Lobbyists Work to Stop Low-Sulfur Phase-In
May 22, 2001 12:00 PM
A bill introduced in the House of Representatives today will prevent fuel supply disruption and price spikes, according to the Petroleum Marketers Assn. of America (PMAA) and the National Assn. of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO).The Clean Diesel Fuel Provider Relief Act would strike the federal rule provision that phases in low-sulfur diesel by 2010, resulting in the manufacture, sale and use of two separate grades of highway diesel for four years. Instead, the bill would switch all highway diesel to a cleaner, ultra low-sulfur fuel at once in 2006.
“The truckstop and travel plaza industry will vigorously support the bill,” said NATSO president W. Dewey Clower. “With our nation’s energy challenges, it would be foolhardy to phase in the new fuel, which would only cause price spikes and supply shortages.”
Sponsored by Reps. Ed Bryant (R-TN) and Bart Gordon (D-TN), the bill comes on the heels of an Administration report warning that supply crunches are likely under a phase-in approach.
“Congress really needs to fix the diesel rule problems,” said PMAA chairman Bill Maxwell. “If the phase-in is not eliminated, the cost for diesel fuel will be high and it will hurt my customers.”
