As rail carriers face pressure to fast-track their greenhouse gas emissions reductions, could it be the end of the line for traditional diesel-powered locomotives? Biodiesel and renewable diesel may be the light at the end of the tunnel for the rail industry and that was the topic for a mainstage session at the Clean Fuels Conference Wednesday.
Union Pacific president Beth Whited addressed the conference about the great partnership they have established with the clean fuels industry. “We were a really early adopter of biofuels in our locomotives because of the aggressive science based targets that we have,” she said. “We thought in order to meet our targets that biodiesel and renewable diesel was one of the best ways that we could get there.”
Whited accepted the Clean Fuels Industry Partnership Award on behalf of Union Pacific, the first Class I railroad to join Clean Fuels. “We believe that our service and the reach of our network really enables us to be a great partner for you,” said Whited.
Following Whited’s remarks, Clean Fuels Technical Director Scott Fenwick moderated a panel on the potential for biodiesel and renewable diesel in the rail industry. The panel included Thad Call, Union Pacific Railroad; Otis Cliatt, II, Pacific Harbor Line, Inc.; and Lisa Colicchio, Metrolink.
Listen to Whited’s remarks and the panel below:
Beth Whited, Union Pacific
Clean Fuels Rail Panel