California Debuts Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel

Retailers in California must begin selling ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel Friday, making it the first state to require its sale.

The Friday implementation deadline will give the state a jump on the rest of the country, which must begin selling the fuel by Oct. 15 per an Environmental Protection Agency deadline.

The introduction of this ultra-clean fuel is a giant leap forward in our combined efforts to improve California’s air quality,” Cathy Reheis-Boyd, chief operating officer of the Western States Petroleum Association, said last week. “All of the indications we have are that refiners and fuel providers in California are well positioned to meet the Sept. 1 deadline.”

The Friday deadline is the result of statewide regulations from the California Air Resources Board.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the refining industry spent $8 billion to prepare for the conversion from traditional diesel fuel which contains 500 parts of sulfur per million to ULSD which contains just 15 ppm.

The Times also reported that some in the state’s trucking industry have concerns about the cost of the fuel and possible shortages of the new fuel.