Posted on 07/23/2021 5:08:07 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A key block of California lawmakers is feuding with the Biden administration over the state’s high-speed rail endeavor, arguing that conditions of a restored federal grant lock the project into what the group sees as an outdated technology for powering the bullet train.
In a recent letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Speaker Anthony Rendon and 17 other Assembly Democrats say the federal grant unnecessarily directs California to use overhead electrical lines to propel the trains down their tracks.
Instead, Rendon wants California to keep open the option of powering locomotives with batteries or fuel cells, arguing that the switch could help the state avoid the high cost of installing overhead lines, a system used worldwide since the 1960s.
The Rendon letter — sent to Buttigieg late last month — comes amid an increasingly intense standoff between Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s administration and the Assembly leader on design and funding for the nation’s largest single transportation project. Newsom wants California to stick to his plan of building the first segment of the high-speed rail line in the Central Valley, but Rendon and his Assembly allies want to divert the funds to bullet train segments in Southern California and the Bay Area, and fears installation of electric lines will close off that prospect.
In June, the Biden administration reinstated a $929-million Obama-era grant to help construct the San Joaquin Valley high-speed rail line, which President Trump terminated in 2019.
But in restoring the grant, the terms were modified to require the state to adopt a wired system. The new federal grant language contains 27 references to electrification of the system in the Central Valley, whereas the original funding agreement only mentioned once that the rail project had to plan for electrification.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I thought they were using butterfly farts.
Unicorn emissions.
windmills. Definitely windmills.
“I thought they were using butterfly farts.”
I was leaning towards unicorn farts, but those are extremely expensive. I’d go with Power Points. According to a survey a few years ago about 50% of Californians selected Power Points as the source of utility based electricity.
Steam powered locomotives are best for the bullet train...
Lots of coal available in PA and WV...
Picture 1-mile long steam-powered coal trains rumbling into CA from the east...
Talk about the perfect orgasm...
Since it won’t get built for another 100 years, by then the choices will be fusion/electric or coal, depending on how things go in the next few years.
Either that or Skittles
I’m pressing for wood-fired steam locomotives. It’s SUSTAINABLE (tm)!
Diesel locomotives. The Diesel engines create the electricity necessary to power the electric motors in the wheels. But of course, California officials decided to swap out the diesel locomotives in favor of overhead electric lines (and now are pushing for ridiculous batteries or fuel cells). Cost billions to change the rail paths and stations to overhead electric, and abandon the diesel locomotives. Supreme idiocy.
I thought the california monorail project died after they shut it down and disappearded all the money
Batteries, OMG, that’s going to be a hoot, ROTFLMAO.
Biden’s order could let China control U.S. electric grid
Yes, absolutely steam powered bullet trains, but, only using paper currency for fuel !
5 up front...and another 3 or 4 at pack pushing.
Try that with electrics.
But of course, California officials decided to swap out the diesel locomotives in favor of overhead electric lines ...
Have they looked at sails? After watching the America’s Cup, one could get an idea or two...
I’ve been out there working on earthmovers.
Strip off a bit of overburden and there’s coal, coal, and more coal.
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