Governemnt to reduce off-road diesel emmissions

[Shovelhead]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/852834.asp?0cv=CB10



Something to think about.

Are we next?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

What they are proposing is to make agricultural and other off-road diesel applications use the SAME reduced lubricity fuel WE are already required to use - as well as even more sulphur (lubricity) reduction already scheduled - no more "red" off-road fuel - at least as far as sulphur content is concerned...



It's not so much about lives or "health", as it is $$$$$$$...

 

[illflem]

Even though red offroad is allowed more sulfur it's been quite some time since it has in most places. Except for the dye my farm fuel has been exactly the same as the on road fuel for at least four years and two states.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Yeah - it wouldn't seem practical to stock the 2 different formulations, except in VERY high-usage areas - I wonder if they actually stock the red stuff, or simply add the dye to the regular stuff when a shipment to the customer is scheduled...



BUT, nevertheless - it's still about $$$, as the article's reference to "billons of dollars" points out...

 

[Kernel]

Are these expectations realistic? IMHO I don't believe they are. They contribute the emissions in part to "old" diesel technology. Considering I used to run (and it still runs) a Farmall 560 Diesel that was 40 years old with nothing ever done to it, I say to them a half-hearted "good luck" . There are still a lot of machines like that one out there, and they will be there for awhile. I believe their intentions to be good, but not practical enough to make a difference in anybody's lifetime.





Scott

 

[illflem]

Scott, don't know where it stands now but Calif was considering a law that every diesel engine be retrofitted with an exhaust scrubber and hire a bunch of smog police to check.



What you don't hear about and that I feel will change everything emissions related is research currently in it's infancy breeding plants that pull greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, break them down to basic elements and return them to the soil. There is even hope that it will be able to reverse global warming.

 

[Kernel]

illflem,



Did they say who would be responsible for paying for the retrofit? If it is the sole responsibility for the owner/operator that is just one more thing against the little man and the family owned farms.



If they could get such a variety of plant to pull in greenhouse gasses that would be a great idea. I am sure the seed would be expensive, but the benefits could out weigh the costs. That would mean less money for fertilizers and operating cost for spraying.





Scott

 

[illflem]

Scott, don't recall the state buying scrubbers for folks. The only details I remember is that it would cost an average $1000/year to maintain the scrubbers. That's more than some old diesels are worth dollarwise but if it's doing the job for you it's replacement value is twenty times more.