Conducted on behalf of the American Lung Association, the survey was released earlier this month as EPA puts the final touches on a plan to clean up heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses, beginning with 2007 models. The survey revealed that 87 percent of voters responding would favor requiring production of cleaner diesel fuel. Similarly, about 84 percent of the respondents felt that it was personally important to them to require production of cleaner diesel fuel. Voters participating in the survey also favored more stringent engine controls for the largest diesel vehicles, even when acknowledging that the increased costs would trickle down to consumers. Sixty-five percent were willing to pay their share as consumers for the costs of cleaner fuel and engines.
Much cleaner fuel is required for diesel engines to employ advanced pollution control technologies.
The greatest change to diesel fuel under EPA's plans would be the near removal of sulfur from today's diesel formula. The 30th anniversary of the Clean Air Act has been marked with a review from one of the country's leading environmental advocacy groups. Lead is chronicled as one of the more glaring victories. The many successes, however, are presented as building blocks for new challenges, most notably, NOx. Officials with ED note with the release of the report that EPA regulators should be given support to finalize new standards for diesel engines and low-sulfur diesel fuel.