GREEN NEW DEAL = BLIZZARD OF LIES

[Ecocharger + 1,475]

8 hours ago, Eric Gagen said:

I can see how the wording of the article makes it possible to read it that way, but a little research and logic suggests that it's not possible.  If it were true, that would be the headline "15% increase in Chinese coal output" instead the headline was about the 4-6% output rise - the biggest and most important number.  Another 'tell' is that if it were true, it would represent an increase far in excess of anything that has ever been accomplished in the past.  During the best years of most rapid economic growth, China never managed such a rapid increase. A third sign that it's not a monthly number is to look at demand for coal in China - their economy doesn't have the need for that much extra coal.  Finally, if the increase were that large, you would expect the futures price of coal in China to crash (since it would now be oversupplied beyond it's capacity to burn it for a profit) and for there to be articles about the collapse of the coal export business in Indonesia, but neither thing has happened.  Therefore, it's logical to conclude that the increase is in tons per year, not per month.  

Until it has actually been mined and accounted for, the 55 million tons is capacity - not output.  Capacity is theoretical ability to produce in the present or in the future - output is what is actually happening in the present, or what happened already.  Never equate future capacity with actual output, becuse there are too many unexpected things that can happen between the two.  The actual output may be above or below the planned capacity additions.  

Well, Eric, the article also points out that the government has ordered all closed coal mines to reopen. That is one huge number of mines, and one huge amount of additional coal.

[Ecocharger + 1,475]

38 minutes ago, notsonice said:

Coal production in China is increasing by leaps and bounds...55 million tonnes in just the past few months????? 55 million over the last year???? not a leap or bound when their output is essentially the same as 2012 and 2013. This is HUGE????? Dude Coal is not being embraced everywhere , in fact it is being shunned everywhere...except in North Korea.

Nonsense, coal is hot right now, take a look at this. All-time high usage of coal.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Japans-Coal-Imports-Soar-Amid-Surging-Natural-Gas-Prices.html

"LNG prices for March delivery rose this week by more than 17 percent to $27.00 per metric million British thermal units (MMBtu), industry sources told Reuters on Friday. The Russia-Ukraine crisis and the cold weather in Japan were the key drivers of the jump in LNG prices to northeast Asia for March.

The record-high natural gas prices over the past months have forced utilities in many countries, including in developed economies such as Japan and in Europe, to seek to replace gas-fired power generation with coal-fired power plants.

The economic rebound from the pandemic took coal power generation to a new record high in 2021, with global coal demand likely hitting another new high in 2022, undermining net-zero efforts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said last month. The global recovery in 2021 dashed any hopes that coal-fired power generation may have peaked, the IEA said."

Edited January 28, 2022 by Ecocharger

[Eyes Wide Open + 3,555]

Europe must get serious about renovating homes to ease energy crisis

As prices rise and Russia threatens to ration supply, the EU urgently needs to cut its gas consumption

Before the gas price crisis — and before the pandemic and the highest inflation in decades — 50m Europeans, or one in four households, were already struggling to afford heating. Even those families not personally threatened by energy poverty were directly affected. Gas companies across Europe have folded or shut their doors to new customers. In one case in the Netherlands, 90,000 customers saw their bills suddenly double after their provider was taken over.

Brussels has already pledged a “renovation wave” as part of the EU Green Deal. Now it is time for member states to launch this in earnest. Shortly before the end of last year, the European Commission proposed new legislation to renovate the most energy-hungry buildings ahead of yet another EU leaders’ meeting that discussed the energy price crisis. There is about €1.8tn available, including €670bn from the recovery fund, a third of which is earmarked for climate action. Surveys show that people want to live in energy-efficient homes, and they are looking to their government to speed the transition to greener buildings.

We need to match this political will and public desire with a credibly financed vision of the warm and affordable homes we want to live in, and with the laws and policies to make it happen.

Brussels Response: Crickets.

https://www.ft.com/content/a0dab19e-1b76-49fa-90aa-4973c7ba7341

[Eyes Wide Open + 3,555]

 

Russia says ‘short-sighted’ EU has only itself to blame for energy crisis

‘Incorrect planning, short-term energy policy is a headache for European politicians, which they are trying to pass on to others,’ says deputy PM.

