Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) officials warned July 21 of behind-closed-doors efforts to attach a low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) provision to upcoming energy legislation in the U.S. Senate.

Union Pacific railroad officials July 22 reported a 53% hike in net income (to US$711 million) for second quarter 2010 versus Q2 2009, despite a 46% jump in diesel prices.

Navistar officials announced July 19 that based upon independent Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Type IV testing of three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2010-compliant trucks, a 2010 Navistar truck using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) delivered better net “fluid economy” (diesel fuel plus urea consumption) than competitor 2010 trucks employing urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

Caterpillar officials July 22 announced that second-quarter 2010 profits jumped 91% (to US$707 million) compared to Q2 2009 profits, while sales and revenues also jumped 31%.

Cummins officials announced July 20 that they’ve won U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2010 emissions certification for their “ISX11.9” diesel engine typically used in vocational trucks.

Toyota officials last week launched commercial sales of their first “Corolla” diesel sedan in India, following on earlier launches elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

New York Gov. David Paterson (D) July 20 announced that he signed a bill mandating ultra-low sulfur heating oil (gasoil) containing 15 parts per million (ppm) maximum sulfur) starting July 1, 2012.

European Biodiesel Board (EBB) officials July 22 release a study showing that European Union (EU) producers make 65% of world biodiesel, despite an influx of subsidized exports to the EU.

The Brazilian division of California-based Amyris Biotechnologies aims to start selling a cane sugar-derived renewable diesel fuel next year, according to a report from EFE news service.

Sinopec officials announced July 20 that they boosted crude refining output 16.7%, to 101.41 million metric tons of crude, in first-half 2010 versus 1H 2009.

BP officials last week announced that they’re now working on permitting for “phase two” of hydrotreating capacity expansion for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) production at their Cherry Point, Washington, refinery.

Austria-based OMV officials July 20 announced in a “trading statement” that refining margins (especially for middle distillates) have improved during second quarter 2010 versus Q1 2010.

Esso officials announced this month that they’ve approved a US$394 million investment to upgrade their refinery in Thailand to produce Euro-4 (50 parts per million sulfur) diesel and gasoline by the Jan. 1, 2012, government deadline.

Farmers in the UK reportedly have tripled their purchase of specially additized diesel fuel in recent months because of fuel filter clogging caused by biodiesel oxidation, according to a report from Farmers Weekly (UK).

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) this month raised the price of diesel fuel by 12%, to US$0.64 per liter, according to a report from The National (Abu Dhabi).

The U.S. government essentially wasted US$305 million building a huge diesel-fueled power plant in Afghanistan when shortly after its completion, the country found cheaper power available from a neighboring country.

Shell’s fuel supply contract with Turkish ferry service IDO is for a product called “Shell Diesel Extra” rather than “V Power,” Shell clarifies.

Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in major world spot and futures markets moved up on stronger demand last week, despite rising refiner output.

Distillate futures prices moved up last week.