Today, Congressmen John Moolenaar, Jay Obernolte, and Craig Goldman introduced the LOCOMOTIVES Act. This legislation aims to restrict California’s ability to impose stringent regulations on trains entering the state. The bill proposes changes to Section 209 of the Clean Air Act to prevent the California Air Resources Board (CARB) from obtaining waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which would enforce stricter environmental standards on interstate trains than those set by the federal government.
Moolenaar expressed concerns about California’s influence on national freight policy, stating, “Nearly every industry relies on railway to ship their goods and access markets across the world.” He emphasized that California’s policies could hinder Michigan’s economy and other states’ access to global markets.
Obernolte criticized CARB’s proposed locomotive standards for potentially disrupting interstate commerce. He stated, “California should not be hijacking national freight policy with unreasonable emissions mandates.” He added that these mandates could increase costs for American families and disrupt rail operations nationwide.
Goldman highlighted the importance of railways as a cost-effective means of transport and expressed support for standardizing locomotive regulations across states. He said, “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.”
The LOCOMOTIVES Act has received endorsements from several organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Railroads. Chuck Baker from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association praised Moolenaar’s leadership in introducing this legislation, stating it would close a loophole in the Clean Air Act.
Ian Jefferies, President and CEO of AAR, supported Moolenaar’s efforts for regulatory certainty, noting that there are currently no commercially viable zero-emissions locomotives available. Sarah Wiltfong from the Supply Chain Federation highlighted that maintaining federal authority over mobile emissions is crucial for preserving consistency in freight rail systems.
In 2023, CARB requested an EPA waiver to ban trains older than 23 years unless they operated with zero emissions in California. Though withdrawn last year, similar requests can be resubmitted anytime. If approved, such waivers could prevent two-thirds of existing trains from accessing major ports in California.
