PDA

View Full Version : U.S. House Approves Diesel Emissions Reduction Act



More Power
12-22-2010, 13:33
By: The Diesel Technology Forum

U.S. House Approves Diesel Emissions Reduction Act; Congressional Passage of Bipartisan Environmental Legislation Reauthorizes Successful Program for Five More Years

Washington, D.C. - The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) now just needs President Obama's signature for the bipartisan legislation to be reauthorized for five more years as the U.S. House of Representatives approved DERA this morning by a voice vote.

The U.S. Senate had unanimously approved the legislation on December 16th. President Obama is expected to sign the reauthorization into law.

"Today's passage of DERA is a significant environmental and political accomplishment for the U.S. Congress. The House and Senate have proved that bipartisanship can be attained on major environmental initiatives," said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

"Passage of the DERA reauthorization will play a major role in our nation's effort to expand our clean air initiatives. In its first five years, DERA has proven to be one of the nation's most successful clean air programs. In addition, DERA has provided an average of $20 worth of environmental and health benefits for every $1 spent. That's a tremendous return on investment for any federal program."

"The bipartisan action by the House and Senate will benefit communities in every state in the nation."

DERA (H.R. 5809) is a five-year reauthorization of the highly -successful program created in 2005 to establish voluntary national and state-level grant and loan programs to reduce diesel emissions by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines and equipment. The bipartisan legislation was introduced on November 18th by U.S. Senators George Voinovich (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE) and cosponsored by several of their colleagues including Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK). The House sponsors were U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Laura Richardson (D-CA).

DERA is being supported by a unique and diverse coalition of more than 500 environmental, health, industry, labor and government organizations.

DERA Background Information

DERA funds are used to clean up the nation's older diesels, by retrofitting or replacing them with new technologies that significantly reduce the soot and emissions. EPA estimates there to be an estimated 11 million older diesel trucks, buses, and equipment in use today.

Since 2005, the federal government has invested roughly a half -billion dollars through DERA to improve America's air quality by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines and equipment through engine replacements and retrofits that would include new pollution-cutting filters and catalysts.

When all of today's older diesels have been replaced by new models that meet current EPA standards, at least 110,000 tons of particulate matter (or soot) and 2.6 million tons of smog -forming nitrogen oxides will be eliminated from the nation's air . This is the equivalent of taking 13 million of today's trucks off the roads.

ABOUT THE DIESEL TECHNOLOGY FORUM

The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org (http://www.dieselforum.org/) .

ccc
12-29-2010, 10:15
What does this mean for owners of these older model diesels (that like them the way they are?) Is this effort geared toward fines, not allowing them to be liscensed or what? I had a catalytic converter on my truck and it was a nightmare! Talk about particulate matter! When the converter began to clog it caused back pressure which didn't allow the turbo to spool up enough to provide the neccessary pressure which in turn didn't burn all the fuel which made more soot which clogged up the converter!

More Power
12-29-2010, 10:45
As I understand it, there is government money to help commercial fleet operators upgrade their older engines in an effort to reduce emissions. Eventually, this will likely result in a requirement to upgrade or not run the equipment.

Jim

NMC_EXP
02-16-2011, 15:06
I was an engineer at Caterpillar Inc for 30 yrs. For the last 10 yrs or so Cat has lobbied congress for tighter emissions controls on diesels.

Cat has done this because it thinks it will give them an advantage over Cummins and the rest.

You would not believe the contraptions Cat is hanging on engines to reduce emissions.

Regards

Jim

a5150nut
02-16-2011, 21:12
Jim,

Nothing says power like the old V12 duel overhead cam motors in the 660's & triple 6's. The new scrapers can hardly get out of their own way.