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-says-short-sighted-eu-has-only-itself-to-blame-for-energy-crisis/

[Eyes Wide Open + 3,555]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/electric-cars/news/for-many-europeans-the-electric-vehicle-revolution-is-a-mirage/

For many Europeans, the electric vehicle revolution is a mirage

Businesses account for a large portion of the electric vehicle uptake, taking advantage of financial incentives aimed at encouraging the move away from polluting vehicles. Corporate fleets make up around 20% of vehicles in Europe.

Financial incentives

Across the bloc, governments are encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles by rolling out tax breaks and subsidies.

But average consumers, unable to draw on corporate accountants and lawyers, often struggle to follow the complex requirements.

In Spain, the government has allocated more than €400 million to incentivise the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations. However, the scheme has been criticised for requiring purchasers to advance 100% of the initial investment.

This system of incentives has proven of little help to middle- and low-income consumers, who find it difficult to advance the higher upfront price, particularly given that it is unknown when the financial aid will arrive. EURACTIV understands that many who availed of the system in 2020 are still awaiting reimbursement a year later.

Furthermore, the management of the reimbursement takes place at a regional level, which has caused delays in its implementation.

Romania has the highest eco-bonuses in Europe to support the purchase of an electric or hybrid vehicle at €10,000, but even with the subsidy the price remains outside of the range of most consumers.

The cheapest EV model in Romania is priced above €30,000, an onerous cost in a market where four times more second-hand cars are registered than new purchases each year.

Similarly, the average electric vehicle price in Bulgaria is between 50% and 75% higher than the fossil fuel alternative in the same class, with the price increasing if a customer opts for a larger battery with more range.

The southeastern European country currently has about 3,400 registered fully electric cars and over 15,000 hybrids. To boost this nascent market, the Bulgarian government has scrapped taxes for electric cars.

[Eyes Wide Open + 3,555]

Why Europe's energy prices are soaring and could get much worse

Citizens in countries like Spain, Italy, France and Poland are now facing all-time-high energy bills that add to the economic woes caused by the pandemic. The popular discontent has put governments on high alert, with ministers scrambling to come up with emergency measures, even if they're short-term and only partially effective to cushion the impact.

https://www.euronews.com/2021/10/28/why-europe-s-energy-prices-are-soaring-and-could-get-much-worse

[Eyes Wide Open + 3,555]

EV sales break records in Europe

Despite an overall declining automotive market, European EV sales have increased by 113% since beginning of 2020 compared to the same period last year, with a total number exceeding 900,000 plugin hybrid vehicles sold to date. Looking at the month of October only, CleanTechnica reports on a 13% market share for plugin vehicles in Europe (6.5% market shares for full electrics).

https://www.eba250.com/ev-sales-break-records-in-europe/

[Eric Gagen + 713]

On 1/28/2022 at 2:47 PM, Ecocharger said:

Well, Eric, the article also points out that the government has ordered all closed coal mines to reopen. That is one huge number of mines, and one huge amount of additional coal.

They didn't order all closed coal mines to re-open.  They ordered 155 (or 145 can't recall) recently closed mines to reopen.  Those mines were shut down because they were small scale and inefficient users of labor.  They will increase employment in coal mining by a measurable degree, but not production.  The numbers of mines and their output often have NOTHING to do with one another.  The largest single mines like Black Thunder or North Antelope are individually capable of producing more than 100 million tons a year of coal. 

A cut at North Antelope - the entire thing from top to bottom is coal, from just below the roots of the grass, to the floor (and slightly below) ~ 110 ft/30 meters thick.  

 

By contrast,  many 'artisanal' mines of the sort the Chinese have been shutting down, or which used to exist in Pennsylvania in the early 20th century in the US might produce 50,000 or 100,000 tons a year under perfect conditions, and basically consist of a hole in the ground and a group of poor workers with picks and other hand tools who haul the coal up in baskets or backpacks.  The only thing comparable about them is the word coal in the organization of the setup.  

Edited February 4, 2022 by Eric Gagen

[ronwagn + 6,290]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/oil-and-gas-industry-rallies-against-environmentalist-biden-fed-nominee Greens are trying to block financial investments in all fossil fuels around the world. Invest directly in oil and gas companies rather than such mutual funds or other brokerages. 

