Rail power meets wind power: Moving renewable energy in North Carolina

Norfolk Southern delivered nearly 160 massive wind turbine components to Timbermill Wind, a 1,933-acre renewable energy project in Chowan County, N.C. The site will feature 45 turbines generating clean energy for thousands of homes.

Why it matters: It’s the largest project between NS and wind turbine leader Vestas, and a major step toward a more sustainable energy future. According to Vestas, every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce 35 times more electricity than is used each day.

The big picture: The route spanned 10 states, ending in Morehead City, where trains ran down the center of a four-lane highway. City crews removed signs and coordinated traffic to guide components the size of buildings to the port.

Most parts—including tower sections, nacelles, and drive trains—moved by rail.

Behind the scenes: Delivering these massive clean energy components safely took a full NS team effort:

• Engineering & Clearances - teams mapped the route with LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology.
• Commercial, Logistics, and Network Operations Center (NOC) - kept operations flowing.
• Short line partner Carolina Coastal Railway - helped coordinate final delivery to the Timbermill site.

What they’re saying:

“If it’s big and complicated, we’ll move it as long as it’s safe to do so. We love the opportunity to show how fluid we are at moving big, heavy shipments.” — Kristie Riddle, Industrial Products Account Manager

What’s next: NS is exploring future wind collaborations to create additional clean energy solutions.