Japan:

Geothermal to Power Trains in Japan (The Japan News)

The JR East Network (Courtesy JR East)

East Japan Railway Co. will begin geothermal and wind power businesses in a bid to reduce environmental pollution, as its railway operations consume massive amounts of electricity, informed sources said.

The company, known as JR East, plans to build a geothermal power plant in Aomori Prefecture and a wind farm in Akita Prefecture with the aim of assisting development in the Tohoku region, which was devastated by the March 2011 disaster.

The company will begin construction as early as fiscal 2014, after environmental impact assessments and other preparatory work are complete, the sources said Thursday.

For the geothermal plant, JR East is jointly surveying land in Aomori with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and general contractor Obayashi Corp.

JR East plans to generate several thousand kilowatts of electricity at the plant by using steam taken from 1,500 meters underground. The power will be sold to Tohoku Electric Power Co.

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