Renewable Energy in the North American-Freight Transportation Industry

Walter G

Abstract

Railroads, while still the most efficient form of transportation are some of the largest consumers of fuel in the world with thousands of miles of track and thousands of locomotives. With depleting energy reserves, climate change and secured sources of energy, new innovations are required. Railroads along with the energy industry can situate themselves to make great strides in resolving these issues while producing historic changes in the process. Electrified trains or “Wind Trains” as it has been described could be running on renewable energy from wind and solar, once large scale wind and solar operations are placed across wind and solar producing areas. With electric grids traversing inside railroad right of ways across North America from Wind farms, Solar farms and other sources of generation, mutual benefits can be gained.