Norfolk Southern aims to slash emissions with greater use of biofuels

Fuel management and consumption will be a key means to reduce GHG emissions, as fuel accounts for over 90% of NS’ scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions, NS (NYSE: NSC) said when releasing its inaugural Climate Transition Plan (CTP) Thursday. Scope 1 emissions pertain to emissions directly from company operations while scope 2 emissions generally originate from sources not controlled by the company.

The CTP reflects NS’ plan to align its business strategy with the goals of the Paris Agreement as well as the broader push toward a low-carbon economy, according to a Thursday release. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change signed in December 2015 and implemented in November 2016, according to the United Nations.

The plan identified three performance indicators to reach NS’ objective:

• Improve locomotive fuel efficiency by 13% by 2027, using a 2023 baseline.
• Increase the use of renewable energy to 30% by 2030.
• Increase the blend of biofuels in fuel to 7% in 2027 and 20% in 2034. To achieve this goal, NS will be piloting locomotive runs using higher biofuel blends and renewable diesel.

“Reducing the environmental impact of our operations is driven by our commitment to a cleaner and better planet for our employees, our customers, and our communities for generations to come,” Josh Raglin, NS chief sustainability officer, said in a release. “We recognize the significant role of greenhouse gas emissions in global climate change, and we are determined to do our part in mitigating these emissions.”