New low-sulfur diesel available at gas stations and travel centers across the nation has Oak Ridge National Laboratory research behind it, proving that reducing sulfur content in diesel fuel is critical to lessening emissions. Beginning Oct. 15, the Environmental Protection Agency is requiring all retailers to sell diesel containing just 15 parts per million sulfur compared to previous standards of 500 parts per million. Although industry data indicated a need for lower sulfur content in diesel to meet lower emissions standards going into effect next year, a seven-month study at ORNL confirmed at the vehicle-system level that ultra-low sulfur reduced nitrogen oxide and soot emissions by 90 percent.
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