Region 1: EPA New England

Basic Information

• Diesel engines are a durable and economical source of power. EPA and the New England states are taking important steps to advance cleaner diesel engines.
• EPA has set stringent standards for new heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses (PDF) (4 pp., 124 KB, about PDF). In addition, EPA regulations that went into effect in 2006 have dramatically reduced the sulfur content of diesel fuel. This ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in combination with advanced pollution control technology means that new trucks and buses rolling off the production lines are up to 95 percent cleaner than models of just a few years ago.
• EPA has issued more stringent emission standards for new, non-road diesel engines, such as construction and farm equipment, that will reduce pollution from these vehicles by 90%. As part of this rule, in 2007, the sulfur content of non-road fuel was limited to 500 ppm. By 2010, these vehicles will be required to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.
• Because emission reductions from cleaner vehicles take time to have an influence, EPA and the New England states are working to:
  • Create and implement anti-idling programs.
  • Retrofit existing diesel vehicles with pollution controls.
  • Implement testing programs for diesel vehicles (see the following links for more information about individual state programs).
    • Connecticut (PDF) (2 pp., 612 KB, about PDF)
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont (PDF) (2 pp., 86 KB, about PDF)
  • Promote cleaner fuels like compressed natural gas and Biodiesel (PDF) (2 pp., 153 KB, about PDF).