Michigan Governor Signs Senate Bill To Use Rail Ties as Alternative Energy Source
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
ASLRRA reports Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 271 on November 28th to allow rail ties to be burned as an alternative energy source.
SEPTA
DETROIT, Mich. – ASLRRA reports Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 271 on November 28th to allow rail ties to be burned as an alternative energy source.
ASLRRA reports Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 271 on November 28th. The bill allows spent railroad ties to be burned in “existing permitted biomass combustion facilities.” The American Short Line and Railroad Association has advocated for spent railroad ties to be burned as an alternative energy source, effectively keeping the ties out of landfills. With this bill, “railroads can pursue efforts at the state level to allow them to use spent railroad ties as an energy source.”
According to Michigan.gov, the bill was sponsored by Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) and “establishes a 100% clean energy standard for Michigan.” It is projected that by 2030, Michigan will produce half of its energy from renewable sources and 60% from renewables by 2035. By 2040, Michigan will “produce all its energy from clean sources.”
