Short line railroad Pacific Harbor Line serving the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach has entered into a development agreement with technology startup Remora for mobile carbon capture.<\/p>\n
Remora\u2019s technology captures diesel exhaust carbon, converts it to liquid and sells it to industries such as farming, food production, and manufacturing, sharing the revenue with its transportation partners.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are proud of our progress toward zero emission operations, which started when we acquired Tier 2 [lower emission] locomotives some 16 years ago,\u201d said Otis L. Cliatt II, PHL president, in a release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
PHL has since moved on to Tier 3+ locomotives; a subsequent conversion to renewable diesel fuel cut CO\u2082 emissions by 70%. The carrier also tested a battery-electric locomotive, and currently operates a Tier 4 diesel locomotive, part of its plan to upgrade its entire fleet of Tier 3+ locomotives to Tier 4.<\/p>\n
The railroad, a unit of Anacostia Rail Holdings, is also an investor in Remora, based in Wixom, Mich. Anacostia President and Chief Executive Peter A. Gilbertson is an advisor. It handled 40,000 carloads at the nation\u2019s busiest port complex in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor PHL and Anacostia, carbon capture adds yet another option in our efforts to slash emissions,\u201d said Gilbertson, in the release. \u201cIn addition to reducing CO\u2082 emissions, Remora\u2019s technology elevates connected locomotives to Environmental Protection Agency Tier 4 standards and also enables the reuse of carbon in other commercial applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
Remora previously announced testing agreements with Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC<\/a>), Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP<\/a>) and Genesee & Wyoming\u2019s Buffalo & Pittsburgh and Indiana & Ohio railroads.<\/p>\n \u201cThis partnership with Remora gives PHL an opportunity to help shape a technology that could significantly reduce freight rail emissions while creating new economic value for operators,\u201d said Cliatt.<\/p>\n Founded in 2020, Remora said it has raised $117 million in venture capital while upscaling its early truck-based pilot technology which captures up to one ton of CO\u2082 per hour per locomotive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re building this technology not only to meet environmental goals, but to make it financially compelling for railroads,\u201d said Paul Gross, co-founder and CEO of Remora, in the release. \u201cPacific Harbor Line\u2019s<\/p>\n support and Anacostia\u2019s leadership will be instrumental as we bring carbon capture to freight rail.\u201d<\/p>\n Subscribe to\u00a0FreightWaves\u2019 Rail e-newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.<\/p>\n Find more articles by Stuart Chirls\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n Related coverage:<\/p>\n BNSF on UP-NS merger: Don\u2019t ruin a good thing<\/a><\/p>\n Union Pacific CEO: America needs coast-to-coast railroad, now<\/a><\/p>\n