Black carbon and its climate impact: What we know

We’ve been told lots about greenhouse gases (GHGs) and what effect these have on atmospheric warming and climate. They are therefore grouped or classified thusly as: climate pollutants. But, the climate-pollutant class is not limited to greenhouse gases alone. Black carbon (also known as elemental carbon) is an element under that umbrella as well. Carbon … Read more

Increased Parkinson’s risk with higher exposure levels of soot, study finds

Living in areas of the United States with higher levels of air pollution is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a preliminary study released today, February 23, 2023, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting being held in person in Boston and live online from … Read more

California Community Air Protection Program coverage broadened

The California Air Resources Board approved adding two new communities for the Community Air Protection Program to continue the statewide fight to clean the air, especially in communities overburdened with air pollution as mandated under [California] Assembly Bill 617. Members of the Board selected two communities recommended by CARB staff for the fifth year of … Read more

1st green-hydrogen passenger train to demonstrate in Montreal during summer

Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, in partnership with the Government of Quebec, Chemin de fer Charlevoix, Train de Charlevoix, Harnois Énergies and HTEC, has announced a passenger service demonstration project for its Coradia iLint hydrogen-powered train. During summer 2023, the Coradia iLint will carry passengers on the Réseau Charlevoix rail network, along … Read more

Trains: The American electric

At the time of the electric locomotive’s U.S. debut in 1865, American railroading was, from then on, forever changed. On more than a few rail lines, electricity became the mode-moving method of choice. For those rail enterprises taking the electricity plunge, as long as such remained viable and relevant, said operations were kept operational: electric … Read more

Legal accord forces EPA action to further smog reductions in CA, TX communities, counties

The Environmental Protection Agency agreed today [Feb. 21, 2023] to meet deadlines for reducing smog in parts of California and Texas that have some of the nation’s worst air pollution. Today’s agreement followed a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health challenging the EPA’s failure to ensure that San Diego County … Read more

In effort to meet global climate targets, should U.S. be exporting LNG?

Here’s the deal: Based on the myriad observations made and pertinent data gathered by scientists (many of whom are world-renowned, by the way) over the years supporting, with a high degree of confidence, the premise that the earth risks going off the edge climatologically speaking if we don’t get off the human-induced greenhouse gas-emitting track … Read more

Intermodal connectivity key to successful high-speed train operation in the Valley

Okay, I’ll say it: Intermodal connectivity is fundamental to successful high-speed rail operation in California’s San Joaquin Valley on what is now known as the Interim Initial Operating Segment (IOS), a 171-mile-long double-tracked, fully grade-separated high-speed railroad corridor to serve the needs of passengers traveling end to end or on any portion thereof in between, … Read more

Natural gas sure getting its share of attention, lately

These days, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t notice (witnessing first-hand, seeing or hearing, watching on television) something having to do with air pollution. It figures, doesn’t it?! Just this past Sun., Feb. 5, 2023, in fact, a related story was included in CBS’ “Sunday Morning” lineup. The segment mostly had … Read more