The California train will begin using fuel made from used cooking oil and other non-fossil fuel sources.
Amtrak will start using ‘renewable’ diesel oil in its Pacific Surfliner trails, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive.
The fuel will come from sources such as used cooking oil, which the Los Angeles—San Diego—San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency claims will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 63 percent throughout its life cycle. “According to a LOSSAN spokesperson, no changes were needed for the locomotives to run on renewable diesel, and the cost per gallon is comparable to fossil-fuel-derived diesel fuel.”
The U.S. Department of Energy says while the net supply of renewable diesel has grown from 58 million gallons in 2011 to almost 1.9 billion in 2022, demand could soon outpace supply as more transit agencies look to replace fossil fuels with other sources. “‘Fuels made from wastes and residues are in particularly high demand because they satisfy GHG and feedstock policy objectives in the United States and Europe,’ according to a 2022 IEA report.”
FULL STORY: Amtrak switches to renewable diesel fuel for ‘Pacific Surfliner’ trains
Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train
A scenic Southern California line could require relocation as rising sea levels destabilize the coastal soil that supports its tracks.
Amtrak Cascades Line Breaks Ridership Record
The route linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC served nearly one million riders in 2024.
What the US Intercity Rail System Could Look Like
An FRA study shows how new Amtrak lines could connect tens of millions more Americans to rail travel.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service