Bush boosts clean diesel

In a speech last month at the Virginia BioDiesel refinery in West Point, VA, President George W. Bush praised efforts promoting the use of biodiesel as a motor vehicle fuel. He also witnessed a demonstration of an EPA ‘07-compliant Cat C13 ACERT diesel engine running in a Peterbilt Model 387.

“Our clean diesel rules will reduce air pollution from diesel engines by about 90%, and reduce sulfur content of diesel fuel by more than 95%,” said the President. “Today I saw a diesel-powered truck that can get up to 30% better fuel economy than gasoline-powered vehicles, without the harmful emissions of past diesels.

Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, said that the speech will go a long way toward improving public perception of diesel technology, as well as the trucking industry. “First of all, you see a high level of recognition on the progress of diesel and the fact that it is a clean technology,” Schaeffer told Fleet Owner.