Michael Hart

Presentation Title:

Sierra Railroad Company: California's Green Hydrogen Solution

Michael Hart, CEO, Sierra Railroad Company

Abstract:

Sierra Railroad Company (SRC) aims to comprehensively address California’s wide array of emission and waste issues. Mainly, there is a dearth of renewable hydrogen fuel, fueling infrastructure and safe hydrogen transportation to meet vehicle fleet demands. Simultaneously, landfills are emitting out-of-control methane emissions (per NASA) and sewage sludge is riddled with per-and polyfluoroakyl substances (PFAS).

SRC aims to address these issues using its subsidiaries, Sierra Northern Railway and Sierra Energy. Sierra Energy’s FastOx gasification technology will produce green hydrogen for Sierra Northern Railway’s hydrogen powered locomotive (successfully built and tested in March 2025). This can then be easily scaled up for other rail networks and achieve negative emissions by shifting to hydrogen rail powered by negative carbon intensity hydrogen.

Bio:

Mike Hart has been the CEO of Sierra Railroad Company for 30 years, leading its freight, passenger, and real estate divisions to significant environmental achievements, including the development of America’s first hybrid hydrogen locomotives in collaboration with the State of California. His company, Sierra Northern Railway, was named the “Most Environmental Railroad” in 2024. Additionally, as Director of Sierra Energy, he collaborates with public agencies, academia, and industry on environmental and regulatory issues. Sierra Energy is working with Sierra Railroad Company to develop locomotives powered by hydrogen fuel cells and batteries using Sierra Energy's zero-emission FastOx gasification technology. Sierra Energy's FastOx gasification can take any type of waste and convert it to clean energy, including hydrogen, with no emissions. His work has earned him prestigious recognitions such as the “Environmental Hero” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a Railway Age Influential Leader, and a “Champion of Change” from the Obama administration. Hart is an alumnus of the University of California at Davis, Singularity University, and Stanford Business School’s Advanced Management Program, and serves as an Edmund Hillary Fellow in New Zealand.