Fuel Retailers Urge EPA to Preserve DEF Emissions Framework
Event summary
- NATSO, SIGMA, and NACS jointly urged the EPA to modify proposed changes to the DEF inducement framework.
- The groups cited a 76% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions since 2010 through SCR technology and DEF adoption.
- More than 100,000 retail locations in North America, including 95% of truck stops, offer DEF.
- EPA's proposed changes risk disrupting DEF supply, increasing prices, and undermining emissions benefits.
The big picture
The pushback against EPA's proposed DEF framework changes highlights the tension between regulatory flexibility and maintaining environmental progress in the trucking sector. With DEF adoption now ubiquitous across North American truck stops, any disruption to supply or pricing could undermine the industry's significant emissions reductions achieved since 2010. The outcome will test the EPA's balance between innovation and enforcement in heavy-duty vehicle emissions policy.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Stability
- Whether the EPA will delay proposed changes to allow full market penetration of existing DEF guidelines.
- Market Dynamics
- How potential DEF supply disruptions could affect pricing and availability for commercial vehicle operators.
- Industry Collaboration
- The extent to which fuel retailers and regulators can align on evidence-based DEF policy reforms.