Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Climate Change

Electrification in the Climate Bill: Thinking Bigger Than a Car

At today's Senate energy committee hearing on climate change, there was much talk about electricity -- how it could be generated under a cap-and-trade system and how prices could remain within consumers' reach even as the nation begins to put a price on carbon.

russia_400x320.jpgAn electrified rail line. (Photo: Metrolinx)

In fact, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) even suggested that electricity should be separated entirely in the Senate's pending climate bill. "How about the utility-electric sector using one approach and maybe getting to our goals through the transportation sector a different way?" she asked.

But what went unmentioned was that electrification is already attracting intense interest from players in the transport sector, even before the first fully electric autos hit the mass market. It's rail networks, both freight and passenger, that are gearing up plans to electrify their operations, citing both environmental and economic benefits.

So what would the already-passed House climate bill do for electrification of existing rail? Not too much; the lion's share of the attention goes to development of new electric battery technology and charging stations. As Daily Kos contributor Bruce McF put it:

Now, there is plenty of funding in the bill for vehicleelectrification. Plug-in cars, plug-in trucks, plug-in buses, all getfunding. However, vehicle electrification funds read as if they werewritten by a battery manufacturer: existingelectrified rail and trolley bus technologies are restricted toexisting underfunded federal transit funding with discriminatoryfunding formulas. It seems that the motto for vehicle electrificationfunding is, "Lord, make me virtuous, but please, not quite right now."

Will the Senate climate bill dedicate more funding for electrifying the infrastructure we already have? That remains to be seen -- but voters can expect a healthy debate over how to generate power for the electric-vehicle renaissance envisioned by the Obama administration.

Energy committee Republicans were, perhaps predictably, focused on nuclear. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), in a brief interview after the hearing, described nuclear as "the most stable baseload power source" available and called indirectly nuclear-fueled electric vehicles "something that makes our country stronger."

The prospect of nuclear-powered rail is not out of the realm of the possible. Eurostar revealed in May that it had met its target of a 25 percent reduction in per-passenger emissions three years ahead of schedule, thanks to nuclear power generated by French stations.

A U.S. version of the Eurostar experience, however, would be extremely difficult without a climate bill that focuses more aid on electrifying existing train systems.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

First New Yorker To Get A Subsidized E-Bike: ‘It’s Perfect’

Meet the first person in the Empire state to get a subsidised e-bike!

April 28, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Defy Duffy

It was a bad week for the transportation secretary, between firing too many DOT employees and his lawyers accidentally undermining their own case in a congestion pricing lawsuit.

April 28, 2025

USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy Is Dead Wrong About Bike Lanes

The Secretary of Transportation says he hasn't seen enough data to believe in the benefits of bike lanes. So we put together an explainer help him out — mostly using information from his own department.

April 25, 2025

Friday Video: Check Out Lorde On a Bike!

The Kiwi singer is on the top of the charts — and in our bike-riding hearts.

April 25, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Dodge Death

Thankfully, traffic deaths have started to fall. But cars and drivers are still killing too many people. Why?

April 25, 2025
See all posts