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Power Plants On Rails for California

Posted by chrisd on from the bringing-the-mountain-to-mohammad dept.

SoCalChris writes "According to this article on Wired.com, the Sierra Railroad is planning to use diesel train locomotives to produce power for California. Each of the 48 engines are expected to produce 2.1 megawatts of power for a thousand hours each year. Another key advantage to this plan is that since the "PowerTrains" are mobile, they can be taken to the areas that need power the most, so it doesn't have to be routed across the state through our power grid."

3 of 425 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This has to be inefficient by rjamestaylor · · Score: 2, Flamebait
    Even my 2 year-old-son knows that these engines are called "Diesel Electrics" (well, he calls them 'dieselectrics', but you get the idea). Those diesel engines are running an electrical generator that provides electrical power to motor the train.

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    -- @rjamestaylor on Ello
  2. Shame really... by DickPhallus · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    That with Oilmen in the whitehouse that this project won't get underway anytime soon.

    On another note, if hydrogen fuel cell cars ever get off the ground, they could be plugged into the power grid when not in use and return electricity to it somehow?

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    Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch.
  3. Too bad americans aren't energy efficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You pigs use more energy per capita than any other nation! And you think Europe sucks!

    As a German, I am somewhat offended by the continual arrogant attitude of Americans toward the rest of the world. It's strange that a country with a higher infant mortality rate than Thailand has such an attitude.

    First of all, American arrogance is what caused the 9/11 attacks. You Americans were meddling too much with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Finally the oppressed Arabs said "Enough!" and bombed you. And then, after the attacks, you had the guts to deploy forces to Afganistan, angering the Arabs even more! When will you ever learn!!

    And boy! Your sorry government services! It's hard to believe that an industrialized country doesn't even provide basic healthcare to it's citizens. Here in Europe, everone is assured excellent healthcare, no matter what their income. We Europeans don't have to worry about our HMO's covering necesarry medical treatments such as colonoscopies. And then your welfare system! In America, your glorious land of plenty, if you can't find a job in two years, then your're out on the streets! In Europe, we take care of our needy. Also, may I add that poverty levels in Europe are much lower than in the U.S.

    I hate it when you gas-guzzling SUV driving Americans get so patriotic and belittle us. Europe is far superior to America, whether you like it or not.