U.S. state and local authorities are required to meet federal health-based air-quality standards for ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Cars and trucks are key sources of all these pollutants, and fuel composition is a key factor in vehicle emissions. Hence the National Association of Clean Air Agencies‘ strong interest in federal fuel quality standards.

Yesterday the NACCA released a report on the costs and health and environmental benefits of lowering the sulfur standard for gasoline in the U.S. to 10 ppm from the present 30 ppm and making other changes in how sulfur content is measured. Low-sulfur fuel contributes to cleaner vehicle emissions both directly and indirectly, by making it possible to use more advanced emission control devices.

The NACAA report is based in part on an economic analysis conducted by MathPro for the ICCT, and ICCT chair Michael Walsh provided expert assistance to the report authors.

News coverage:

E&E Daily, “States, carmakers press EPA to clear smog with gasoline standards”

Politico — “Report: A penny for your ozone reductions?”