[notsonice + 1,255]

When will UP and BNSF announce they are putting windmills and solar panels alongside its tracks......They own the right of way and can string power poles without having to buy or lease land

 

Union Pacific orders ten Wabtec FLXDrive battery-electric locomotives, the largest investment by a North American railroad

Scooter Doll

- Jan. 28th 2022 1:03 pm PT

 

@SCOOTERDOLL

 

 

 

 

North American railroad Union Pacific announced it has purchased ten FLXDrive battery-electric locomotives from manufacturer Wabtec. The purchase marks the largest number of FLXDrives placed in a single order for Wabtec, as well as the largest investment in battery-electric locomotives by a North American railroad (Union Pacific)North American railroad (Union Pacific).

Union Pacific Railroad ($UNP) is one of the longest-tenured railroads in North America, having been founded in 1862. It currently operates over 8,000 locomotives across 23 of the Western United States, including Illinois and Louisiana.

Union Pacific considers trains the most environmentally-friendly means to transport freight and has recently made further vows to help reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions. This past December, the American railroad published its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan, outlining efforts to significantly reduce emissions throughout its operations.

As part of that plan, UP plans to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions 26% by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. That’s why a purchase from Wabtec makes a lot of sense. Wabtec Corporation ($WAB) is a manufacturer and freight company with over 150 years of expertise in locomotives.

Last June, Wabtec began a California pilot program with its FLXdrive battery-electric freight locomotive. Since the FLXDrive has been commercialized, Wabtec has already seen four orders from railroads including Canadian National Railway (CN) and Rio Tinto in Australia.

Wabtec’s fifth order from Union Pacific is the largest for electric locomotives to date.

Wabtec’s FLXDrive electric locomotive from the front / Source: Wabtec Corp.

Union Pacific orders ten electric locomotives for its rail yards

The new purchase from Wabtec was announced earlier today by Union Pacific, along with a statement from the railroad. Chairman, President, and CEO of Union Pacific, Lance Fritz spoke:

Railroads are already the leader in low emissions ground transportation, and we believe battery-electric locomotives are the next step in our journey to eventually reach net zero. This first phase of testing will further enhance the technology, and, ultimately, benefit the entire industry.

To begin, Union Pacific plans to use the FLXDrive electric locomotives to upgrade its rail yard infrastructure. This is a different approach to Wabtec’s previous FLXDrive customers, who plan to use the locomotives for mainline service.

According to the press release, the ten FLXdrives will enable Union Pacific to eliminate 4,000 tons of carbon from its rail yards each year, which is equivalent to removing 800 cars from the highway. Rafael Santana, President and CEO for Wabtec, also spoke to UP’s purchase:

As an industry leader, Union Pacific is pioneering a major application of battery power in its rail yards. Battery power is an ideal solution to reduce the environmental impact and costs of yard operations. Using the FLXdrive in the rail yard can significantly improve local air quality, as well as reduce noise by up to 70% for neighboring communities.

The electric locomotives will be manufactured in the US, and the first units are expected to reach Union Pacific in late 2023.

Edited January 28, 2022 by notsonice

[footeab@yahoo.com + 2,191]

On 1/27/2022 at 2:54 PM, Ecocharger said:

Out of date....renewables are going up in the cost of inputs, not affordable for the general public purse.

NIT: IF you live in a desert, solar is a slam dunk bud.  Been true for at least 5 years even if you have to go completely off grid with giant battery bank. 

PS: It is currently cheaper to buy an ENTIRE F150 Lightning truck and use its ability to back feed your home at 9kW, than to buy Tesla power walls.  It is literally 2X cheaper.  Hell, buy 2 F150 Lightnings... 98kWh of battery per PU Truck for $40k. 

[footeab@yahoo.com + 2,191]

2 hours ago, notsonice said:

When will UP and BNSF announce they are putting windmills and solar panels alongside its tracks......They own the right of way and can string power poles without having to buy or lease land

 

Union Pacific orders ten Wabtec FLXDrive battery-electric locomotives, the largest investment by a North American railroad

Scooter Doll

- Jan. 28th 2022 1:03 pm PT

 

@SCOOTERDOLL

 

 

 

 

North American railroad Union Pacific announced it has purchased ten FLXDrive battery-electric locomotives from manufacturer Wabtec. The purchase marks the largest number of FLXDrives placed in a single order for Wabtec, as well as the largest investment in battery-electric locomotives by a North American railroad (Union Pacific)North American railroad (Union Pacific).

