AAR（美國鐵路協(xié)會）對白宮關(guān)于減少貨運部門溫室氣體排放的藍(lán)圖作出回應(yīng)

美國鐵路協(xié)會概述了聯(lián)邦政府與美國貨運鐵路行業(yè)合作的八種方式，以減少貨運部門的溫室氣體排放，"有效地應(yīng)對氣候變化"。

AAR周二發(fā)布的新文件，是在政府估計計算出到2040年貨運總需求預(yù)計將增長30%的情況下發(fā)布的。同時，拜登政府在一月份主張利用貨運鐵路作為實現(xiàn)脫碳的途徑，因為按噸位里程計算，鐵路占美國貨運的大約28%，但只占美國運輸總排放量的2%，根據(jù)AAR引用拜登的藍(lán)圖。

"如果鐵路運輸?shù)呢浳镛D(zhuǎn)移我們最大的卡車運輸量的10%，溫室氣體排放量每年將減少2000多萬噸。這就像從高速公路上移走400萬輛汽車或種植3億棵樹，"AAR的報告說。

貨運鐵路行業(yè)和聯(lián)邦資源可以合作的八種方式是：

• 通過鐵路和鐵路制造商與聯(lián)邦政府之間的合作，支持低排放和零排放的機車研究，以及繼續(xù)為先進(jìn)的研究提供聯(lián)邦資金。

• 通過繼續(xù)支持短線鐵路的資本贈款項目以及機車制造商和鐵路供應(yīng)商的贈款和貸款項目，幫助鐵路合作伙伴實現(xiàn)脫碳。

• 當(dāng)機車技術(shù)在商業(yè)上可行，并且操作上安全可靠時，允許鐵路公司將其機車車隊過渡到零排放技術(shù)。AAR說，這包括不對鐵路行業(yè)的減排施加規(guī)定性的手段。

• 推行將鐵路視為低碳交通解決方案的政策，包括實施考慮車輛重量的車輛行駛里程費。

• 使鐵路公司能夠做出運營決策，使承運人能夠最大限度地利用燃料和貨運需求，包括選擇不對列車長度進(jìn)行限制，鐵路公司說這可以提高燃料效率，并最終通過運營減少排放。

• 通過優(yōu)先考慮替代燃料的供應(yīng)和支持?jǐn)U大電池、氫氣、生物柴油和可再生柴油的供應(yīng)、提高其性能和降低其成本的計劃，促進(jìn)基礎(chǔ)廣泛的、經(jīng)濟(jì)范圍內(nèi)的向凈零排放過渡。

• 通過促進(jìn)創(chuàng)新和允許簡化豁免審查的機會，鼓勵測試新的安全技術(shù)，鼓勵試點項目和建立基于性能的閾值。

• 擁抱許可改革，鼓勵對環(huán)境影響進(jìn)行及時、重點審查。

AAR說，還可以通過對機車以及交換機車、起重機和服務(wù)卡車等貨場設(shè)備的戰(zhàn)略性和針對性投資來實現(xiàn)減排。據(jù)該貿(mào)易集團(tuán)稱，還可以開發(fā)和安裝燃料管理和網(wǎng)絡(luò)優(yōu)化系統(tǒng)，以確保燃料效率，同時也提高網(wǎng)絡(luò)的流動性。還可以開展工作，開發(fā)更符合空氣動力學(xué)、高強度和更輕量級的鋼制軌道車。

"減少排放的需要不僅是一個環(huán)境問題；也是一個經(jīng)濟(jì)問題，"AAR總裁兼首席執(zhí)行官Ian Jefferies在新報告的發(fā)布中說。"這一點從未像現(xiàn)在這樣明確。政策制定者必須與私營部門合作，推進(jìn)務(wù)實的、以解決方案為導(dǎo)向的政策，支持立即減排并鼓勵長期的、可持續(xù)的解決方案。作為陸地上最有效的貨運方式，鐵路是推動進(jìn)一步收益的重要合作伙伴。"

Freight rail trade group urges federal collaboration to reduce GHGs

AAR responds to White House blueprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from freight transport sector

The Association of American Railroads has outlined eight ways that the federal government can work with the U.S. freight rail industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the freight transportation sector and “effectively combat climate change.”

AAR’s new paper, released Tuesday, comes as government estimates calculate that total freight demand is anticipated to grow by 30% by 2040. Meanwhile, the Biden administration in January advocated using freight rail as a path toward decarbonization because rail makes up approximately 28% of U.S. freight movement by ton-miles but only accounts for about 2% of total U.S. transportation emissions, according to AAR, quoting Biden’s blueprint.

“If rail moved 10% of the freight shipped by our largest trucks, GHG emissions would fall by more than 20 million tons annually. That’s like taking four million cars off the highways or planting 300 million trees,” AAR’s report said.

The eight ways that the freight rail industry and federal resources can work together are:

Supporting low- and zero-emission locomotive research through partnerships between railroads and rail manufacturers and the federal government, as well as continued federal funding for advanced research.

Helping railroad partners decarbonize through continued support of capital grant programs for short-line railroads and grant and loan programs for locomotive manufacturers and rail suppliers.

Allowing railroads to transition their locomotive fleets to zero-emission technologies when those technologies are commercially viable as well as operationally safe and reliable. This includes not imposing prescriptive means for reducing emissions in the rail industry, AAR said.

Pursuing policies that see rail as a low-carbon transportation solution, including implementing a vehicle miles traveled fee that considers vehicle weight.

Enabling railroads to make operational decisions that allow carriers to maximize fuel usage and freight demand, including opting not to impose restrictions on train lengths, which the railroads say improves fuel efficiency and ultimately reduces emissions through operations.

Promoting a broad-based, economywide transition to net-zero emissions by prioritizing the availability of alternative fuels and supporting programs that expand the availability, enhance the performance and lower the costs of batteries, hydrogen, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Encouraging testing of new safety technologies through promoting innovation and allowing for opportunities to streamline waiver reviews, encourage pilot programs and establish performance-based thresholds.

Embracing permitting reform that encourages timely, focused reviews of environmental impacts.

Emissions reductions can also be met through strategic and targeted investments in locomotives as well as yard equipment such as switcher locomotives, cranes and service trucks, AAR said. Fuel management and network optimization systems can also be developed and installed to ensure fuel efficiency while also improving network fluidity, according to the trade group. Work can also be done to develop more aerodynamic, high-strength and lighter-weight steel rail cars.

“The need to reduce emissions is not only an environmental issue; it’s an economic issue,” AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies said in a release for the new report. “This has never been more clear. Policymakers must engage in partnership with the private sector to advance pragmatic, solutions-oriented policies that support immediate emissions reductions and encourage longer-term, sustainable solutions. As the most efficient way to move freight over land, rail is a critical partner in driving further gains.”