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Inslee proposes electric car credits as state owned rails shut down.
Author: Jeff West
Date: 12-15-2021 - 22:06
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee this week proposed state funded tax credits on new and used electric cars, trucks and motorcycles and proposed building requirements that new homes be
built with car chargers and further proposals to ban the use of natural gas heat and appliances in new building construction by 2034 at the same time the state has granted permission for the operator of one of its Washington State owned freight rail lines to
drop service. Spokane, Spangle and Palouse Ry has discontinued service on the former BN
P&L Branch between Oakesdale and the end of the line near Pullman, WA, forcing the remaining
customers to use trucks and isolating the former WI&M branch just as Bennett Lumber Company
was working to reopen the line to lumber traffic. The owners of a grain elevator at Fallon, WA had been attempting to get scoot train service from their 1.5 million bushel elevator to
the unit train facility at McCoy, WA. SS&P claims that business dropped off after two summers
of no rail service during WSDOT bridge work and has not returned to former levels. WSDOT purchased the lines (known as the PCC Rail Authority) many years ago citing a need to preserve rail service in order to reduce wear on roads and to promote fuel conservation. In November, WSDOT issued notices that they would not be able to keep up with snow removal on
state Highways serving the same customers due to a state Covid hiring freeze complicated by the further loss of plow drivers due to the state vaccine mandate.
WSDOT noted that normal snow removal would only take place on Interstate 90, U.S. 395 and U.S. 2 in Eastern Washington, and that secondary roads could be subjected to snow closures
until they have crews to clear the roads. These two issues could combine to completely block grain shipments in several areas at certain times.
Seattle Times, Western Ag Radio Network.
built with car chargers and further proposals to ban the use of natural gas heat and appliances in new building construction by 2034 at the same time the state has granted permission for the operator of one of its Washington State owned freight rail lines to
drop service. Spokane, Spangle and Palouse Ry has discontinued service on the former BN
P&L Branch between Oakesdale and the end of the line near Pullman, WA, forcing the remaining
customers to use trucks and isolating the former WI&M branch just as Bennett Lumber Company
was working to reopen the line to lumber traffic. The owners of a grain elevator at Fallon, WA had been attempting to get scoot train service from their 1.5 million bushel elevator to
the unit train facility at McCoy, WA. SS&P claims that business dropped off after two summers
of no rail service during WSDOT bridge work and has not returned to former levels. WSDOT purchased the lines (known as the PCC Rail Authority) many years ago citing a need to preserve rail service in order to reduce wear on roads and to promote fuel conservation. In November, WSDOT issued notices that they would not be able to keep up with snow removal on
state Highways serving the same customers due to a state Covid hiring freeze complicated by the further loss of plow drivers due to the state vaccine mandate.
WSDOT noted that normal snow removal would only take place on Interstate 90, U.S. 395 and U.S. 2 in Eastern Washington, and that secondary roads could be subjected to snow closures
until they have crews to clear the roads. These two issues could combine to completely block grain shipments in several areas at certain times.
Seattle Times, Western Ag Radio Network.
Inslee proposes electric car credits as state owned rails shut down.