Union Pacific Railroad ($UNP) is one of the longest-tenured railroads in North America, having been founded in 1862. It currently operates over 8,000 locomotives across 23 of the Western United States, including Illinois and Louisiana.

Union Pacific considers trains the most environmentally-friendly means to transport freight and has recently made further vows to help reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions. This past December, the American railroad published its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan, outlining efforts to significantly reduce emissions throughout its operations.

As part of that plan, UP plans to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions 26% by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. That’s why a purchase from Wabtec makes a lot of sense. Wabtec Corporation ($WAB) is a manufacturer and freight company with over 150 years of expertise in locomotives.

Last June, Wabtec began a California pilot program with its FLXdrive battery-electric freight locomotive. Since the FLXDrive has been commercialized, Wabtec has already seen four orders from railroads including Canadian National Railway (CN) and Rio Tinto in Australia.

Wabtec’s fifth order from Union Pacific is the largest for electric locomotives to date.

Wabtec’s FLXDrive electric locomotive from the front / Source: Wabtec Corp.

Union Pacific orders ten electric locomotives for its rail yards

The new purchase from Wabtec was announced earlier today by Union Pacific, along with a statement from the railroad. Chairman, President, and CEO of Union Pacific, Lance Fritz spoke:

Railroads are already the leader in low emissions ground transportation, and we believe battery-electric locomotives are the next step in our journey to eventually reach net zero. This first phase of testing will further enhance the technology, and, ultimately, benefit the entire industry.

To begin, Union Pacific plans to use the FLXDrive electric locomotives to upgrade its rail yard infrastructure. This is a different approach to Wabtec’s previous FLXDrive customers, who plan to use the locomotives for mainline service.

According to the press release, the ten FLXdrives will enable Union Pacific to eliminate 4,000 tons of carbon from its rail yards each year, which is equivalent to removing 800 cars from the highway. Rafael Santana, President and CEO for Wabtec, also spoke to UP’s purchase:

As an industry leader, Union Pacific is pioneering a major application of battery power in its rail yards. Battery power is an ideal solution to reduce the environmental impact and costs of yard operations. Using the FLXdrive in the rail yard can significantly improve local air quality, as well as reduce noise by up to 70% for neighboring communities.

The electric locomotives will be manufactured in the US, and the first units are expected to reach Union Pacific in late 2023.

No, they could not put up wind turbines.  That requires acerage leased withing ~10X -->15X of diameter of wind turbine. 

Solar... maybe out south west where there are no trees.    Can run the power lines, but once again, reality called derailment and need huge amounts of space for equipment to right derailed cars/trains.  Then throw in easement width which is a mere ~30 ft in most places.  Good luck putting 2 train tracks, side road, power poles, and Solar in 30ft

What they could do is provide a CHEAP easement for solar/wind boys to run new HVDC power lines from the middle of nowhere to somewhere instead of trying to deal with 100,000 land owners who do not want a new power line crossing their property. 

[ronwagn + 6,290]

3 hours ago, footeab@yahoo.com said:

No, they could not put up wind turbines.  That requires acerage leased withing ~10X -->15X of diameter of wind turbine. 

Solar... maybe out south west where there are no trees.    Can run the power lines, but once again, reality called derailment and need huge amounts of space for equipment to right derailed cars/trains.  Then throw in easement width which is a mere ~30 ft in most places.  Good luck putting 2 train tracks, side road, power poles, and Solar in 30ft

What they could do is provide a CHEAP easement for solar/wind boys to run new HVDC power lines from the middle of nowhere to somewhere instead of trying to deal with 100,000 land owners who do not want a new power line crossing their property. 

IMHO LNG would be a lot easier to manage. They can use their own cars and carry all they need between refills. It has already been done and the technology is ready to go. 

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2022/01/28/tesla-share-price-drop-wipes-out-100-billion-of-market-value-in-one-day/

[ronwagn + 6,290]

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2022/01/28/tesla-share-price-drop-wipes-out-100-billion-of-market-value-in-one-day/

Tesla Share Price Drop Wipes Out $100 Billion of Market Value in One Day

1 Edited January 29, 2022 by ronwagn

[Boat + 1,324]

On 1/28/2022 at 3:45 PM, Eyes Wide Open said:

Europe must get serious about renovating homes to ease energy crisis

As prices rise and Russia threatens to ration supply, the EU urgently needs to cut its gas consumption

Before the gas price crisis — and before the pandemic and the highest inflation in decades — 50m Europeans, or one in four households, were already struggling to afford heating. Even those families not personally threatened by energy poverty were directly affected. Gas companies across Europe have folded or shut their doors to new customers. In one case in the Netherlands, 90,000 customers saw their bills suddenly double after their provider was taken over.

