Manzi Roger Dusabimana presented on the California High Speed Rail system and its potential environmental impacts. The proposed 800-mile rail system would connect Sacramento to San Diego using trains that can reach speeds up to 220 mph. While the high-speed rail would be more environmentally friendly than driving or flying, it could negatively impact farmland and increase greenhouse gas emissions from energy production. The presentation evaluated these tradeoffs and proposed strategies to minimize environmental impacts, such as purchasing conservation easements to preserve farmland, using electricity from clean sources, and offsetting construction emissions through forestry programs.
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