New Clean Diesel Fuel Debuts

In the most important fuel improvement since lead was removed from gasoline a generation ago, 97% of the sulfur from diesel fuel will be removed, dramatically reducing particulate emissions, resulting in improvements to health and longevity.

2 minute read

September 5, 2006, 1:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"In a major step toward reducing smog â€" and public health risks from soot â€" all new diesel fuel sold in California starting today is a new, dramatically cleaner-burning blend, required under state and federal rules that have been in the works for more than five years."

"California is putting the new fuel on the road early. It will be phased in for the rest of the United States starting Oct. 15, through 2010."

" When diesel has high levels of sulfur, as the previous diesel did, it clogs filters and other devices that can be put on the engines of trucks and buses to reduce smog. The new fuel will allow such filters to be retrofitted on thousands of existing trucks and buses statewide in the coming years."

"The new fuel's health benefit partly comes from its chemical makeup but mainly because it will be combined with dramatically cleaner truck and bus engine standards that take effect nationally for new diesel engines, starting with the 2007 model year. Running on the clean fuel, those engines will put out 90 percent less soot and nitrogen oxides than current engines.

The EPA estimates the new clean diesel, combined with new diesel engine standards, will prevent an estimated 8,300 premature deaths, 5,500 cases of chronic bronchitis and 17,600 cases of acute bronchitis in children nationally every year. Unlike with other regulations, the new fuel and engine standards put in place during the final days of the Clinton administration were not met with lawsuits and long political battles from the oil and truck industry."

"You won't see anything coming out of new diesel engines. The black puff of soot will be gone," said Matt Haber, deputy air division director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regional office in San Francisco.

"Because California's smog standards are so strict in general, no automakers have sold new diesel cars in the state for years. That could change.

Automakers that sell diesel cars in other states, such as Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, are expected to start selling them in California in the next few years. Other automakers, such as Honda, Toyota and BMW, are likely to offer some diesel engines in their cars and trucks too. "

Thanks to MTC-ABAG library

Friday, September 1, 2006 in The Oakland Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green public transit bus at stop in Silver Spring, Maryland.

DC Area County Eliminates Bus Fares

Montgomery County joins a growing trend of making transit free.

45 minutes ago - The Washington Post

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

June 30 - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

June 30 - blogTO

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.