In anticipation of increasing growth of wind power as a viable renewable energy source, Union Pacific has announced that it has joined the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) to offer door-to-door rail transportation solutions for the movement of wind turbine components.
‘According to AWEA and our own research, many of the ports served by Union Pacific are expanding investment and capacity to unload shipments of wind energy components and equipment that are critical to projects designed to create new sources of electricity,’ says Eric Butler, vice president and general manager of industrial products at Union Pacific. ‘The wind power business is an emerging market, and we intend to compete with other transportation service providers to be the leading company to serve this growing industry.’
Currently, the majority of wind power shippers use trucks to transport equipment. Today, fuel costs are a major consideration in all modes of transportation and freight trains are the most efficient and environmentally friendly, according to the company.
