For builders, clean-air rules' timing is tough

Sac Bee ^ | August 20, 2008 | By Daniel Weintraub

[twistedwrench]

Mike Shaw didn't want to be caught by surprise when the state starting cracking down on diesel engines. He owned more than 100 of them – powering the scrapers, graders and bulldozers that are the backbone of his San Diego construction business. So he paid close attention when the state's air pollution regulators wrote new rules requiring the owners of diesel-powered equipment to clean up their fleets. And as he thinned the oldest, dirtiest engines from his stock, Shaw thought he was well on his way to satisfying the state's requirements. Then he ran the numbers. The state's calculator showed that he still was not even close.

[twistedwrench]

"We spent a lot of money upgrading our fleet, and we lost a lot of money throwing away equipment that was still in pretty darn good shape," Shaw said. "It's kind of an exercise in futility."

The off highway industry has spent millions on compliance and then the idiots at CARB change the rules. What a waste of money.

In September they will vote to implement the same regulations for the on highway sector. which will have the same affect if passed.

Between proposed tax increases and AB32 (global warming)regulations, This state is heading for some very tough times.

[Myrddin]

My brother-in-law upgraded his truck to one that uses the low sulfur diesel. Subsequently, he had health problems that kept him off the road. Diesel prices skyrocketed. He had to sell the truck. Perhaps the timing was not all that bad.

Before I left California in 2001, I was forking over lots of cash every 2 years for tuneups of my 1974 Porsche 914. I literally spent more keeping it in compliance than I spent for the car when purchased in 1989. It is now garaged in Idaho. I keep it registered, but I'm not driving it. Idaho doesn't force me through those silly exercises for a car that I'm not even putting on the road.

[Old Student]

Sounds to me like it is past time to leave. I did that about 34 years ago.

[piytar]

I did about 8 years ago. My mistake was to move to Ohio, which is getting as bad as CA was when I left — although not near as bad as CA is now. Next stop: Texas.

[Old Student]

” Next stop: Texas.”

I had planned on Texas, but stopped a bit short; I'm now an adoptive Okie. Cost of living is a bit lower here, generally speaking. No telling what the future will bring, just yet.