Brussels has already pledged a “renovation wave” as part of the EU Green Deal. Now it is time for member states to launch this in earnest. Shortly before the end of last year, the European Commission proposed new legislation to renovate the most energy-hungry buildings ahead of yet another EU leaders’ meeting that discussed the energy price crisis. There is about €1.8tn available, including €670bn from the recovery fund, a third of which is earmarked for climate action. Surveys show that people want to live in energy-efficient homes, and they are looking to their government to speed the transition to greener buildings.

We need to match this political will and public desire with a credibly financed vision of the warm and affordable homes we want to live in, and with the laws and policies to make it happen.

Brussels Response: Crickets.

https://www.ft.com/content/a0dab19e-1b76-49fa-90aa-4973c7ba7341

It seems weird to think about insulation in 2022. In 1980 I put in insulation in the attic. In around 1983 I had holes drilled and used blown in insulation for the walls. I was a young man in my 20’s and paid for it myself working in a factory. Is Europe really that dumb and dependent on the government? Today the insulation of choice for tight home is foam. No government needed. Try work.

[Old-Ruffneck + 1,246]

Not everyone is in wood framed houses that is fairly ez to insulate. Many don't even own their homes, Europeans have a different mindset than we in the U.S, Many homes are not as simple to insulate as homes are built different. Probably would be cheaper to add supplemental heat not connected to grid, such as wood burning stove, or coal, still available, Liquid NG or Propane. If grid fails or Putin shuts off the valves, then yer better adept to not freeze to death.  Just be smart and have a 2 month reserve during the harshest parts of winter.

[Eric Gagen + 713]

2 hours ago, Old-Ruffneck said:

Not everyone is in wood framed houses that is fairly ez to insulate. Many don't even own their homes, Europeans have a different mindset than we in the U.S, Many homes are not as simple to insulate as homes are built different. Probably would be cheaper to add supplemental heat not connected to grid, such as wood burning stove, or coal, still available, Liquid NG or Propane. If grid fails or Putin shuts off the valves, then yer better adept to not freeze to death.  Just be smart and have a 2 month reserve during the harshest parts of winter.

Worse yet, much of the housing stock in Europe is old - like hundreds of years old.  Retrofitting buildings like that to meet modern insulation standards is such a massive project that I don't believe any significant effort has ever been made.  The number of them is too large just to knock them all down and start over, and they are too strategically located to simply abandon them and start over in some other location.  These are all strategies the US uses to weed out obsolete building stock, but Europe hasn't' really done it for a variety of reasons, beyond the wholesale random destruction that took place in WWII.  

 

[Ecocharger + 1,475]

Coal is hot and growing demand in Europe.

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/IEA-Europes-Gas-Demand-Set-To-Decline-In-Favor-Of-Coal.html

"Europe’s natural gas demand is set to decline this year as buyers begin to favor lower-priced coal, the International Energy Agency said in the latest edition of its quarterly gas market report.

According to the IEA, gas demand on the continent is seen declining by 4 percent this year, after rising by more than 5 percent last year. The decline will be partially driven by a reduction in gas burning in the power sector, the agency said, which is seen declining by 6 percent this year.

The decline will be partially compensated by renewables, according to the IEA, which should see a “strong expansion” this year, but also “high gas prices continue to weigh on its competitiveness vis-à-vis coal-fired generation.”"

Edited January 31, 2022 by Ecocharger

[Ecocharger + 1,475]

Here is where the misguided Green energy policies are leading us...to an expensive world with reduced standards of living. This type of economic strangulation completely eluded the intelligence of the current Biden & Co. advisors, who must have skipped their economics classes at whatever liberal university they attended.

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/90-Oil-Is-Only-The-Beginning.html

""The oil market is heading for simultaneously low inventories, low spare capacity and still low investment," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note cited by the Wall Street Journal this week, summing up the situation quite nicely. In this situation, $90 for a barrel of Brent may be just the beginning.

