It's here! Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel officially arrives today

It's here! The next important step on the path to new clean diesel in the U.S. has occurred today, October 15th. It was by today that 80 percent of diesel fuel available for vehicles like trucks and buses had to be new Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), and reports are saying that implementation of the new fuel has so been so swift that today it stands at 90 percent. Back on June 1st refiners and fuel importers were required to start producing ULSD, and last week production of the clean diesel rose to 2,539,000 barrels per day and inventory stands at 52,342,000 barrels.
Older diesel-powered vehicles will see a 10-percent reduction in particulate emissions right off the bat by using the new fuel, while new diesel engines designed to take advantage of it will cut their particulate emissions by 95 percent. This is due to the fact that the new ULSD contains only 15 parts per billion of sulfur, compared to the old fuel's 500 parts per million. The next major step on this path comes on January 1st, when all diesel engines sold in the United States will have to meet these stricter emissions standards. Until then, you can spot which pumps are offering ULSD by looking for the sticker above. Other stickers touting the new fuel can be found here.

[Source: Diesel Technology Forum]