At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the N.C. State Ports Authority board approved a resolution supporting development of the proposed CSX Carolina Connector Intermodal Rail Facility (CCX).

“The Board of Directors expresses its strong support for the CCX and encourages the State to continue working with CSX as well as county and local officials to communicate the project benefits for the region and State,” the resolution reads, in part.

The statement cites support in Gov. Pat McCrory’s 25-Year Vision for the State of North Carolina for development of intermodal train service at the Port of Wilmington and along the Interstate 95 corridor, the Ports Authority’s long-time advocacy of such service, and the economic benefits of the proposed facility.

The board’s action came a day after a spokesman for McCrory’s office issued a statement saying that, because of opposition from some in Johnston County to the location chosen by the rail carrier for its proposed hub, that site seems to be no longer the preferred one.

“Based on the vote of local officials as well as serious land issues, the current site in Johnston County does not appear to a viable option,” Graham Wilson said in a prepared statement. “We will continue to work with CSX to explore alternative sites in order to create jobs and enhance our state ports.”

There was no mention of Wilson’s statement during the ports board’s discussion. Member Nick Tennyson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Transportation, alluded to the landowner opposition in Johnston County but said he remains hopeful that a solution can be found.

The board’s resolution vote took place Wednesday morning after a presentation on the CCX by port planning and development director Stephanie Ayers, who said, “There are a lot of benefits from a facility like this for us.”

Greg Fennell, the ports’ chief commercial officer, told board members he had spoken with all the shipping lines that serve the Port of Wilmington after CSX announced Jan. 14 its intention of building the hub.

“They said it would be a game changer for them,” Fennell said. “Intermodal is absolutely the number-one priority when they look at terminals . . . this thing needs to progress.”

As part of a CCX deal, CSX would immediately implement a direct rail shuttle service from the Port of Wilmington to the CSX Intermodal Facility in Charlotte, beginning with weekly service but expanding as volumes grow, Ayers said.

In other business, the board heard a positive financial report from CFO Alherd Kazura, in which he said that December 2015 was a “very strong” month for the ports and that, so far this fiscal year, while revenues are slightly down from projections, expenses are lower than anticipated.

In his report to the board, Fennell said the Port of Wilmington will realize an estimated $180,000 in revenue from the storage of 25 wind turbine towers eventually destined for Amazon’s new wind farm near Elizabeth City.

Ports Authority CEO Paul Cozza reported to the board that all permits are in hand for expanding the Port of Wilmington's turning basin, and that work is exprected to begin very soon on the project. A larger turning basin will help prepare the port to handle the large post-Panamax ships set to carry cargo through an expanded Panama Canal.