Governor Signs Senator Cortese’s Law Targeting Dirty Diesel Train Pollution

SACRAMENTO – In a big win for climate action, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed into law Senator Cortese’s SB 30 that prevents the resale of high-polluting diesel trains decommissioned by public entities. It closes a major loophole that would have allowed older diesel-powered locomotives to be sold to other states or countries, relocating the pollution rather than eliminating it. 

“By stopping the resale and donation of outdated, high-polluting diesel equipment, this new law ensures that these trains are not sent to developing nations where they would continue to emit toxic diesel particulate matter, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants. We are all fighting to decarbonize the same air,” said Senator Dave Cortese, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Currently California’s aging diesel trains - those once used on routes from San Francisco to San Jose that are now electrified - are being exported abroad after retirement, shifting our pollution to countries with fewer environmental safeguards.

"These outmoded locomotives are heavy emitters of black carbon soot and other pollutants that warm the climate and harm human health. The new law ensures that the oldest, most harmful diesel engines will not continue to damage health and climate after they’ve been decommissioned by public agencies in California,” said Jonathan Cole, spokesperson for Climate Action California.

The current Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Cortese has previously served as a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board, bringing a focus on regional transportation coordination.

In a letter to the Governor, Climate Action California emphasized that diesel exhaust contains over 40 cancer-causing chemicals and contributes to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and climate change. Black carbon particulates and ozone - both key components of diesel emissions - not only damage human health but are also powerful climate-warming agents.

“U.S. EPA estimates that diesel commuter rail generally emits more carbon dioxide per passenger mile than buses. In addition, the study failed to account for emissions of NOx and black carbon from either the existing buses or the transferred diesel locomotives. California’s initiatives to reduce emissions from transportation should not result in the export of pollution to other regions,” the letter reads.

Read the full letter at this link.

Environmental organizations across California urging the Governor’s signature on SB 30 include:

  • Climate Action California
  • Sierra Club California
  • 350 Bay Area Action
  • CleanEarth4Kids.org
  • Green Policy Initiative
  • Move LA
  • Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action
  • Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet
  • Climate Reality Project San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
  • Napa Climate Now

Senator Dave Cortese represents Senate District 15, which encompasses San Jose and much of Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley. Visit Senator Cortese’s website: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov