The California Energy Commission yesterday voted to award Sierra Northern Railway and GTI nearly $4,000,000 to fund the design, integration, and demonstration of a hydrogen fuel cell switching locomotive at the Port of West Sacramento. The locomotive will show the potential of hydrogen fuel-cell technology to reduce transportation air pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The funds will be used to retire a tier 0 diesel locomotive and to replace it with a zero-emission switching locomotive using advanced hydrogen technology. The project involves the integration of advanced hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage, advanced battery and systems control technologies to provide an alternative to less environmentally friendly diesel-powered locomotives. Upon completion, the new hydrogen-fueled, zero-emissions switcher locomotive will displace the need for up to 10,000 gallons of conventional diesel fuel per year. The demonstration will facilitate the improvement of local air quality, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and odor.

The Sierra Northern Railway board of directors has named Kennan H. Beard III as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. Ken, a seasoned industry executive with over 20 years of experience in railroad operations, will lead the California railroad’s growth and expansion plans across all its business divisions.

Judge Troy L. Nunley has awarded Sierra Railroad Company (“Sierra”) an additional $13.1 million in punitive damages in Sierra's dispute with Patriot Rail Company LLC (“Patriot”). These damages were awarded due to Patriot's willful misappropriation of Sierra's trade secrets and are in addition to the $39.6 million awarded to Sierra by the jury in May 2014, for a total award to Sierra of $52.7 million.