COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          11b 
BRIEFING ITEM                            Date of Meeting      January 12, 2021 
DATE:     November 18, 2020 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Sandra Kilroy, Director, Maritime Environment & Sustainability 
Alex Adams, Sr. Env. Program Manager, Maritime Environment & Sustainability 
SUBJECT:  Briefing on the Final 2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy and draft Port
Implementation Actions 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Port of Seattle (the Port), Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), Port of Tacoma, and
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in British Columbia (collectively, the Northwest Ports) have
completed the 2020 renewal of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy (NWPCAS or Strategy).
This Strategy renewal builds upon past successes and strong partnerships forged over the last
decade and moves forward the commitment of the Northwest Ports to reduce contributions to
local air pollution and global climate change, while sustaining and improving their economic
vitality and competitiveness. Recognizing the urgency of climate change and the harmful effects 
of diesel pollution on human health, the Strategy sets a new vision to phase out seaport-related
air and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 
First adopted in 2008, the Strategy was the first of its kind: a multi-jurisdictional, voluntary,
international agreement between port authorities to reduce their impacts on air quality and
climate change. Since that time, the Northwest Ports updated the Strategy in 2013 and initiated
the third iteration to develop a 2020 Strategy in fall of 2018. Extensive inter-port collaboration 
and engagement with representatives across industry, community groups, governments,
federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations has shaped the 2020 Strategy
and created momentum to set a bold vision for a zero-emissions future. The Strategy is
structured around six sectors of port activity  oceangoing vessels, cargo-handling equipment,
trucks, harbor vessels, rail, and port administration and tenant facilities. The Strategy sets 
sector-specific joint objectives to transition to zero-emission operations by 2050 and a set of
collaborative actions that each Northwest Port commits to implementing in the near-term to
advance the vision and objectives. Each Northwest Port will also develop a port-specific
implementation plan. 
The Port's implementation plan, Charting the Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime Climate
and Air Action Plan, identifies strategies and actions within our lines of business and emissions
profiles to implement the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy and achieve the Port's Century

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 2 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
Agenda goals. This briefing presents the final 2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy and
previews the actions proposed for the Port's implementation plan. Following this briefing, the
final 2020 Strategy will be presented to the NWSA Managing Members in two readings in
February and March 2021 for simultaneous adoption by the NWSA and two homeports. 
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY 
The first of its kind within the port community, the Strategy has achieved significant results over
the last twelve years of collaborative action. The 2013 Strategy set targets to reduce the
emissions  intensity  (emissions per ton of cargo) of diesel particulate matter (DPM) and
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent and 15 percent, respectively, relative to 2005
emissions intensity levels. The Northwest Ports achieved both targets four years early as of the 
2016 Puget Sound Maritime Emissions Inventory. The reductions can be attributed to changes
in international, national and provincial regulations, industry action, and port policies and
programs to accelerate the turnover of older equipment and use cleaner fuels. During this same 
period, total emissions of DPM declined 75 percent, while total emissions of GHGs across the
four ports combined increased by almost five percent. This increase can be attributed to growth
in cargo movement outpacing the reduction of GHG emissions. In addition to these targets,
several objectives were set within each of the sectors in the 2013 strategy. Progress towards
these objectives continues to be published annually in the NWPCAS Implementation Reports
through 2020. In 2018, the Northwest Ports began the process to develop a renewed Strategy
to set objectives and actions that look beyond 2020 and recognize the increased urgency to
address port-related contributions to climate change and local air pollution. 
2020 STRATEGY COMMITMENTS 
The 2020 Strategy is structured around a shared vision, guiding principles, objectives for each
sector, and collaborative actions the Northwest Ports commit to implementing in the first five
years. Each port will also develop a separate implementation plan, which will detail the portspecific
actions needed to achieve the joint Strategy. 
Vision and Guiding Principles 
The renewed Strategy sets a bold new vision: to "phase out emissions from seaport-related
activities by 2050, supporting cleaner air for our local communities and fulfilling our shared
responsibility to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5C." The strategy includes guiding
principles that define the Northwest Ports' commitment and approach to community health,
climate urgency, social equity, innovation, evidence-based decision making, focused resources,
leadership, accountability, and port competitiveness. 
Since Northwest Ports and associated industries currently rely heavily on fossil fuels to deliver
critical services and economic benefits, phasing out emissions by midcentury represents an
ambitious vision. For Port of Seattle, the Strategy vision goes beyond the Century Agenda target

