Importance of Clean Diesel Technology to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Highlighted At Global Climate and Clean Air Event

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The international importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the use of clean diesel technology was highlighted by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a special event hosted by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition in Stockholm, Sweden on June 3.

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Secretary Clinton stated, "We cannot solve this crisis without the active cooperation and, indeed, the leadership of the private sector, particularly oil and gas companies, makers of diesel trucks, green tech companies that can help turn methane from landfills into clean energy."

Because more than 90 percent of all global trade and an increasing number of automobiles are powered by diesel engines, advancements in clean diesel technology are gaining international attention, said Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

"The U.S. diesel engine manufacturers are continuing to build on decades of research and progressive technological improvements which have resulted in new diesel engines that are near zero in emissions," Schaeffer said.

"Because of the unique combination of power, energy efficiency, reliability and low-emissions, diesel engines are the undisputed workhorse of the global economy."

Schaeffer said in the U.S. emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses have been reduced by 99 percent for nitrogen oxides (NOx) - an ozone precursor - and 98 percent for particulate emissions.

"Critical to this progress has been the availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel which has reduced sulfur emissions by 97 percent – from 500 PM to 15 PM - enabling advanced emissions control devices."

New Research Highlights Improvements in Clean Diesel Technology

• May 24, 2012 California Air Resource Board: International scientists reported a 50 percent reduction of black carbon in ambient air over the past 20 years primarily due to advancements in clean diesel technology.
• March 2012 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report to Congress on Black Carbon (BC): "[T]he United States will achieve substantial BC emissions reductions by 2030, largely due to controls on new mobile diesel engines."
• April 12, 2012 Health Effects Institute (HEI) study: "Overall, these results showed few biologic effects related to diesel exhaust exposure."
• April 23, 2012 from North Carolina State University: Diesel trucks in compliance with newer standards showed a 98 percent decrease in NOx and 94 percent reduction in PM emissions.

Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link.
Allen Schaeffer - http://www.profnetconnect.com/allen.schaeffer

Contact:
Steve Hansen
shansen@dieselforum.org
301-668-7230 (o)
202-355-3664 (c)
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