Puget Sound Regional Council Announces: Seattle and Tacoma Ports win VISION 2040 Award for Clean Air Strategy

SEATTLE - The Port of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle have won a 2011 VISION 2040 award from the Puget Sound Regional Council for their Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy. The awards recognize innovative projects and programs that help ensure a sustainable future as the region grows.

The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy is the first and only tri-port and international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas and diesel particulate emissions from maritime operations. It's a joint effort of the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Port Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. The strategy has allowed the three ports to remain globally competitive during the recession while still changing operations to be more environmentally friendly and improve air quality.

We were impressed with the collaborative approach of the ports' strategy, said Mukilteo Councilmember Jennifer Gregerson, chair of the VISION 2040 awards committee. It shows that working together can help regional interests to stay competitive while meeting their environmental goals.

The ports are demonstrating that we can work together to reduce emissions in ways that are good for the environment and our overall economy, said Josh Brown, Kitsap County Commissioner and President of the PSRC. It's exciting to see such an innovative and effective partnership happening in our region.

The Seattle port estimates that nearly 500 tons of sulfur emissions have been eliminated through the use of cleaner fuels. More than 116 vessels from eight container carriers and four cruise lines have participated in the program. To reduce emissions from cargo-hauling trucks, the port also bought and scrapped 280 older diesel trucks and has barred pre-1994 trucks from its container terminals.

Through the strategy, Port of Tacoma is retrofitting its cargo handling equipment with level 3 diesel exhaust emission reduction technology, said Pierce County Councilmember Joyce McDonald, member of the VISION 2040 Awards Selection Committee. Port of Tacoma also launched an effective market-based program to reduce the emissions of the short haul trucks.

All three ports have used the strategy to inventory emissions, employ green procurement policies, and implement equipment and energy efficiency programs.

VISION 2040 is the region's growth management, economic, and transportation strategy, designed to meet the needs of the 5 million people expected to be living in the region in 2040 (compared to the 3.7 million people living here today). It is an integrated, long-range vision for the future that lays out a strategy for maintaining a healthy region - promoting the well-being of people and communities, economic vitality, and a healthy environment. PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth, transportation and economic development planning within King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies serving the region. In 2012, PSRC will select projects for the roughly $400 million in federal funds the region can expect to receive over the next few years. PSRC is also the lead regional economic development planning resource and home to the Prosperity Partnership.