FUELS

Gasoline and Diesel are the primary fuel sources for this country’s motor vehicle fleet and Maine’s air quality is affected by the use of those fuels. The 1999 mobile source inventory indicates that mobile source emissions make up 75% of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and 73% of the Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) generated in Maine. Mobile sources include on-highway and off road vehicles such as planes, trains, boats, lawnmowers and recreation vehicles. Vehicles using Gasoline and Diesel also contribute toxic compounds such as Benzene, to the air, putting the public at risk from air pollution. VOC and NOx are two components that under proper conditions combine to form ground level ozone. Ground level ozone contributes to respiratory and other health problems to both at risk and healthy people. Click for a list of terms used in Fuel spreadsheet (Adobe Acrobat File)

Now that gasoline prices are climbing and people are looking for ways to get better fuel efficiency, more companies are marketing their "Gas Saving" products. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has developed a fact sheet discussing those so-called "Gas Saving" products appropriately named: Fact or Fuelishness?" The link to this interesting and informational fact sheet is below:

Fact or Fuelishness?

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new standards to improve air quality.

To meet EPA standards, the petroleum industry is producing Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, a cleaner burning diesel fuel containing a maximum 15 parts-per-million (ppm) sulfur. By June 1, 2006, 80 percent of the highway diesel fuel produced or imported will be ULSD fuel, replacing most Low Sulfur Diesel fuel which contains up to a maximum of 500 ppm sulfur.

In combination with cleaner-burning diesel engines and vehicles, ULSD fuel will help to improve air quality by significantly reducing emissions.

Below are outreach materials produced by the Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance Information Center. For additional information go to Clean-diesel.org

ULSD Issue Paper

USLD Brochure

USLD Counter Card

API ULSD Presentation

ULSD Production

2006 Maine Fuels Report

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is required to submit the Maine Fuels Report to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources by February 1 of each year. The DEP is required to monitor and report on levels of MTBE in shipments of gasoline to storage terminals in Maine, with the goal of eliminating MTBE from our fuel supply. The DEP tracks not only the levels of MTBE, but also other gasoline components including sulfur, benzene and aromatics. To date the Department has submitted these reports for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. To receive a printed copy of the current "2006 Maine Fuels Report", or printed copies of the reports submitted for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 or 2006 contact Melissa Morrill at (207) 287-6102 or by email at Melissa Morrill.

	Fuel Spreadsheet
	Excel File	HTML File
October 1st - December 31st 2007	excel file	pdf file
July 1st- September 30 2007	excel file	pdf file
April 1st-June 30th 2007	excel file	pdf file
January 1st-March 31st 2007	excel file	pdf file

Data from 2001 - 2006