China’s failure to adopt nationwide ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) standards – outside of a handful of its biggest cities – can be explained by government price controls on diesel and gasoline and the overwhelming dominance of state-owned Sinopec on a key government body setting fuel standards.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) announced April 21 an updated “PlaNYC” plan along with a new rule that would abolish the combustion of heavy fuel oil in the city by 2015 and 2030 and boost the use of natural gas for heat and power.

Australia has joined the European Union in imposing anti-dumping charges on U.S. biodiesel imported into Australia.

Current European Union (EU) and U.K. biofuels policies are “unethical,” according to a new report from U.K.-based Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

The City of Chicago on April 13 passed an ordinance requiring contractors working on city-funded construction contracts to use ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel starting June 1, 2011, and also employ diesel engines that, at- minimum, meet 1998 emissions limits set by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The California Air Resources Board announced this month that it will conduct a seminar May 5 on “toxicity of emissions from heavy-duty engines with retrofit controls.”

Los Angeles-based Rentech announced April 19 that it intends to boost its stake in biomass-gasification specialist ClearFuels to a majority holding, up from the current 25%.

Driving a diesel car in cold winter months can result in relatively cold passenger cabins for extended periods, which has prompted some diesel automakers to install supplementary, quick-response electric cabin heaters.

U.K.-based Zircotec on April 18 announced a new “low-cost thermal barrier coating” for diesel engines, touting the scheme as helpful in cutting nitrogen oxides and particulate-matter emissions for Euro-6 limits taking effect in 2013.

A top General Motors (GM) official announced April 13 that GM views electric vehicles (EVs) – whether battery-powered or hydrogen fuel-cell powered – as the “end game” that will trump petroleum, biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG) or anything else.