For once the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality made a decent decision. Much like previous efforts in California, Texas has helped pay for 98 low emission locomotives for the Union Pacific rail road to use in Texas locations.
$75 million may seem like a lot, but that still only covered 75% of the cost of those trains. But compared to the air quality benefit we may be winning out on this one. A normal diesel locomotive emits 26 tons of nitrous oxide PER DAY, which is 7% of the total amount of the entire DFW metroplex. The new engines cut their emissions by 54 to 63 percent on average.
One question we do have is this. Why did the state have to subsidize a multi-BILLION dollar company like Union Pacific to get these engines? In the same article, it mentions the BNSF railroad already has some of these trains in operation, which one would assume they paid for themselves (correct us if we're wrong). UP's 3rd quarter 2007 profit alone was over $500 million. We also can not find where California paid UP for the implementation of these same locomotives. It seems there, it was a mandate agreed upon by both UP and BNSF.
Couldn't they pay for just a teeny bit more of the cost on these engines themselves? As consumers, we already pay for them indirectly by paying the shipping costs that UP charges the companies who provide us our goods. Shipping costs are passed on to us in our retail prices.
Maybe it is time Texas legislators step up to the plate and mandate cleaner air. If the Republicans in control are so pro free market, then make the free market step up as well! But in the meantime, kudos to the TCEQ and UP for trying to do something about the problem.
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