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The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), on Tuesday announced signing a contract with Siemens to manufacture 32 high-performance, diesel-electric locomotives in Sacramento.
The next-generation locomotives will comply with strict federal emissions standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent.
“California continues to lead the way in offering robust and sustainable alternative transportation choices, which is especially important given the record-setting ridership that we’ve experienced over the last several years,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “This agreement will help boost our transportation infrastructure, strengthen the local economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The joint procurement contract has an estimated value of $225 million, supporting skilled and high-wage jobs in California.
The locomotives, known as Chargers, will be built at the Siemens rail manufacturing facility in Sacramento. The plant, which has been in operation for nearly 30 years, currently employs 800 workers and is powered primarily by solar energy.
“California boasts the nation's largest manufacturing sector which supports over 1.2 million jobs and has enjoyed three straight years of job growth in the state,” said California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Director Kish Rajan. “Siemens is a strong member of the California manufacturing industry and GO-Biz applauds their efforts to build the next generation of energy efficient locomotives in the Sacramento area.”
This project will bring new passenger rail equipment to California intercity passenger rail services, which will promote increased ridership, and have environmental benefits by reducing the amount of automobile traffic, automobile miles traveled, and associated emissions.
The next-generation Charger locomotives will be powered by a 4400 horsepower rated diesel-electric engine that complies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s strict, Tier 4 emissions standards, reducing greenhouse gas emissions approximately 85 percent compared with some existing locomotives.
The locomotives will also meet performance requirements for diesel-electric passenger locomotives set by the Next-Generation Equipment Committee, a coalition of government and industry experts promoting safe and efficient passenger rail in the United States.
The project includes options for 225 additional locomotives that could be administered through IDOT for other states.
“As a global leader in rail innovation, we are thrilled to be able to showcase our new passenger rail, diesel-electric locomotive technology in this country,” said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens Rail System in the U.S. “These state-of-the-art, energy efficient locomotives will be built in America using renewable energy and will provide a cleaner, safer and faster means of transportation for rail passengers.”
California and Illinois forged today’s multistate procurement using grant funds from the Federal Railroad Administration. Caltrans will purchase six of the locomotives for use on state-supported intercity passenger rail corridors within California.
The rest of the locomotives will be purchased by states including Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington. Caltrans’ locomotives will cost approximately $45 million, with 80 percent of the funding provided by the federal government and 20 percent coming from Proposition 1B bond funds.
Through innovation and a focus on efficiency, Caltrans is working to build a more sustainable transportation system in California.
Earlier this month, Caltrans released results of the California Household Travel Survey – the largest and most complex review of its kind – which found that the percent of California residents walking, biking or using public transportation has more than doubled since 2000.
Below are some other examples of efforts by Caltrans to reduce emissions and improve sustainability in California’s transportation system:
Eliminating 160,000 tons of CO2 equivalent annually – the equivalent of removing 31,000 cars off the road – by reducing traffic congestion, embracing new standards for construction materials, alternative fuels, efficient lighting, and renewable energy;
Using thousands of tons of rubberized asphalt concrete made from recycled tires to repave highways in California and reduce the impact on landfills;
Purchasing more efficient vehicle engines and retrofitting its fleet of vehicles with the best available emissions control technology;
Funding millions of dollars annually in rail and transit construction projects that improve quality of life and reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on the effort of Caltrans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, read the 2013 Caltrans Activities to Address Climate Change report: www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/13pr030.htm .
A copy of the master agreement is available here at www.dot.ca.gov/docs/Master_agreement_for_multi-state_locomotive_procurement.pdf .
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two new wines hit the Lake County wine scene – 2012 Viognier (vee-ohn-yay) and 2010 Bordeaux style Red Wine blend from R Vineyards.
A wine release celebration is planned for Sunday, March 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake.
Cost for the wine sampler with paired appetizer bites is $10 per person.
“Long overdue, we finally did it,” said winemaker David Rosenthal. “It has been fun to bottle and label the grapes from our vines.”
Longtime grape growers in Middletown, the Rosenthal family started a fine line of wines in 2014 under the brand name R Vineyards.
