Comments on: The Future of U.S. Streetcar Manufacturing – St. Louis? http://www.nextstopstl.org/693/the-future-of-us-streetcar-manufacturing-st-louis/ A Conversation About Transit Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jimmy Z http://www.nextstopstl.org/693/the-future-of-us-streetcar-manufacturing-st-louis/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Jimmy Z Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:53:53 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=693#comment-133 St. Louis and Missouri is not Oregon or Washington state - the majority of our electricty here comes from coal, so whether we're building or running streetcars, at least for the forseeable future, it won't be a very green answer, although it could certainly be a viable new business answer for our struggling manufacturing sector . . . St. Louis and Missouri is not Oregon or Washington state – the majority of our electricty here comes from coal, so whether we’re building or running streetcars, at least for the forseeable future, it won’t be a very green answer, although it could certainly be a viable new business answer for our struggling manufacturing sector . . .

]]> By: Matt http://www.nextstopstl.org/693/the-future-of-us-streetcar-manufacturing-st-louis/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Matt Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:40:57 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=693#comment-130 Hydropower is questionably green, as dams harm local fish populations and their construction damages the environment. Still, it's better than using coal plants. The Natural Resources Defense Council recently came out with a study touting renewable energy potential in Missouri. The authors argue that green jobs resulting from clean energy development can revitalize the state's economy. Here's the link - http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090707.asp Hydropower is questionably green, as dams harm local fish populations and their construction damages the environment. Still, it’s better than using coal plants. The Natural Resources Defense Council recently came out with a study touting renewable energy potential in Missouri. The authors argue that green jobs resulting from clean energy development can revitalize the state’s economy. Here’s the link – http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090707.asp

]]> By: Jon Morgan http://www.nextstopstl.org/693/the-future-of-us-streetcar-manufacturing-st-louis/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Jon Morgan Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:46:59 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=693#comment-129 Coal is not the whole country's electricity source. It accounts for just 17% of Washington state's energy mix, and a similar percentage in Oregon. Most of our electricity comes from green hydropower. Seattle's electricity is already 100% green. Maybe this is a good reason why more manufacturing should be in the Northwest. Coal is not the whole country’s electricity source. It accounts for just 17% of Washington state’s energy mix, and a similar percentage in Oregon. Most of our electricity comes from green hydropower. Seattle’s electricity is already 100% green. Maybe this is a good reason why more manufacturing should be in the Northwest.

]]> By: Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/693/the-future-of-us-streetcar-manufacturing-st-louis/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Courtney Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:13:51 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=693#comment-127 Do you think "green jobs" could also include jobs that encourage or allow people to consume less fossil fuels? Running streetcars on electricity does typically involve burning coal, but if the end result is more people taking mass transit instead of private automobiles, and encouraging more dense land use, couldn't it be considered a "green job"? (Not that I have anything against clean diesel or hybrid technology...just picking your thoughts) Do you think “green jobs” could also include jobs that encourage or allow people to consume less fossil fuels? Running streetcars on electricity does typically involve burning coal, but if the end result is more people taking mass transit instead of private automobiles, and encouraging more dense land use, couldn’t it be considered a “green job”? (Not that I have anything against clean diesel or hybrid technology…just picking your thoughts)

]]> By: Jimmy Z http://www.nextstopstl.org/693/the-future-of-us-streetcar-manufacturing-st-louis/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Jimmy Z Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:38:47 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=693#comment-126 It's a great dream, and we probably have both ample skilled labor and affordable land to pull it off, we just need a much bigger market (not just "plans") and an investor with really deep pockets. Colorado Railcar could probably enter the market quickly, IF the demand were actually there, and United Streetcar obviously could ramp up their production to meet demand from other cities. I also have to disagree with the statement that streetcars would create "green jobs". Manufacturing of this type isn't green, and if the electricty is produced by coal (as most is), all you're doing is shifting the polution source offsite. Streetcars operating on clean diesel, with or without a hybrid electric component, would likely offer a much smaller carbon footprint, and could be an even more-lucrative market, since the infrastructure investment for a new system would be significantly less . . . It’s a great dream, and we probably have both ample skilled labor and affordable land to pull it off, we just need a much bigger market (not just “plans”) and an investor with really deep pockets. Colorado Railcar could probably enter the market quickly, IF the demand were actually there, and United Streetcar obviously could ramp up their production to meet demand from other cities.

I also have to disagree with the statement that streetcars would create “green jobs”. Manufacturing of this type isn’t green, and if the electricty is produced by coal (as most is), all you’re doing is shifting the polution source offsite. Streetcars operating on clean diesel, with or without a hybrid electric component, would likely offer a much smaller carbon footprint, and could be an even more-lucrative market, since the infrastructure investment for a new system would be significantly less . . .

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