Commercial, Energy Procurement, Sourcing Renewables  -  April 21, 2020

Port of Seattle inks RNG contract to halve operational emissions

The Port of Seattle Commission announced April 15 that they approved a contract that will enable the Port to achieve its goal of reducing emissions by 50% before 2030 almost a decade early.

The $23 million contract entails a 10-year supply contract with U.S. Gain for Renewable Natural Gas, to begin delivery October 1, 2020. It will allow the port to reduce its emissions by 50% by purchasing enough RNG to heat 55% of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport terminal and power 100% of their bus fleet.

It is estimated that the contract will result in the reductions of approximately 11,000 tons of Scope 1 and 2 emissions

“The Commission vote is another example of the Port’s environmental leadership, even in hard times,” Commission Vice President Fred Felleman and founding chair of the Energy and Sustainability Committee, said in a statement. “While it’s critical that immediate attention is given to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, we must continue to reduce our carbon footprint if we are to avoid the long-term economic and human costs associated with the climate crisis.”

The delivery of RNG is expected to increase airline rates by less than 1%. The Port has previously expressed support for a statewide Clean Fuel Standard for Washington to incentivize the production of clean fuel. If passed, the standard would no longer require the Port to pay a premium for RNG or other renewable fuels used for transportation.

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