Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2023

Diesel is a petroleum-based fuel product derived from crude oil and is denser than gasoline– allowing it to produce 20% more energy. It is predominantly used in ships, trucks, and trains which require large amounts of horsepower. Approximately 125 gallons of diesel fuel was used each day in 2022, accounting for 6% of the U. S.’s total annual energy consumption. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2023, or DERA for short, intends to address this problem. The act was introduced on June 22, 2023 by Senator Thomas Carper, a Democratic representative of Delaware. Additionally, DERA is co-sponsored by 3 Democratic representatives and 2 Republicans. The official summary describes the goal of this act to use monetary incentives to push companies into replacing equipment and engines with new, more environmentally friendly technologies. This means the state or federal government will fund  grants or loans to companies in exchange for cleaner energy. The DERA mainly targets older engines, which have the worst diesel emissions. In California, though engines manufactured before 2004 only account for 19% of the total number in use, they contribute more to tailpipe pollution than engines produced after 2004. Overall engines manufactured years ago emit significantly worse amounts of toxic compounds compared to their modern counterparts. 

It is imperative to allow this act to be passed because of the many adverse effects on human health caused by these dirty engines. Diesel emissions including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and sulfur oxides have all been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the six “criteria” air pollutants. These pollutants are known to cause respiratory illnesses, impaired oxygen transportation in the body, heart attacks, asthma, and even death when exposed to large concentrations. Significant ecological consequences are likely as well, such as the creation of acid rain, damage to plants and their ability to perform photosynthesis, and an increase in the production of ozone. Ozone in the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface, is dangerous to both the environment and all organisms. It is a greenhouse gas contributing to the rising climate of our planet. It traps heat from the sun, altering the natural state of the world and destroying communities and habitats. 

By using funding from the federal government to incentivize the switch to cleaner engines, air pollution and its negative effects on the environment and human health will be significantly lowered. This concern has garnered support from politicians all across the political spectrum, highlighting its importance as a topic. The Clean Air Act of 1963, the first piece of legislation regarding air pollution, aims to protect air quality from harmful pollutants. It has a large assortment of jobs, one being the authorization of the DERA to provide funding in order to reduce emissions. On September 15, 2023, the act was referred to a subcommittee in congress: the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security, where it was revised and analyzed. It is now on its way to the House of Representatives. The issue of pollution from diesel engines will not resolve itself, so acts such as the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2023 are crucial to protect our planet.