use of diesel generators and pumps for agricultural operations is critical in remote locations. This permits ranchers to perform critical tasks, and saves time and effort by increasing productivity.

American farmers have witnessed a massive shift away from gasoline to diesel power in recent years. In 1974, gasoline accounted for 49% of the energy supplied by fuels purchased by farms – and just 39 percent were diesels. By 1994, gasoline had fallen to 24% while diesel-powered vehicles had risen to 66% of all farming equipment.

The USDA has noted that food crop output rose by nearly 80% from 1974 to 1994. This occurred at the same time that agricultural energy consumption increased only slightly. According to the agency, “this change reflects the shift away from gasoline-powered machinery toward more efficient, diesel powered machinery.”

Building America’s Future

Today, roughly 850,000 diesel-powered vehicles nationwide are in use bringing supplies, materials and workers to and from U.S. construction sites. Earthmovers, bulldozers, bucket loaders, backhoes, cranes, pavers, excavators and motorgraders are all essential to building and expanding our economic infrastructure. For most of these machines, there is simply no substitute for diesel power. 

The U.S. construction industry employs nearly six million people and contributes some $850 billion annually to the economy. This is due in no small part to the power and efficiency of diesel. Read about diesel's impact on the American economy.

Harnessing Our Natural Resources

Mining is critical to extracting and developing the raw materials that produce our nation's energy.

Overall, mining utilizes nearly $7 billion worth of diesel-powered equipment. Diesel-powered shovels and drills excavate and load natural resources into enormous mining trucks or onto conveyer belts that also operate on diesel fuel.

Environmental Progress

In collaboration with environmental regulators, the diesel industry has been working towards ever cleaner technologies and advanced clean air solutions for off-road vehicles. Through the development of advanced clean diesel systems, the industry is on track for meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for off-road diesels.  

The pace of lowering emissions from off-road equipment is actually one of the most aggressive. The EPA first issued regulations for off-road equipment in 1996, and in less than a decade these engines have made significant environmental progress.  

For a typical bulldozer, particulate (PM) emissions were reduced by 63 percent between 1996 and 2003, while smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions have dropped by 28 percent in the same timeframe. By 2006, NO_x emissions will be reduced another 39 percent.  

Since 1996, Tier 2 off-road emissions standards achieved a 50 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and a 60 percent reduction in particulate matter (PM). Tier 3 regulations will achieve a 60 percent reduction in both NOx and PM compared to uncontrolled levels.  

New Tier 4 regulations announced in May 2004 will provide more than a 90 percent reduction in NO_x and more than a 95 percent reduction in PM compared to uncontrolled levels.  

Diesel manufacturers are already designing and producing engines that will meet new emissions standards without sacrificing the power and reliability required for off-road farming vehicles.   In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its Offroad Diesel Rule mandating stringent new standards for non-highway diesel engines beginning in 2008. Engine manufacturers are working with EPA, the makers of retrofit technology and fuel refiners to meet these challenges.  

The diesel industry has expressed confidence that these new emissions standards will be met without impacting the power, reliability, maintenance, and fuel economy of modern diesel engines.  

For additional information about engine certification standards and government regulations, visit the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) website.

Clean Diesel Retrofits

Because diesel engines can last for decades, there are cleaner diesel technologies on the market now that can improve both the performance and the clean air benefits of off-road diesels.  

Modernizing and upgrading off-road vehicles and equipment with cleaner engines, cleaner fuels and retrofit technology will significantly improve our nation’s air quality. Farmers, mining companies and construction projects can see tremendous improvements with newer, more powerful and more efficient equipment. And communities nationwide are benefiting from improved air quality.  

In August 2005, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) was signed into law as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  DERA will provide federal funding to retrofit programs nationwide, including off-road vehicles for farming, mining and construction applications.  

Other methods of reducing emissions include the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), as well as proper preventive maintenance programs such as training equipment operators in anti-idling practices and educating fleet managers about engine replacement.