Indeed, the Wall Street consensus seems to be that Brent will reach $100 by the summer because of all the reasons listed by Morgan Stanley and also because breakeven costs are also on the rise, thanks to inflation trends and labor shortages, at least in the United States. Yet the biggest driver of prices will remain physical demand.

The International Energy Agency admitted physical oil demand has proven stronger than previously expected in its latest Oil Market Report. Based on this surprising turn of events, the IEA revised up its 2022 oil demand forecast by 200,000 bpd. And based on its track record, it might well turn out it has once again underestimated demand robustness. Even with this estimate, oil demand will not only return to pre-pandemic levels but exceed them, reaching 99.7 million bpd by the end of the year.

In such a situation, higher prices for oil are all but certain since there is precious little—bar another round of lockdowns which is highly unlikely—anyone can do about them. The question, then, becomes how high oil can go before it begins to go down?

The answer is tricky. U.S. public oil companies are still beholden to their shareholders, who seem to be taking to heart forecasts that oil has no long-term future. They have limited space for doing what they want. Private companies will be drilling as WTI continues climbing higher. And OPEC will be drilling as well, but it may choose to keep controls on production rather than switching to "pump at will," mostly because only a few OPEC members actually have the capacity to pump at will.

Excessively high prices tend to discourage consumption, regardless of the commodity whose prices are getting excessively high. However, there is a caveat, and it is that the commodity must have a viable alternative to discourage consumption when prices rise too high. Judging from Europe's nightmare autumn and winter this year, alternatives to fossil fuels are not yet up to par. This basically means that the impact of high oil prices on demand will be slow to manifest and slow to push prices down."

Edited February 1, 2022 by Ecocharger

[Rob Plant + 2,756]

17 hours ago, Eric Gagen said:

Worse yet, much of the housing stock in Europe is old - like hundreds of years old.  Retrofitting buildings like that to meet modern insulation standards is such a massive project that I don't believe any significant effort has ever been made.  The number of them is too large just to knock them all down and start over, and they are too strategically located to simply abandon them and start over in some other location.  These are all strategies the US uses to weed out obsolete building stock, but Europe hasn't' really done it for a variety of reasons, beyond the wholesale random destruction that took place in WWII.  

 

In the UK pretty much all new build housing (which there is a lot of) has cavity wall and loft insulation, if not there is a government grant for this if required.

Soon you wont be able to replace your gas boiler with a like for like replacement, you will have to buy an air source heat pump, or if you have room a ground source heat pump. All part of the green revolution but actually not a bad idea.

You are correct that older housing often cannot have cavity wall insulation as there isnt a cavity as the walls are solid rock/brick. The other reason may be that the properties are "listed buildings" which means they are protected against alterations.

Edited February 1, 2022 by Rob Plant

[Boat + 1,324]

Oil runs on a just in time market. Oil also has long lead times. Because oil has dozens of countries and thousands of producers it is impossible to anticipate market moves and respond in cooperation. This is why oil is historically so volatile. 
Then you have Putin types, Saudi types and US country types playing politics, disrupting oil flows. But yea, higher prices will drive production and a return to lower prices. It’s called a cycle. 

[Boat + 1,324]

But the EPA can pressure the nation’s dirtiest coal plants to shut down through other means, and the administration is beginning to exercise its leverage.
“Regulations to require power producers to bear the costs of their own pollution are decades overdue,” said Thom Cmar, an attorney with the law firm AltmanNewman who represents environmental groups.

“Sound science makes it clear that we need to limit mercury and toxins in the air to protect children and vulnerable communities from dangerous pollution,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.

In my opinion the US should start with imported pollution. Sell it all to Europe. Maybe they can’t insulate but if it gets cold they will figure out how to burn it. 

[ronwagn + 6,290]

On 1/28/2022 at 5:00 PM, notsonice said:

When will UP and BNSF announce they are putting windmills and solar panels alongside its tracks......They own the right of way and can string power poles without having to buy or lease land

 

Union Pacific orders ten Wabtec FLXDrive battery-electric locomotives, the largest investment by a North American railroad

Scooter Doll

- Jan. 28th 2022 1:03 pm PT

 

@SCOOTERDOLL

 

 

 

 

North American railroad Union Pacific announced it has purchased ten FLXDrive battery-electric locomotives from manufacturer Wabtec. The purchase marks the largest number of FLXDrives placed in a single order for Wabtec, as well as the largest investment in battery-electric locomotives by a North American railroad (Union Pacific)North American railroad (Union Pacific).

