I've lived out here since 1978, and the legislators in this place never cease to amaze me. From the first state to ban smoking within 20' of public buildings, ban on plastic shopping bags, the requirement that motor vehicles be painted with water-based coatings, ban on denatured alcohol, etc., etc., etc.... Many passed with no alternative materials or processes availabe.
But this one is just plain ridiculous.
And there you have it. More money to give away...
How is California so able to affect the entire United States?
But this one is just plain ridiculous.
...
the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation would have all freight trains operate in zero-emission configuration by 2035. At the end of the decade, the state is mandating the retirement of diesel locomotives 23 years or older, despite typically useful lives of over 40 years. Starting in 2030, new passenger locomotives must operate with zero emissions, with new engines for long-haul freight trains following by 2035. It limits locomotive idling and increases reporting requirements.
Given the interstate nature of railway operations, California needs the EPA to grant a waiver. If the agency agrees, the policy will inevitably affect the entire continental United States.
The kicker is that no technology exists today to enable railroads to comply with California's diktat, rendering the whole exercise fanciful at best.
The cost-benefit analysis is woefully unfavorable to the forced displacement of diesel locomotives. To "help" the transition, beginning in 2026, CARB will force all railroads operating in California to deposit dollars into an escrow account managed by the state and frozen for the explicit pursuit of the green agenda. For large railroads, this figure will be a staggering $1.6 billion per year, whereas some smaller railroads will pay up to $5 million.
And there you have it. More money to give away...
How is California so able to affect the entire United States?