"President Obama, A Successful 'All-of-the-Above' Energy Policy Must Not Seek to Pick Winners and Losers" -Allen Schaeffer, Diesel Technology Forum

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As President Obama begins his four-state "all-of-the-above" energy tour today in Nevada, he is being urged not to continue pursuing energy policies and federal subsidies that favor select energy sources over other sources.

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"We support the concept of President Obama's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, but we are also concerned by the Administration's policies and budget proposals that clearly prioritize favored energy sources over other energy sources," said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

"The Administration's energy agenda has focused on select energy sources – some of which are in developmental stages or won't be functional for many years or even decades.  Whether they prove to be practical and efficient in the U.S. will be seen at some point in the future.

"Fortunately, we have one source of power that is efficient and clean that exists today – clean diesel technology.  Diesel technology has an important role to play in America's clean energy future.  Diesel engines are the most energy efficient technology - whether they are using the new ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, a renewable biodiesel fuel blend, or hybrid diesel-electric technology.

"Unfortunately, clean, proven and available diesel technology is one energy source that is being largely ignored in the Administration's energy agenda while billions and billions of federal dollars are being proposed for other energy sources that will require massive new national infrastructure systems simply to become operational.

"American consumers are enacting their own energy policy that increasingly includes clean diesel technology.  Diesel auto sales in the U.S. increased by 27 percent in 2011 and are up 32 percent in 2012, according to sales information compiled by Hybridcars.com and Baum and Associates.

"There's no question that diversifying America's energy sources is important, but equally important is leveraging the existing technologies that are already reducing our dependence on foreign oil and using advanced renewable biofuels."

Today's Diesel Engines and Fuel Are Truly "Clean"
Schaeffer said that over the last 10 years emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses have been reduced by:

• 99 percent for nitrogen oxides (NOx) - an ozone precursor
• 98 percent for particulate emissions
• And new ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel has reduced sulfur emissions by 97 percent – from 500 PM to 15 PM.

"It would take 60 of today's clean diesel trucks to equal the same emissions from one pre-1988 truck," Schaeffer said.  "This 60 to 1 ratio is a vivid example of the remarkable advances in clean diesel technology."

Over 80% of U.S. Goods Are Transported By Diesel Power
A 2011 economic study reported that over 80 percent of all freight is moved throughout the U.S. by diesel trucks, ships, trains and intermodal systems.  Worldwide, 94 percent of all global trade is powered by diesel engines and equipment.  In addition, the diesel industry contributes more than $480 billion annually to the U.S. economy and provides more than 1.25 million jobs.

"Without diesel power, America and the world's economy would come to a standstill," Schaeffer said. "There's a simple reason that technologies and fuels like diesel are still predominant today after many decades - they work.  Diesel provides an unmatched combination of efficiency, power and many other attributes that have withstood the test of time.

"And diesel can now compete with alternative fuels on the emissions front, and is the most flexible technology for using a wide array of renewable biofuels.

"Diesel engines were the power behind building America's iconic infrastructure like the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.  Now, diesel engines will build the next generation of roads, bridges, broadband access and more advanced energy grids," Schaeffer said.

Diesel Powers America's Economy
Diesel Moves 80 Percent of All Freight: Diesel-powered trucks, trains, ships and intermodal systems moved 83 percent of freight by value ($11.7 trillion) and 85 percent by weight (12.5 billion tons) in 2007.

Diesel Is Dominant In Agriculture, Mining & Construction Industries: In 2009, agriculture produced $330 billion in output, of which $27.2 billion was for farm sales, contributing $176.6 billion to the nation's GDP. Total added value of agriculture to the U.S. economy is estimated to be $365 billion. Farms employed 2.1 million in 2008.

Diesel Powers Extractive Industries: Over 60 percent of mining and fuel production equipment is diesel-powered. The nation gets 93 percent of its energy from mined sources, such as petroleum, natural gas, coal and uranium.

Construction Relies on Diesel: Diesel is the dominant fuel source, powering 60 percent of construction equipment and using 98 percent of all energy.

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.

(View this press release online here.)

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

Contact:
Steve Hansen
[email protected]
301-668-7230 (o)
202-355-3664 (c)

SOURCE Diesel Technology Forum