Union Pacific Railroad ($UNP) is one of the longest-tenured railroads in North America, having been founded in 1862. It currently operates over 8,000 locomotives across 23 of the Western United States, including Illinois and Louisiana.

Union Pacific considers trains the most environmentally-friendly means to transport freight and has recently made further vows to help reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions. This past December, the American railroad published its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan, outlining efforts to significantly reduce emissions throughout its operations.

As part of that plan, UP plans to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions 26% by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. That’s why a purchase from Wabtec makes a lot of sense. Wabtec Corporation ($WAB) is a manufacturer and freight company with over 150 years of expertise in locomotives.

Last June, Wabtec began a California pilot program with its FLXdrive battery-electric freight locomotive. Since the FLXDrive has been commercialized, Wabtec has already seen four orders from railroads including Canadian National Railway (CN) and Rio Tinto in Australia.

Wabtec’s fifth order from Union Pacific is the largest for electric locomotives to date.

Wabtec’s FLXDrive electric locomotive from the front / Source: Wabtec Corp.

Union Pacific orders ten electric locomotives for its rail yards

The new purchase from Wabtec was announced earlier today by Union Pacific, along with a statement from the railroad. Chairman, President, and CEO of Union Pacific, Lance Fritz spoke:

Railroads are already the leader in low emissions ground transportation, and we believe battery-electric locomotives are the next step in our journey to eventually reach net zero. This first phase of testing will further enhance the technology, and, ultimately, benefit the entire industry.

To begin, Union Pacific plans to use the FLXDrive electric locomotives to upgrade its rail yard infrastructure. This is a different approach to Wabtec’s previous FLXDrive customers, who plan to use the locomotives for mainline service.

According to the press release, the ten FLXdrives will enable Union Pacific to eliminate 4,000 tons of carbon from its rail yards each year, which is equivalent to removing 800 cars from the highway. Rafael Santana, President and CEO for Wabtec, also spoke to UP’s purchase:

As an industry leader, Union Pacific is pioneering a major application of battery power in its rail yards. Battery power is an ideal solution to reduce the environmental impact and costs of yard operations. Using the FLXdrive in the rail yard can significantly improve local air quality, as well as reduce noise by up to 70% for neighboring communities.

The electric locomotives will be manufactured in the US, and the first units are expected to reach Union Pacific in late 2023.

That is nice and will be fine when there is plenty of electricity. Right now, I doubt that is the case. Rather it will worsen the problem if too many are out there too soon. Natural gas locomotives make more sense to me. 

[Eric Gagen + 713]

24 minutes ago, ronwagn said:

That is nice and will be fine when there is plenty of electricity. Right now, I doubt that is the case. Rather it will worsen the problem if too many are out there too soon. Natural gas locomotives make more sense to me. 

If you look at the Union Pacific plan,  they intend to use the electric locomotives in switch yards.  Locos under those conditions spend a lot of time idling, moving small/light loads, and speeding up and slowing down - basically conditions under which a diesel locomotive isn't as efficient.  The electric locos would probably 'do their runs' then at the end of their shift, and then pull into a charging stall.  Outside of built up urban areas, most railyards have a lot of space around them,  so if they wanted to,  I would hazard to guess that UP could charge them up with solar power if desired.  I think however that they intend to use these electric switchers in the most heavily urban yards, where the mitigation of noise and diesel soot would probably pay for themselves in good relations with their neighbors. 

[ronwagn + 6,290]

5 hours ago, Eric Gagen said:

If you look at the Union Pacific plan,  they intend to use the electric locomotives in switch yards.  Locos under those conditions spend a lot of time idling, moving small/light loads, and speeding up and slowing down - basically conditions under which a diesel locomotive isn't as efficient.  The electric locos would probably 'do their runs' then at the end of their shift, and then pull into a charging stall.  Outside of built up urban areas, most railyards have a lot of space around them,  so if they wanted to,  I would hazard to guess that UP could charge them up with solar power if desired.  I think however that they intend to use these electric switchers in the most heavily urban yards, where the mitigation of noise and diesel soot would probably pay for themselves in good relations with their neighbors. 

Natural gas switchers have been used for several years also. 

https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/locomotives/optifuel-producing-natural-gas-switchers/