Diesel

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the region that includes New Jersey, New York, and Puerto Rico (EPA Region 2) with $1.2 million from the economic recovery package to reduce diesel emissions, boost job creation, and promote a healthy environment.

Under the management of the not for profit organization, CALSTART, the trucks belonging to three previously identified fleets operating within New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico will be replaced with new advance technology hybrid trucks to improve regional air quality.    » read more »

Clean Truck Fleet Key to Ending Diesel Death Zone in Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach

LOS ANGELES (October 1, 2009) – Today, a year after the Clean Truck Programs (CTP) launched at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, more than 2,000 polluting trucks are off the road and more than 5,500 clean trucks are in operation. The ports are two years ahead of their goal to reduce truck-produced emissions by 80%, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- (Salem) - “Today the Oregon House of Representatives took a bold step forward by adopting policies that will help Oregonians reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Dave Hunt and Representative Ben Cannon, House Bill 2186 will deliver immediate and significant greenhouse gas reductions across the state. This bill establishes a low carbon fuel standard for Oregon that will increase investment and create jobs in low carbon technologies and also significantly reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from gasoline and diesel fuel.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – The commonwealth has applied for a $1.5 million Clean Diesel Emerging Technology grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to upgrade two marine diesel engines in the Pittsburgh area, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

“Diesel engines play important roles in our every day lives, but old, inefficient engines are major sources of air pollution that make it difficult for many people to breathe,” Governor Rendell said. “Diesel emissions are not limited to our highways and factories. Marine vessels used at the Port of Pittsburgh are essential to moving freight along the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, but they also diminish the region’s air quality.    » read more »

Statement by Patricia Monahan, Union of Concerned Scientists

BERKELEY (April 23, 2009)—The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today passed the world's first low carbon fuel standard (pdf). The regulation, which likely will serve as a model for other states and the federal government, requires fuel producers to reduce "lifecycle" heat-trapping emissions from gasoline and diesel fuels 10 percent by 2020.

In 2007, California Gov. Schwarzenegger issued an executive order stating that California would pursue a low carbon fuel standard. CARB then made a commitment to adopt such a standard under the state's Global Warming Solutions Act. Today CARB fulfilled that commitment.    » read more »

ARRA Dollars to help lower diesel emissions

April 17, 2009 -- Kentucky at WorkFRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division for Air Quality (DAQ) announced that DAQ will be administering at least $1.73 million in funding for Clean School Bus programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

“This is an example of how President Obama’s three pillars of education, economy and environment can come together in one initiative,” Gov. Beshear said. “The Clean School Bus programs will create more than 30 jobs, benefit air quality, and reduce student absenteeism due to allergies and asthma. I encourage all of our school districts to apply for this funding.”    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $1.73 million in economic recovery funds to support clean diesel projects, stimulating the state’s economy, creating jobs, reducing diesel emissions and protecting human health.

“With wise use of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Wisconsin will continue to build upon the successes of our clean energy efforts,” Governor Doyle said. “These clean diesel funds will help create jobs, boost the economy, increase fleet efficiencies and help battle ozone issues – making our air cleaner. Providing technologies to fleets will help stabilize the budgets of local businesses and provide opportunities to create jobs for vendors and manufacturers.”    » read more »

April 10, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Department of Ecology Director Jay Manning announced today that $1.73 million in federal stimulus grants will be distributed throughout Washington to reduce harmful emissions from diesel engines.

The state Department of Ecology will receive the money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Ecology will use the funds to bolster the Washington clean diesel program.

“More than 4 million people in Washington live or work close to highways or other major roads, where they are likely to be exposed to diesel exhaust,” Gregoire said. “Funding under the Recovery Act will greatly benefit Washington’s environment and people.”    » read more »

Three New Green Technology Initiatives Will Lower Emissions, Create Jobs

March 22, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will receive $1.73 million in federal stimulus money for three initiatives to reduce the amount of harmful emissions from diesel engines in Connecticut.

The three initiatives are a program to retrofit emission systems on state-owned diesel vehicles, a truck-stop electrification project to reduce diesel truck idling and a project to replace a high-emitting diesel locomotive engine with a low-emission power system.    » read more »

3/13/2009 -- (HELENA) – Montana State University Northern has received a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant of $990,312.50 to support and expand training activities at the Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center in Havre. The funds were awarded by the Montana Department of Commerce through Montana’s WIRED program and will be administered by the Montana Office of Higher Education.

“These funds will help train Montana students to meet the growing demand for diesel engine techs experienced in bio-fuels,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “The bio-based fuel, oil and additive industry is growing by leaps and bounds and MSU-Northern is helping Montana lead the nation.”    » read more »

March 05, 2009 -- NEW YORK -- Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) today announced plans to invest at record levels -- between $25 billion and $30 billion annually over the next five years -- to meet expected long-term growth in world energy demand.

“The global economy is currently experiencing a downturn, but at ExxonMobil we are focused on the long term,” Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer, said at an annual briefing for investment analysts at the New York Stock Exchange.    » read more »

Flawed Legislative Process Allowed a Handful of Lawmakers to Push Personal Agendas Instead of Solve Budget Crisis

SACRAMENTO (February 19, 2009) – Ending months of uncertainty and an unprecedented state financial crisis, California’s lawmakers passed a bi-partisan budget today. The announced plan is designed to meet the $41 billion budget shortfall through 2010, but may end up costing the state more in the long run due to partisan policy agendas designed to relax pollution standards for diesel construction equipment and a series of highway projects. A delay in clean-up of diesel emissions from off-road vehicles will cost Californians billions in healthcare costs annually.    » read more »

Declines in U.S. Petroleum Consumption Expected to Continue

If you feel like you’ve been economizing by driving less and adjusting your thermostat more, you’re not alone. Total U.S. petroleum consumption reported in today’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) is once again lower than the same week last year.

Average monthly total petroleum consumption has now declined for 12 consecutive months when compared with the same month the year before. Within the last 25 years, we’ve identified 6 other 12-month periods during which there was a sustained drop in total petroleum consumption from the previous year.    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- MACON, Ga – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order suspending the collection of the state gas tax on diesel sold for off-road uses. Governor Perdue also signed several agricultural-related pieces of legislation during his visit to Farm Bureau headquarters in Macon: Senate Bill 515, House Bill 649, and House Bill 1178 and House Bill 1088.

Georgia tractor at work in cornfield: Photo by Judy Baxter (CC)    » read more »

Where Have All the Drivers Gone?

Does it seem like there are fewer cars on the highway this year? The recent trend in motor gasoline consumption would appear to indicate so. Gasoline consumption has been declining for at least six months. Households may be thinking twice about jumping in the family car as a slowing economy and rising prices are stressing pocketbooks from Maine to Hawaii.    » read more »