President Trump has signed a bill to exempt diesel generators in rural Alaska from an air quality rule. Village power utilities say the equipment needed to meet the so-called “Tier 4” emissions standard is impractical. They say the equipment causes generators to break down more and burn more fuel — two problems that are especially hard on remote communities.
The Tier 4 emission standards are from a rule the Environmental Protection Agency adopted in 2004. They’ve been phased in gradually, greatly reducing the amount of black soot and nitrogen oxides allowed in diesel exhaust.
Sen. Dan Sullivan sponsored the bill to exempt rural Alaska generators from the rule, with the support of Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young. Trump signed it Friday.
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