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 3 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
of reducing port-influenced emissions (Scope 3) 80 percent from a 2007 baseline by 2050.
While challenging to achieve, the vision reflects the latest climate science and recognizes recent
research about the harmful effects of diesel pollution on human health. The 2020 Strategy also
acknowledges  that  collaboration  across  governments,  industry,  communities,  nongovernmental
organizations, and others within the port network will be critical to achieving the
vision. 
Joint Objectives 
To advance the vision, the Strategy sets joint objectives that the Northwest Ports will work
toward in each sector. The joint objectives follow three core themes across all of the sectors: 
(1) Programs that promote efficiency, phase-out of old high-emitting equipment, and use of 
interim lower-emissions fuels; 
(2) Planning and installation of infrastructure by 2030 to remove constraints for adopting
zero-emissions equipment; and, 
(3) Demonstration and adoption of zero-emissions equipment in each sector as soon as
possible in advance of 2050. 
The following table reproduces the objectives that the Northwest Ports commit to in the 2020
Strategy: 
Sector                      2020 Strategy Objectives for all Northwest Ports 
Oceangoing vessels          Continually increase vessel efficiency and decrease emissions
from existing vessels. 
By 2030, install shore power at all major cruise and container
berths 
Support international efforts toward phasing out emissions from
vessels 
Cargo-handling equipment   Continually increase equipment efficiency, replace old 
equipment, and decrease emissions from existing cargo-handling
equipment 
By 2030, sufficient infrastructure is in place to enable transition to 
zero-emission cargo-handling equipment 
By 2050, zero-emission cargo-handling equipment is adopted 
Trucks                        Continually increase vehicle efficiency and decrease emissions
from existing trucks 
By 2030, sufficient infrastructure is in place to enable  the
transition to zero-emission trucks 
By 2050, zero-emission trucks are adopted 
Harbor Vessels               Continually increase vessel efficiency and decrease emissions
from existing vessels 
By 2030, sufficient infrastructure is in place to enable adoption of

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 4 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
zero-emission harbor vessels 
By 2050, zero-emission harbor vessels are adopted 
Rail                               Continually increase equipment efficiency and replace old highemitting
engines 
By 2030, sufficient infrastructure is in place to enable adoption of
zero-emission on-terminal rail 
By 2050, zero-emission on-terminal rail is adopted 
Port Administration and     Continually increase efficiency in port authority fleets, facilities, 
Tenant Facilities               and lighting 
By 2030, port authority passenger fleets are zero-emission 
vehicles or use renewable fuels 
By 2050, port authorities have adopted zero-emission vehicles,
equipment, and vessel fleets 
By 2050, zero-emission buildings and high-efficiency lighting are
in place 
Shared Near-Term Implementation Actions 
To achieve the joint objectives, and leverage the benefits of collaboration, the 2020 Strategy
also identifies collaborative actions that the Northwest Ports all commit to implementing within
five years: 
(1)      Conduct  technology  and  investment  studies  to  track  technology  readiness  and
understand costs and investments needed to transition to zero emissions 
(2)      Conduct studies to assess and plan for infrastructure needs 
(3)      Advocate for public and private investment in the transition to zero emissions 
(4)      Engage  industry to identify leaders willing to work with ports to advance the
strategy 
(5)      Facilitate engagement between government and industry on decarbonizing ports
and shipping 
(6)      Facilitate demonstration and pilot projects of low- and zero-emissions technologies 
(7)      Undertake or support air quality studies and prepare comprehensive emissions
inventories to improve understanding of port-related emissions and their impact on
local air quality 
(8)      Engage near-port communities and non-profit sector to advance the 2020 Strategy
The Northwest Ports will take an adaptive management approach to monitoring and reviewing
the 2020 Strategy and will report on progress implementing the vision, objectives, collaborative
actions, and port-specific implementation actions on an annual basis. 
STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 
The Port of Seattle worked with the three other Northwest Ports to generate the 2020 Strategy 
renewal with consultant support from Pinna Consulting, Inc. This second renewal of the

