3 minute read
Sustainably Improving Every Day
by OneWatco
Every April, we celebrate Earth Month, and on April 22, Earth Day. But Watco’s efforts to leave the world better than we found it is a year-round effort. There are currently several initiatives underway to achieve that goal.
As we observe the time of year when sustainability takes the spotlight, here’s a look at many of the ways Watco is working to make freight transportation even greener:
• Watco has received two Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants to develop battery-electric locomotives. A couple of prototypes are already in use at Greens Port in Houston, with more on the way.
• The Texas Coastal Bend Railroad (TCBR) is a sub-recipient of an Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports Grant at the Port of Corpus Christi. The grant will fund the TCBR acquiring two battery-powered locomotives for use at the port.
• All four locomotives across both Watco switching locations in California will be replaced with new, battery-electric models as part of a grant project with the California Air Resources Board.
• In total, Watco has received grants to fund 26 battery-powered locomotives serving customers at U.S. railroads, terminals, and switching locations.
• Watco received additional funding through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to install auxiliary power units (APU) on 32 more locomotives across six railroads. APUs help keep engines warm when the temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, so the locomotives don’t need to idle when not in use. This will bring the Watco total to nearly 250 locomotives with APUs across dozens of locations.
• The Birmingham Terminal Railway is piloting new software that provides live feedback in the locomotive cab to optimize fuel usage. The team inputs the route they’ll be traversing, weight, and consist of the train. The software provides suggestions on optimal throttle level based on that information and location on the line, reducing fuel burn and diesel emissions.
• Every utility bill now passes through a third-party tracker that aggregates the usage data for water, electricity, natural gas, and more for every Watco depot, terminal, and office. This allows each of them to determine where they can conserve and make more economical decisions.
• Watco’s internal locomotive support team created their own guidelines for teams to optimize power on trains. Rail teams can reference data like distance, grades, weight, length, and consist to determine how many locomotives they need and where to place them, ensuring the most efficient trains possible.
• One thousand composite railroad ties have been installed across three Watco short lines as part of a pilot project to analyze their durability and effectiveness in a variety of applications. Positive results mean more will likely be installed soon, and each tie uses 180 pounds of recycled plastic.
These initiatives, combined with others over the past several years, are yielding dividends. Watco’s GRESB (formerly the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) score has increased 13 points since 2021. This measurement of sustainability practices shows our partners and investors that Watco is striving to improve and achieve our mission of leaving the communities we serve better than we found them.
