Posted June 10, 2009

The Clean Diesel Program administered by the U.S. EPA is up and running, creating an opportunity for biodiesel in meeting a goal of reducing diesel emissions. The National Clean Diesel Campaign, funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, is a multifaceted program focused on promoting economic recovery, creating jobs and reducing diesel emissions.

The use of biodiesel fuel is one recognized retrofit technology used to reduce diesel engine emissions, and the NCDC is creating greater demand for the renewable fuel said Carlos Guzman, president of Global Alternative Fuels LLC in El Paso, Texas. Global Alternative's facility is currently expanding and sells its fuel to Western Refining, a fuel marketer and distributor also in El Paso. "We are going to be delivering everything by rail now to our marketer-instead of some by rail and some by truck- so we are selling more fuel," Guzman said. "We are definitely seeing the market open up because of the National Clean Diesel Campaign."

Clean Diesel funding will cover engine repowers, replacements, school bus upgrades, idle reduction technologies and will also assist fleets with the cost of purchasing cleaner fuels like biodiesel. "At least 50 percent of the benefits will be dedicated to public fleets but will also include private fleets contracted or leased for public purpose, like private school buses or refuse haulers," EPA stated.

More than 11 million engines in operations today do not meet EPA's new clean diesel standards, but could be on the road for 20 to 30 more years. In addition to helping expand the market for biodiesel, the NCDC is creating demand for diesel emission reduction technologies, EPA said, and it will be careful evaluating given technologies for their eligibility to receive funding for development and implementation.