JACKSONVILLE — CSX Corp. said about itself, “Environmental stewardship is a top priority throughout CSX’s operations and management.” Or rather it said so in a Sept. 20th press release  announcing the company had received the highest score for an industrial company in Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) 2010 Standard & Poor 500 Report. CSX was among five industrial companies included in the Global Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI).

CSX’s score is based on greenhouse gas emissions, emissions reduction targets, and risks and opportunities associated with climate change. The CPLI recognized 48 Global S&P 500 companies that have made a commitment to good corporate governance with respect to climate change disclosure practices.

This is a grand environmental accomplishment for CSX at the global macro level, which is perhaps more than is applicable for this article. But CSX is a Jacksonville-based company, so it is certainly worth noting. At the regional level, though, CSX’s BioEnergy division is in the business of carbon reduction.

Wood pellets product picture, Georgia Biomass

To over simplify, the division’s product is rail transport for woody (cellulose) biomass pellets used in lieu of coal for power generation. Beyond that is a CSX team committed to developing the complicated domestic and international supply chains for bio-energy markets. 

Incidentally, a CSX BioEnergy informational conference for its customers and potential customers wraps up today on Amelia Island (that’s not something I’m supposed to mention but did anyway.)

UPDATE — Oct. 4th:  Held in Amelia Island, Fla., the Bioenergy Summit focused on supply chain challenges, energy portfolio transformation, and regulatory updates. The summit included a presentation by Chuck Leavell, author of multiple publications on environmental issues and acclaimed musician. Other speakers included Gunnar Tinjar, Head of Biomass Upstream for the German Utility RWE Innogy; William A Johnson, owner of Biomass Consulting Services; Rick Boyd, Manager of Fuel Operations for Dominion Generation; Dr. Kenneth Mitchell, Special Assistant to the Air Programs Division Director for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4; and Niel Barnard, Managing Director of London based International Woodfuels Europe.    

The largest CSX partnering project to date is with Savannah-based Georgia BioMass facility in Waycross, Ga. According to Georgia BioMass, the plant is the largest wood pellet plant in the world. It began operations in May and CSX unit trains are expected to transport as much as 750,000 tons of wood products annually from the plant to the Port of Savannah for export.

Savannah-based Georgia Biomass, LLC  is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RWE Innogy, which is a wholly-owned renewable energies company of Ruhr, Germany-based RWE – one of Europe’s five leading electricity and gas companies.

“Okefenokee Area Development Authority (OADA) did an outstanding job working with CSX Regional Development, European customers, the State of Georgia, and Ware County officials to make this significant economic development happen,” said Clark Robertson, CSX assistant vice president-regional development. “It will bring needed jobs to Ware County, and help position Georgia as a leader in the renewable fuels business.”

Georgia Pine, image Georgia BioMass

“CSX was very pleased to be selected as the rail carrier for this new venture,” Robertson said. “Given the abundant forest assets in the region, we are hopeful that other firms may be encouraged to join in the production of wood products for renewable energy and take advantage of our excellent rail network. We offer considerable expertise in the transportation of renewable fuels, including bio-diesel and ethanol.”

I anticipate further updates from CSX BioEnergy because, yes, the region abounds in cellulosic assets. Meanwhile, bio-diesel and ethanol are considered agricultural commodities at CSX,  with departmental news of its own to follow…