The Ohio Valley cannot ignore the trend toward green energy, as much as it might like. The question has been whether the green energy industry will ignore the Ohio Valley. The good news is that it has chosen not to.
Thursday’s announcement that CSX chose Huntington as the site to build its first hydrogen-powered locomotive is another indication that investment in green energy is spreading here. Using technology the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad has used on one locomotive already in revenue service and more in development, CSX will remove the diesel engine components of a locomotive and replace them with those that burn hydrogen. As with a conventional locomotive, those parts will power the electric motors that turn the drive wheels.