Cathy McMorris Rodgers - the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Cathy McMorris Rodgers - the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee | Official U.S. House headshot
On May 10, 2024, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA) submitted a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan. The correspondence outlined their concerns about the potential impact of new California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations on the rail sector.
POLITICO’s Morning Transportation Newsletter exclusively covered the letter. It highlighted that the Chairs are urging EPA Administrator Michael Regan to reject a California proposal which aims to enforce stricter emissions standards on specific trains operating within the state.
The lawmakers argue that this rule — approved last year by CARB and set to restrict certain trains from operating in the state by 2030 unless they are less than 23 years old or zero-emissions vehicles — would “lead to higher consumer prices, impair the country’s transportation system, and harm interstate commerce.”
Key excerpts from their letter read: “We write regarding the 'In-use Locomotive Regulation' (hereinafter 'the CARB regulation') issued by CARB, which would force the premature retirement of reliable and affordable diesel locomotives and has the potential to upend our nation’s rail system and supply chains. CARB has made a request to EPA for Federal authorization of the CARB regulation, which would impose zero-emissions requirements on locomotives... California’s requested authorization, if granted, would violate statutory authority, negatively impact States without public policy goals of California, lead to higher consumer prices, impair the country’s transportation system, and harm interstate commerce."
They further note that "Rail transportation makes up just 1.7 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Rather than seeking top-down command-and-control policies which will raise costs, hasten consolidation in the rail sector, and do little to reduce overall emissions footprint globally, we urge you to reject California’s authorization request."
The full letter to Administrator Regan can be accessed [here](https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/EPA.2024.5.10.%20Letter%20re%20CARB%20Locomotive%20Regulation.RM_.pdf).
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