Posted on 01/22/2013 8:06:51 AM PST by thackney
Six governors joined the Washington, D.C. mayor in urging the Obama administration to swiftly propose mandates aimed at cutting smog-forming sulfur emissions from the nation’s roads and highways.
In a letter to President Barack Obama, the state and district leaders insisted that the requirements governing sulfur emissions from gasoline are essential “to achieve our shared goal of clean air for all our citizens.”
At issue is a long-stalled proposal to force refiners to slash sulfur emissions from 30 parts per million to 10 parts per million. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to formally propose the requirement, known as “Tier 3″ emissions standards, this spring.
That would go a long way to quickly reducing ozone pollution from vehicles and the respiratory illnesses that go along with it, the political leaders said.
Read more: Refining chiefs expect more regulations under Obama
“Low-sulfur gasoline will enable deep and almost immediate pollution reductions from existing vehicles, a significant additional benefit not easily achieved on such a shorter time scale any other way,” the lawmakers said. “This is the best and least costly next step we can take to improve air quality in many areas of the U.S.
The change would allow catalytic converters to work more effectively, ultimately causing cars to emit fewer smog-forming compounds. For automakers, the change would allow the construction and use of cleaner combustion engines, giving them new avenues for meeting other environmental mandates.
The group cast the standards as key to new innovation for the auto sector as well as economic growth.
“The world is moving towards lower sulfur gasoline and cleaner cars,” they note. “Investments to meet Tier 3 in the U.S. can invigorate the competitiveness of U.S. refineries and add momentum to the revival of our domestic motor vehicle and emissions control manufacturing sectors.”
The letter signers, hailing mostly from the Northeast, include Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray.
Oil refiners worry they would be hit with new costs, potentially squeezing profits while also raising gas prices. Estimates range from an extra 9 cents per gallon, according to an industry-backed study, to the EPA’s prediction of just one penny more per gallon.
Industry lobbyists also are making the case that the mandate could do more harm than good, by forcing refiners to invest in energy-hogging hydrotreaters to strip sulfur from gasoline and consequently boosting greenhouse gas releases at their plants.
Malloy - Connecticut
O'Malley - Maryland
Patrick - Massachusetts
Kirzhager - Oregon
Chafee - Rhode Island
Shumlin - Vermont
Gray - D.C
Why do you guys need the President. Convince your legislators, pass the law and take the economic hit like good democrats.
I don’t have much dealings with the rest of these turkeys, but I do know O’Malley and Gray.
Two of the biggest pieces of slime to ever walk the halls od liberalism ‘
Prices to go up accordingly.
Six. Out of 50.
There MUST be some other more relevant news stories today.
So what are the unintedned consiquences? What will this do for the Constitution believing Americans? NOTHING.
I think this move is designed to increase the price of fuel and put the burden on oil produicers. Does the OPEC crude have less sulfur? This is just another step to grind down America and impose more taxes and impliment more control on us.
The grinding down of America
http://vimeo.com/52009124
California already did on their own. But they went from federal 30 to 20 ppm, rather than this proposed 10 ppm.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/gasoline/082908CaRFG_regs.pdf
There are a lot of different crude oils that make up the OPEC supply. Some are high in sulfur content and some are low.
However 10 ppm is 0.001% sulfur. I don't think any significant supply of crude oil in the world meets that requirement. All will require desulfurization, just some more than others.
And, oh by the way, North American heavy crude is high-sulfur content, is it not?
We have a mix of high and Lowe sulfur crude in North America.
The cost may be similar to the diesel switch to ULSD, maybe 25~40 cents.
Good grief, diesel fuel became about $1.00 more expensive when the greenies & EPA did regulations to make diesel super clean. Expect at lease a buck more a gallon when this low sulfur gas is required.
Meanwhile China & India’s electric power plants and steel factories belch much much more sulfur, pollutants and CO2 than our US does. Why cripple our economy when it won’t do much to address issues?
If I remember correctly, ULSD changed from 50 to 15 ppm. This 30 to 10 ppm, it may not be quite as drastic, not to mention some of the same hydrotreater units may be applicable to a portion of the fuel.
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