“It all started back in the early 70s when my parents bought a vineyard in South Lake County,” said Rosenthal. “Next thing I knew I had a winemaking degree from UC Davis and grape-stained fingers.”
During Rosenthal's 30+ years in winemaking, he has collaborated with a number of North Coast winemakers and consultants including Andre Tchelistcheff.
Today, Rosenthal handles the winemaking for Yokayo Wine Co. in Ukiah and manages the vineyards in Middletown along with his family.
The newly released Viognier and Red Wine Bordeaux style blend are from the Rosenthals' vineyard. Both wines are 100 percent Lake County fruit grown in the Jafa soils on the flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains in Middletown.
These wines are in the “must taste” category of Lake County wines.
The 2012 Viognier has distinct and intense floral aromatics with an undercurrent of acidity making it an irresistible food friendly wine.
The 2010 Red Wine is a 51 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 49 percent Cabernet Franc blend with a robust Bordeaux nose, berries, currants and expresso on the palate and a captivating label.
The Rosenthals will release a Cabernet Franc and an Old Vine Zinfandel under the R Vineyards label by 2015.
R Vineyards wines are currently available at Lake County Wine Studio and Blue Wing Salon in Upper Lake, Hardester’s Markets in South Lake County and LaParrilla and Twin Pine Casino in Middletown or email
For more information about R Vineyards wine tasting or Lake County Wine Studio contact Susan at Feiler at 707-275-8030 or
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – LakeWorks at 307 N. Main St. in Lakeport will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, March 21.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. with refreshments, guest artists and special sale prices.
Then, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Chacewater's award-winning winery will host a wine bar with live music until 7:30 p.m.
Manager Cheri Holden explained that all the arts, crafts and products found in LakeWorks are created by artisans living in Lake County.
“A beautiful shop has been created by our local makers; from crochet hooks to quilts, beadwork to books by local authors, from ironworks to laceworks, and exquisite jewelry to handsome oak wine barrel furniture,” she said.
Visit LakeWorks, especially on March 21, and support Lake County's local talent.
For more information call 707-263-5787 or like LakeWorks on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/lakemade .
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A surge in gas consumption, as California motorists hit the road early this year, has caused state fuel prices to rise significantly.
Prices are following their typical yearly trend by moving up during the spring, peaking during the summer and decreasing through the fall.
Today’s prices are $0.28 cents higher than a month ago, according to the AAA Northern California monthly gas survey.
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.84, that’s $0.26 cents more than last month’s AAA report on February 11, 2014. For perspective, gas prices today are $0.26 cheaper than California’s average price on this date last year.
“While retail gas prices are climbing, oil analysts predict higher prices over the next month due to seasonal refinery maintenance and the required switchover to produce summer-blend gasoline,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “These factors coupled with unexpected market-moving events, such as unplanned domestic refinery maintenance or further escalation of geopolitical tensions with Russia, could cause prices to shoot up even higher.”
Today’s national average price at the pump is $3.49 per gallon—the highest price in nearly six months. This price is $0.03 higher than one week ago and $0.22 more than one month ago, however national prices are still $0.21 per gallon less than the same date last year.
The national average continues to climb steadily and has increased for 31 straight days, jumping almost a quarter during this span.
Rapidly escalating tensions in Ukraine pressured West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices to a more than six-month high last Monday.
However, crude oil prices dropped during the week as the situation stabilized, resulting in a more than $3.00 per barrel drop by midweek.
Market watchers will continue to monitor the Russian-Ukrainian conflict closely. The associated geopolitical tensions are likely to keep oil prices from falling too far.
Crude prices declined again today following bearish economic news from China over the weekend rather than the easing tensions with Russia.
China has the second largest economy in the world so a weaker than expected Chinese economic report means a lower consumption of crude oil.
This trend puts downward pressure on global crude prices. At the close of today’s formal trading on the NYMEX, WTI crude settled down $1.46 at $101.12 per barrel.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Ukiah where regular unleaded gasoline is $3.68 per gallon.
Of all the metro areas tracked by AAA in Northern California, Eureka has the highest price at $3.98 per gallon of unleaded regular.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair.
The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also helps conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with more than 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.
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