The Wood Energy Group, Inc., a division of Banyan Rail Services Inc., plans to expand operations and relocate to a 10-acre site at Louisiana & Northwest Railroad's new Iron Bridge Road transload facility in Gibsland, La. Wood Energy, a railroad tie reclamation and energy generation operations, entered into a five year lease at the Iron Bridge Road facility. LNW is a subsidiary of shortline railroad holding company, Patriot Rail Corp.

The move to a larger, more efficient site and an investment in new tie grinding equipment will streamline operations, reduce costs and position the company for growth, according to Wood Energy Group President Greg Smith.
"Being based at the transload facility gives us numerous advantages that will improve customer service," he said. The state-of-the-art facility will feature new grinding equipment. Wood Energy has worked with experts on plant design, such as Continental Biomass Industries Inc., to improve the operating efficiency of the Gibsland facility. The company expects to relocate before year-end from its current three-acre site in Shreveport, La.