Friday, March 30, 2012

BNSF Touts Emission Reductions

Shippers who moved their freight via BNSF Railway instead of solely over the road in 2011 reduced carbon dioxide emissions by millions of tons during the year, according to a newly released analysis by the company.

BNSF customers avoided emitting over 30 million metric tons of CO2 last year by using the railway, the equivalent of reducing the annual fuel consumption and resultant greenhouse gas emissions of more than six million passenger vehicles, according to the analysis, which the company performs annually.

“We believe our chief contribution to sustainability is the major fuel efficiency and emissions reductions our customers achieve,” BNSF executive vice president John Lanigan said. “Rail provides enormous value in reducing the country’s overall transportation emissions and carbon footprint.”

The data was determined through customized analysis by the railway of each intermodal, automotive, industrial products and agricultural products customer’s total rail carbon footprint and savings compared to movements of those shipments exclusively over the highway.

The calculations are based on commodity type and weight as well as distance traveled by rail. Also taken into consideration are the different fuel efficiencies of trailer, container or carload shipments.