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  5. Sustainability Report: Chapter 4

Graphic image of a solar panel under the sun.Highlights from Chapter 4

Energy and

Emissions

  • Net-Zero Construction Emissions: The California High-Speed Rail Authority aims to achieve net-zero emissions in construction by using environmentally preferable materials and by maximizing the use of zero-emission construction equipment.
  • Annual Emissions Tracking: The Authority tracks the emissions it generates, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by creating more offsets than emissions during construction. To date, the Authority has emitted 94,000 MTCO2e through construction and electricity use. This number is significantly below the amount of emissions sequestered by our tree-planting efforts.
  • GHG Emissions: The high-speed rail system will operate on 100 percent renewable energy, reducing California’s greenhouse gas emissions by 0.6 million MTCO2e to 3 million MTCO2e annually. This is the equivalent of removing 142,000 to 700,000 cars off the road.
  • Additional Carbon Avoided: Since the start of construction, the Authority has diverted about 95 percent of all waste and avoided 127,968 MTCO2e of emissions in the process. Additionally, the Authority has avoided 348,707 MTCO2e through its habitat and agricultural conservation efforts.
  • Renewable Energy: Stations and facilities will be zero-emission and net-positive energy buildings, generating more power than they consume.
  • Operational Energy Costs: The system’s solar and battery storage setup will allow the Authority to minimize energy costs and support grid stability.

California High-Speed Rail GHG Emissions

and Carbon-Capture Activities

Graphic showing the captured and released emissions of high-speed rail.

Click the image for more detail.

More Information

Learn more about the California High-Speed Rail program at https://hsr.ca.gov/ and the Sustainability Report at https://hsr.ca.gov/sustainability-report.

 

Download the Report

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