On May 5, Congressmen John Moolenaar (R-MI), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Craig Goldman (R-TX) introduced the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives Act (LOCOMOTIVES Act), which aims to limit California’s ability to place “unsustainable” regulations on trains crossing into the state.
The legislation would revise Section 209 of the Clean Air Act to close a loophole that allows the California Air Resources Board to request waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency that would require interstate trains to abide by stricter environmental standards.
“As railways continue to serve as a cost-effective and reliable means of transporting goods, California’s extreme green energy regulations will prevent most locomotives from operating within the state,” said Goldman in a press release. “This bill is an important measure to standardize locomotive regulations across states.”
The LOCOMOTIVES Act is endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the North American Millers Association, the Supply Chain Federation, and the National Grain and Feed Association. The Intermodal Association of North America supports the bill, too.
“Intermodal freight transportation requires that public and private entities work in concert to move goods from origin to destination, utilizing the best attributes of rail, road, and water transport,” said IANA President and Chief Executive Officer Anne Reinke in a prepared statement. “These movements cross jurisdictional boundaries and require regulatory harmonization to deliver goods safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.”
In 2023, the California Air Resources Board requested a waiver from the EPA, which would prohibit trains older than 23 years old from operating in the state unless it operates on a zero emissions configuration. The waiver was withdrawn last year; however, California could resubmit a similar request at any time. If California’s waiver request was granted, effectively two-thirds of all currently operating trains could not cross into the state, leaving them unable to access two of the largest ports in the country, according to the press release.
Congress should butt-out. If Californians want to starve to death, that is their choice.