“Norfolk Southern Launches RailGreen: A Game-Changer in Freight Emissions Reduction”

Norfolk Southern, one of the major U.S. railroads, has recently introduced a new initiative called RailGreen, which allows freight customers to purchase Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) to reduce Scope 3 emissions. This move aligns Norfolk Southern with the aviation and maritime shipping industries, which already have similar schemes in place.

The RailGreen system works by generating an EAC for every ton of emissions avoided when biodiesel is used in Norfolk Southern locomotives. Customers can then purchase these certificates and use them to offset their Scope 3 emissions. The certificates cannot be reused or transferred to another company, ensuring the integrity of the program.

The inspiration for RailGreen came in part from the maritime industry’s Ship Green project by Hapag-Lloyd and the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance’s similar scheme for air travel. Norfolk Southern’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Josh Raglin, highlighted the importance of these initiatives in reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.

The biodiesel used by Norfolk Southern is produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oil. The company is also working on introducing renewable diesel as a complete replacement for fossil diesel in their locomotives. Their goal is to have lower-carbon fuels account for 7 percent of their fuel mix by 2027 and 20 percent by 2034.

This year, Norfolk Southern aims to use 9 million gallons of biodiesel, which could generate EACs corresponding to 70,000 tons of CO2. While the exact cost of an EAC was not disclosed, Raglin mentioned that it would be less than $100. The company’s emissions tracking technology monitors fuel burn in locomotives every 15 minutes, providing accurate data for reporting emission shares to customers.

Experts like Scott Bernstein emphasize the importance of fuel switching initiatives like RailGreen but also highlight the need for more significant investments in efficient transportation systems. Intermodal freight, which shifts the burden from road to rail, is seen as a more impactful way to decarbonize freight transportation due to the significantly lower emissions from rail compared to trucking.

Overall, Norfolk Southern’s RailGreen initiative represents a step towards reducing emissions in the freight industry and promoting sustainability through innovative solutions.