Port of Seattle, SSA switch to biodiesel

The Port of Seattle and SSA Marine, the Port's largest maritime customer, will begin using biodiesel in maintenance vehicles and container handling equipment beginning next year.

The switch to the cleaner-burning, vegetable based fuel was announced today at a press conference with U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

"I am thrilled with the demonstration of leadership shown by the Port and SSA," said Cantwell. "This is a great day for their operations, a great day for the people who live around Puget Sound, and a great day for eastern Washington, where crops will someday be grown and used to produce biodiesel in our state."

In October, Cantwell convened the Biofuels Business Collaborative - a group of Washington businesses, farmers, investors and fuel consumers - and charged them with advancing the state's biofuels industry. The Port of Seattle and SSA Marine are charter members of the collaborative.

Switching to biodiesel will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hyrdrocarbons emitted by the vehicles in the program by about 20 percent. The Port and SSA combined use about a million gallons of diesel fuel per year in the vehicles making the switch to biodiesel. The fuel will be a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent ultra low sulfur diesel.

"We see this as an opportunity to make a positive difference in air quality and enhance business operations at the Seaport," said Port of Seattle Commission President Bob Edwards.

"We understand that as a leader in the maritime industry, we can and should help provide a healthy environment for our employees and our community," said SSA Marine President and CEO Jon Hemingway. "Converting to biodiesel is good for the environment and good for business. Senator Cantwell clearly shares our vision and we are proud to be working with her."

"Using biodiesel is one more example of the Port doing the right thing for the people of the region," said Port of Seattle CEO Mic Dinsmore. "Other components of that effort include providing shore power for two of the cruise ships that call here each summer as well as the natural gas fueling station and aircraft fuel hydrant system at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport."