Port of Seattle, other NW Ports, Show Results on Clean Air Strategy

Agreement between NW ports shows big reduction in pollutants for Seattle

The Port of Seattle has made significant reductions in regional air pollutants, according to the new Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 2009 Implementation Report. Port programs were found to successfully improve the air quality from shipping and cruise vessels berthing at port facilities, cargo handling equipment, and trucks serving port terminals. The results represent the efforts of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a partnership between the ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver, BC, to support reductions in maritime and port-related diesel and greenhouse gas emissions in the Pacific Northwest.

"These results show that you don't have to choose between the right thing for the environment and the right thing for the economy," said CEO Tay Yoshitani. "You can have both. By working with our customers and neighbors, we've created programs that are right for our community and keep jobs in our region."

The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy was developed in 2007 to support reductions in maritime and port-related diesel and greenhouse gas emission in the Pacific Northwest. The objectives of the Strategy are to reduce regional air quality impacts as well as port related contributions to climate change.

"Livable communities offer both good family-wage jobs and a clean environment," said Commission President Bill Bryant. "Our region depends on the good jobs the port creates and we all depend on the air we breathe. This program supports both - and it's working." Strong private sector involvement is critical in port programs that reduce pollutants. ABC Fuels, a program started by the Port of Seattle, is beginning its second year. In 2009, 63 percent of vessels calling at the Port of Seattle either participated in the ABC Fuels Program or plugged in to shore power, or cold ironing.

The drayage fleet serving the Port of Seattle also saw significant participation in reducing air pollutants. In 2009, more than 77 percent of drayage trucks met or exceeded the 2010 performance measure as outlined in the report. Since then, more than 200 of the dirtiest trucks in the drayage fleet have been scrapped and recycled under the Scrappage and Retrofits for Air in Puget Sound (ScRAPS) program.

On January 22, 2008, the Port of Seattle Commission adopted the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a voluntary and collaborative effort of the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver (B.C.) to reduce maritime and port-related emissions that affect air quality and climate change in the Pacific Northwest. Developed in close collaboration with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Washington Department of Ecology, US Environmental Protection Agency, and Environment Canada with input from stakeholders, customers, and citizens, the NWPCAS will result in emission reductions to further improve air quality throughout the region.

The Strategy has three primary emissions reduction objectives:

Reduce maritime and port-related air quality impacts on human health, the environment and the economy;
Reduce contribution to climate change through co-benefits associated with reducing air quality impacts; and
Help the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound region continue to meet air quality standards and objectives.

For more information, view the full report here.