The N.C. Railroad Co. Board of Directors has voted against providing $70 million over 10 years to help build wood-pellet-handling facilities at the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City. State officials recently asked the state-owned Railroad Co. for the cash to help finance the facilities at the two ports, which would cost an estimated $120 million and receive, store and transfer wood pellets to ships for transport to Europe for use by utility companies. Port officials have said that combined, the two wood pellet facilities would be the most expensive infrastructure project ever at the ports. “I think you could say that without worry, that this is the largest undertaking by the ports,” said Thomas Bradshaw, Ports Authority executive director.
by Patrick Gannon
(WILMINGTON STAR-NEWS, 10/18/12)
