SR1088 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1088 LRB100 15506 MST 30535 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is the freight rail hub of the nation and its rail network represents a significant portion of the State's transportation infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, The seven major U.S. freight railroads consumed more than 3.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel in 2012, or 7% of all diesel fuel consumed in the United States; the fuel cost more than $11 billion in 2012 and accounted for 23% of total operating expenses; and

WHEREAS, Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel and is being used throughout the world to reduce harmful emissions; and

WHEREAS, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas cooled to -162°C and converted to liquid, which takes up 1/600th the volume of gas in the gaseous state; and

WHEREAS, Railroads are considering the use of LNG in locomotives because of the potential for significant fuel cost savings and the resulting reductions in fuel operating costs; given the expected price difference between LNG and diesel fuel, future fuel savings are expected to more than offset the approximately $1 million incremental cost associated with an LNG locomotive and its tender; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will play an increasing role in powering freight locomotives in coming years; continued growth in domestic natural gas production and substantially lower natural gas prices compared to crude oil prices could result in significant cost savings for locomotives that use LNG as a fuel source; and

WHEREAS, Canadian National (CN) tested a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-fueled train on a 300-mile portion of its mainline between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, Alberta, from September 2012 to September 2013; the 3,000-horsepower locomotives, which operated 90% on natural gas and 10% on diesel, were estimated to have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by about 70%; and

WHEREAS, In June 2016, Russian Railways struck an agreement with Russian gas supplier Gazprom to develop LNG fueling infrastructure at locations approved by Russian Railways to test 40 gas turbine-powered locomotives; and

WHEREAS, In December 2016, it was announced that Indian Railways will move forward with converting all of its existing locomotives to dual-fuel LNG engines, which will cut diesel consumption by 20%; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to enact tax incentives that would encourage rail carriers to utilize natural gas powered locomotives and grow LNG infrastructure; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.