"An effort by railroad companies to control dust blowing from coal trains has drawn the wrath of electric-power generators and the attention of federal regulators.

On its face, the dispute affects just more than 200 miles of track on two lines operated by BNSF Railway Co., but there are wide-ranging financial implications for the bottom lines of all U.S. railroad companies and the electric bills of ordinary Americans.

Three major rail carriers -- Union Pacific Corp., Norfolk Southern Corp. and CSX Corp. -- have filed paperwork to join the battle over coal dust. So have groups representing other shippers and power companies, including the American Public Power Association, which represents 2,000 or so community-owned utilities with more than 45 million Americans."

Josh Voorhees reports for Greenwire January 25, 2010. [2]