A $750,000 grant will pave the way for Natron Energy to have a railroad spur line from an east-west CSX rail line.
The rail spur will link up with the California-based battery manufacturer’s planned $1.4 billion plant slated for the Kingsboro Business Park off U.S. 64 between Rocky Mount and Tarboro.
The source of the grant is the North Carolina Railroad Co., which is a for-profit private business with the state as the company’s single shareholder. North Carolina Railroad is not in the rail car business but owns a 317-mile rail corridor from Morehead City to Charlotte that is leased to Norfolk Southern…