Norfolk Southern kicks off $53 million plan to shrink Juniata shop's carbon footprint

Norfolk Southern Railway last week launched a $53 million energy conversion project designed to substantially reduce carbon emissions and water usage at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Pennsylvania.

NS' plan calls for replacing coal boilers with natural gas heaters and installing a 1.2-megawatt capacity combined heat and power generator that will produce enough electricity to sustain the 70-acre facility's 16 buildings, according to a press release.

When completed in late 2017, the improvements will save about $4 million in electricity costs, reduce water usage by 49.4 million gallons from steam-water recovery, and eliminate more than 29,000 tons of carbon emissions annually in Pennsylvania, NS officials said.

In addition, the project will add insulation, energy-efficient windows, high-speed roll-up doors on locomotive bays and new roofing.

"This project showcases Norfolk Southern's commitment to sustainability and innovation," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Wick Moorman. "The Juniata Locomotive Shop has a 125-year legacy of leading the rail industry in locomotive technology, and with our energy conversion project, this shop and its employees will remain an industry frontrunner in the 21st century."