When Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani announced in 2008 that the Port of Seattle would be the "cleanest, greenest, most energy-efficient in the United States," we knew we had a unique opportunity to imagine a new future for our industry -- one in which environmental sustainability is valued as much as price and reliability.
Located in the heart of Seattle, and coexisting with one of the largest salmon runs in Washington, the port holds a long-term commitment to environmental protection of the Puget Sound region and leadership in cleanup and reuse of contaminated sites, habitat restoration and water quality. In 2004, we built on these efforts to create a voluntary, collaborative air quality program to reduce emissions in advance of regulatory requirements, with dual goals of protecting public health and the environment while promoting economic vitality.
In order to evaluate the environmental footprint of port activities and impacts on air quality, our first step was to convene the maritime community to conduct the Puget Sound Maritime Air Emissions Inventory, a 2005 baseline of maritime-related emissions in our region and the first to include greenhouse gases. Today, it remains one of the most comprehensive such inventories ever conducted.
The next step was the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy. Developed in 2007 in partnership with Port of Tacoma (Wash.) and Port Metro Vancouver (British Columbia), the strategy aims to reduce emissions in the short term (through 2010) and long term (through 2015) without mandating solutions. Instead, we have opted for a collaborative approach that meets the needs of customers and tenants while encouraging innovation.
This approach has resulted in initiatives such as the At-Berth Clean Fuels program, clean truck program, clean fuels and retrofit programs for cargo-handling equipment and shore power for cruise vessels.
The at-berth program, known as ABC Fuels, provides a $1,500-per-call incentive to vessels that use 0.5 percent sulfur fuel in auxiliary engines while at berth. Currently, seven carriers, representing nearly 35 percent of vessel calls, are participating, and we expect that number to grow.
Our clean truck program is the first developed collaboratively with stakeholders, implemented by industry and fee-free. By Dec. 31, 2010, trucks entering the Port of Seattle must be model year 1994 or newer, a requirement to be enforced at the gates by the marine terminal operators.
In partnership with Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the Port of Seattle is creating a buy-back-and-scrap program for pre-1994 trucks. Starting in November, eligible truck owners will be able to turn their old trucks in for scrapping and receive the greater of $5,000 or Kelley Blue Book value.
In May, the port launched the Green Gateway Initiative to unite our diverse environmental efforts. A cornerstone of this initiative is the Carbon Footprint Study of the Asia-to-North America Intermodal Trade, conducted by Herbert Engineering. This study is the first to compare carbon footprints of trade routes from origin ports of Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong; through the ports of Prince Rupert, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Houston, Savannah, Norfolk and New York/New Jersey; to destination cities of Memphis, Columbus and Chicago. The results indicate the Port of Seattle, and the West Coast in general, is the lowest carbon gateway for Asia-U.S. trade.
Our success is built on collaboration with -- and support from -- our tenants, customers and community. As the world economic situation continues to limit resources, it is even more critical for us to work together to find solutions that lower costs, reduce pollution and support healthy communities.
Ms. Flagg spoke about "green" initiatives in port operations on June 11 at the American Association of Port Authorities' Port Operations, Safety and Information Technology Seminar in Seattle.
