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Last year was a good one for Norfolk Southern Corp.’s industrial development department. Their scorecard: 80 new industries and 35 plant expansions along the railroads’ lines in 2008.
 
The new plants and expansions represented an investment of more than $2.2 billion by NS shippers and are expected to generate more than 136,000 carloads annually.
 
The Class I helped state and local governments and economic development agencies in 20 states attract new and expanded facilities.
 
"Renewable energy projects led the way across our service area in 2008," said Newell Baker, NS assistant vice president of industrial development in a prepared statement. "Our group was able to assist in the location of 19 ethanol and biodiesel production and distribution facilities across 10 states.”

In addition, the railroad worked on eight projects with stone producers and electric utilities to facilitate rail shipments of high-calcium limestone for use in 'scrubbing' power plant air emissions, he said.
 
During the past 10 years, the industrial development department has attracted 1,115 new and expanded facilities to NS lines, representing an investment of $23.6 billion.