Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
The below Dec. 8, 2020 news release is from the California High-Speed Rail Authority. California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announced today it has received national recognition with the Envision Platinum rating for its sustainability efforts. The Envision Platinum rating is the highest-level award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, and the award is the first … Read more
The below Dec. 1, 2020 news release is from Sound Transit. Sound Transit’s Link light rail system is now running on 100 percent carbon-free electricity, making it the first major light rail system in the country to achieve this milestone. The accomplishment is made possible through an innovative agreement with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to … Read more
I think trying to determine whether separate thoroughfares – be these primary or secondary vehicle-traveled ways – for buses and trucks apart from that for automobiles would make for an excellent case study. And, one of the locations where an old railroad corridor could serve as a proving ground is in Santa Cruz County, California, … Read more
Atmospheric carbon neutrality which is another way of saying “net-zero carbon emissions within the atmospheric medium,” at first blush sounds really awesome. But, is it really – all that awesome, that is? Before attempting to answer this question one way or the other, at the very least in order here is a review of carbon/carbon … Read more
The below Oct. 27, 2020 press release is from KeHE Distributors. As part of the company’s quadruple bottom line, focusing on people, purpose, planet and profit, KeHE Distributors announced today it will power its food distribution center in Stockton, California with Bloom Energy Servers to provide clean and reliable electricity. By adding Bloom Energy fuel … Read more
So, who isn’t familiar with the expression freedom of choice? Or, its close relative: The freedom to choose? Or another: It’s all about choice? Or yet another: The choice is (y)ours? Choice or the ability to choose is humankind’s most powerful tool. That’s a very profound construct! And something no one should ever forget! When … Read more
The XpressWest high-speed rail project, to connect Nevada’s Las Vegas to California’s Victorville and beyond, has an anticipated winter 2020-’21 construction start date, with a ’23-’24 projected begin operations/service date. The line, some 180 miles long – 135 miles of which will be in the Golden State – has a $5 billion building-cost estimate. XpressWest … Read more
The below Apr. 28, 2020 press release is from Earthjustice. Today the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released an updated draft of the nation’s first electric truck standard. The rule asks manufacturers to build zero-emission vehicles that would help strengthen public health in vulnerable communities, and is key to tackling California’s longstanding air quality crisis. … Read more
Trackless trains by definition have no wheels nor do they rely on rails upon which railroad wheels roll, as is the case with conventional rail systems, the exception being the Tubular Rail passenger application, in this case the understanding being that the plan is to employ rails (and rollers which, according to the plan, are … Read more
The utmost in interplanetary human transport has yet to be commercially delivered. Such is the same regarding delivery of the utmost in intra-planetary travel. We have not yet arrived at either of those so-called “destinations.” Though on the journeys there, we’ve been uninterruptedly, if not, unwaveringly, plodding along. As for what we’re in search of … Read more