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 School: Oil Crisis News from Around the World
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 Quest 1: RENEWABLES LINKED TO RAILWAY MATRIX
Deliberate USA re-emphasise of surface freight to rail haul; transportation use of renewables applied to electric railways vastly expanded in capacity & reach. Archival investigation by individual local planning bodies to ascertain original downtown rail footprint (Thomas Directories/Maps, etc.) and determine case by case best new footprint to achieve rail/truck interface in new energy paradigm. US95 & US50 TranSierra(+hydropower) are examples of new rail corridor to absorb truck movement. Extant US rail cannot be expected to deal with this massive shift without adding selective new trunk lines.

No USA monopoly on this concept; other readers can extrapolate to their own purview. Basic concept applies unniverally: Standard Gauge Rail Matrix- enroute renewables energy supplementing Diesel prime movers in various degree. Prime mission- to create during early stages of Oil Interregnum sufficient net of commercial scale sustainable rail transport to carry thru oil crisis. American infrastructure savants can visualise use of closed or under-utilised military bases & factory sites with good rail/truck interface as victuals centers, etc.

The politics of energy must shift from racing to associate all renewables development to rubber tire application. Rather, make railway application highest and best use of renewables/transport linkage, with private vehicles applications of renewables to be inclusive of rationing &/or carpooling restrictions. These are thinking process guidelines; but as the crisis becomes more acute, they are policy level requisites!

The early policy action steps naturally mandate long-haul trucking to rail (NAFTA), with commensurate increrase of interface facilities, corridor extension and expansion to keep in step. Trucking employment shifts to delivery, from long-haul. The tax policy must in turn delete inventory tax, which in and of itself fosters too many trucks using too much fuel to move too few goods... The neighborhood shop must also be put back to the urban landscape, within walking distance of clientele, or near public service transport. There is urgency in regard to positioning agriculture to continue access to full ration of fuel supply, with transport being the only realistic segment with the room to reduce fuel consumption per unit of ton-mile, and this primarily as described above. Gunnar Henrioulle, Tahoe Valley Lines

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Quest Author: Gunnar Henrioulle Location: North America Begin Date: 12/29/2003 • End Date: 12/29/2005
Sponsor: Tahoe Valley Lines- (530-543-1259)

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