Diesel Technology Forum Available to Comment on President Bush's Support for Clean Diesel Tax Credits

  Why:    At 2:00 pm this afternoon, President Bush will deliver a speech to
          attendees at the U.S. Small Business Administration's national
          small business conference, SBA Expo '05, in Washington, DC.  White
          House officials have indicated the President will call for
          expanded tax credits to encourage sales of clean diesel vehicles.

  Who:    Allen Schaeffer            301-668-7230 (office)
          Executive Director         301-514-9046 (cell)
          Diesel Technology Forum    http://www.dieselforum.org/
   
   What:   The Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) is a unique non-profit
   organization dedicated to promoting clean diesel technologies.
   Forum members include engine and vehicle manufacturers; diesel
   fuel refiners; and emissions control and treatment system
   manufacturers.  Allen Schaeffer is prepared to comment on:
   
   BENEFITS OF CLEAN DIESEL
   * Diesel vehicles are much more fuel efficient, typically getting
   20-40 percent more miles to the gallon compared to a comparable
   gasoline car.
   * Diesel's efficiency helps reduce U.S. reliance on petroleum.
   According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a 30 percent market
   penetration of diesel vehicles by 2020 would reduce U.S. net
   crude oil consumption by 350,000 barrels per day.
   * Because diesels burn less fuel, they emit much smaller levels of
   carbon dioxide -- a greenhouse gas -- compared to gasoline.
   
   A GROWING MARKET FOR DIESEL
   * Annual registrations of new diesel passenger vehicles in the
   U.S. -- including cars, trucks and SUVs -- have grown nearly 56
   percent during the past five years, from 301,000 diesel vehicles
   in 2000 to nearly 470,000 diesel registrations in 2004.
   * Concurrent with rising sales of diesel vehicles has been a
   greater availability of diesel fuel at local filling stations.
   Diesel is now available at nearly half (42 percent) of fueling
   service stations across the country, up from 30 percent
   availability based on the last Environmental Protection Agency
   survey in 2000.

Come see for yourself what all the buzz is about. DTF will have the latest in fuel-efficient clean diesel technology available for test-drives tomorrow (Thursday, April 28) from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm outside the Russell Senate Office Building (C St. NE between First and Delaware). For more information on this Clean Diesel Ride and Drive on Capitol Hill, visit http://www.dieselforum.org/hilldrive