Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis and Vice Chair Dan Sullivan called on the Environment and Public Works Committee on Mar. 12 to advance the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act with bipartisan support. Senator Pete Ricketts also joined their appeal, highlighting concerns about current Environmental Protection Agency regulations affecting diesel engines in cold climates.
The legislation aims to address problems caused by diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system malfunctions that can force diesel engines to shut down during extreme cold, leading to delays for emergency vehicles and disruptions in agricultural supply chains. These issues have been reported as particularly severe in states like Alaska and Nebraska.
During a committee hearing, Todd Fornstrom, a Wyoming farmer, and Ryan Anderson, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, testified about the impact of DEF-related failures. Anderson said that between 70% and 80% of diesel equipment issues in Alaska are linked to DEF systems.
Lummis said, “The EPA under Biden knew the DEF systems didn’t work well and posed a risk to public safety, and they mandated them anyway. What we need to do, in some ways, is what Mr. Whitehouse described. We do need to remediate NOx emissions, we need to reduce them, but there are ways to reduce them and still keep diesel engines running. That’s what this bill is about.”
Sullivan said, “None of us are saying we shouldn’t do anything about NOx and SOx, but we do need to have regulations that are not a one-size-fits-all that really, really penalizes states like mine in a huge way. You know, a reg [sic] written by lawyers in D.C. that don’t have a clue about any of this stuff, not a clue, that’s not right. That’s not the way the federal government is supposed to work, and we’re going to fix it.”
Ricketts added concerns from Nebraska farmers: “Nebraska agricultural producers report that emissions related issues, particularly with the DEF systems account for a majority for their machinery repairs… A major grievance is that when a DEF censor fails or a system malfunction, it often triggers limp mode… causing critical delays during planting and harvesting.” He continued: “Legislative reform that increases public safety is just commonsense, and I look forward to working with the committee on this.”
Lummis has supported community service initiatives and family ranching traditions in Wyoming according to her official website. She has also focused on legislative efforts such as maintaining national forest trails according to her official website. Lummis previously served as state treasurer for Wyoming as well as holding roles in both chambers of the state legislature before becoming Wyoming’s first female U.S. senator according to her official website.
As debate continues over how best to balance environmental goals with practical needs for rural communities reliant on diesel equipment during harsh winters, members indicated they would continue pushing for reforms through legislative channels.
