BNSF updates data on reduced CO2 emissions

BNSF said Tuesday its customers significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions in 2011 by shipping their freight by rail instead of their products moving entirely over the road.

In 2011, those customers avoided emitting more than 30 million metric tons of CO2 by using BNSF, which is equivalent to reducing the annual fuel consumption and resultant greenhouse gas emissions of more than six million passenger vehicles, the Class I railroad said.

For the fourth year in a row, BNSF provided its intermodal, automotive, industrial products, and agricultural products customers with customized letters that analyzed their total rail carbon footprint and savings compared to movements of those shipments exclusively over the highway.

“We believe our chief contribution to sustainability is the major fuel efficiency and emissions reductions our customers achieve shipping with BNSF instead of solely over the road,” said John Lanigan, BNSF executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Rail provides enormous value in reducing the country’s overall transportation emissions and carbon footprint.”

Calculations are based on commodity type and weight, and distance traveled by rail. The calculation also considers the different fuel efficiencies of trailer, container or carload shipments. The calculation methodology was developed in consultation with Clear Carbon Consulting.