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 5 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
Strategy was guided by six briefings to the Managing Members Environmental Working Group
(December 2018; June 2019; January 2020; June 2020; August 2020; and November 2020) and 
three briefings to the full Managing Members (July 2018, August 2019, and September 2020). 
The Port also worked with the other U.S. ports  NWSA and the Port of Tacoma  to engage and
solicit input from community members, environmental and health advocacy organizations,
industry representatives, and Tribal, federal, state, and local government agencies. To facilitate
in-depth discussion, the ports set up a panel representing a cross-section of interest and
involvement in maritime-related activity and convened three rounds of engagement over a
two-year development process. 
(1)   Summer 2019: Engagement kick-off to collect feedback on the Strategy's draft vision,
targets and objectives 
(2)   Spring  2020:  With  the  emergence  of  COVID-19,  a  scheduled  in-person  workshop
transitioned to three sector-specific virtual workshops focused on draft conditions for
success, objectives and port authority actions 
(3)   Fall 2020: This third and final round of engagement sought feedback on the full draft of
the Strategy and Port of Seattle's proposed port-specific implementation actions for
Port Activity. 
In each of these rounds of engagement, the U.S, ports collected feedback through meetings,
individual phone calls, written comments, and surveys; and, provided briefings to interested
organizations and groups. Strategy development was also informed by ongoing engagement
and feedback from internal staff teams representing the Port's relevant business units and
interests. Internal engagement was critical to identify and refine the actions the Port could take
to achieve the Strategy vision. 
Throughout engagement, U.S. ports heard broad support for the 2020 Strategy's vision to phase
out emissions, and its focus on both criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. All
parties expressed interest in collaboration and strong agreement on the need for ports to
provide context on the state of industry, technology, and the other conditions needed for
success, as well as the urgent need to address disproportionate impacts of air pollution on
near-port communities. In the second round of engagement, feedback  diverged on the
proposed timelines for the joint objectives to install infrastructure and transition to zeroemission
equipment. Some expressed concern about the cost and readiness of technology and
the risk of investing in interim solutions that could quickly become obsolete. Others called for
more urgent action and expedited timelines that align more closely with  zero-emission
commitments in California. 
A major change to the 2020 Strategy informed by the second round of engagement was an
update to the draft vision, which was originally drafted as, "Phase out emissions from seaportrelated
activities as early as possible this century". To recognize the of urgency of the climate
crisis emphasized by many, the Northwest Ports added the specificity and increased the level of
ambition to phase-out emissions by 2050. The discussion of the vision and emission reduction
targets in the Strategy acknowledges that the vision seeks to go further than some ports' 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 6 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
established targets, and that pathways to phase out fossil fuels remain unknown for some
sectors. All feedback received during engagement was thoroughly evaluated by the Northwest
Ports and, to the extent possible, used to inform the Strategy or the ports' Implementation
Plans. 
STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AT PORT OF SEATTLE 
In addition to working to implement the shared actions listed above, the Northwest Ports will
each develop a port-specific implementation plan that identifies the actions it will take within
its own jurisdiction and lines of business to advance the Strategy vision and objectives. The
Port's implementation plan, titled Charting the Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime
Climate and Air Action Plan (MCAAP or the Plan) is our comprehensive plan for how the Port
will address climate change and air pollution in its maritime and economic development
operations. The Plan identifies strategies and actions the Port can take over the next 10 years to
achieve the Port's Century Agenda GHG target to reduce emissions 50% by 2030 and to position
the Port to phase out emissions by midcentury. The MCAAP covers both internal operations
and sources of emissions under the Port's control, including building and campus energy, fleet
vehicles and equipment, employee commuting, and solid waste, as well as operations by
tenants and the maritime supply chain that is under Port influence but not direct control, such
as cruise sailings, grain terminal operations, commercial fishing and recreation marinas. The
MCAAP also acknowledges the carbon sequestration opportunity associated with the Port's
habitat and shoreline restoration programs. The Maritime Climate and Air Action Plan will be
finalized and presented to commission in early 2021. 
The Northwest Ports are not limited in how fast implementation actions are taken and the Port
intends to achieve some of the proposed commitments made in the Northwest Ports Clean Air
Strategy ahead of schedule. For example, by installing shore power at the Port's Bell Street
Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 by 2023, the Port will meet the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy
objective to provide shore power at all major cruise and cargo berths by 2030 seven years early. 
NWSA is also developing an implementation plan that will include actions to reduce emissions
from container cargo terminals in Seattle. The NWSA plans to complete their implementation
plan in Summer 2021. 
5-Year Direct Cost Estimates for Port of Seattle 
The following table estimates the Port's direct implementation costs for select projects over 5
years (2020-2025). The cost estimates do not include staff time, shared costs between the Port
and customers, costs to industry, or potential cost recovery or cost savings opportunities. 

Select Port of Seattle NWPCAS           5-Yr. Low   5-Yr. High
Project/Program                 Estimate    Estimate      NWPCAS Sector 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 7 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
Shore power at Pier 66                             $14M       $17M     Ocean Going Vessels 
Replacement of port-owned fleet vehicles          $8.5M      $11M     Administration 
HVAC upgrades (Pier 66, World Trade Center)       $6.4M      $6.4M    Administration 
Installing solar panels on port buildings              $1.2M       $1.2M     Administration 
Lighting upgrades                                  $250K      $500K     Administration 
Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategic Plan,     $100K      $500K     Cross-Sector 
early implementation/pilots 
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure               $200K       $450K     Administration 
Energy management software                    $100K      $400K    Administration 
Shore power at Harbor Island Marina E-dock for    $385K      $385K    Harbor Vessels 
tugs 
Building energy efficiency tune-ups                 $150K      $300K     Administration 
Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategic Plan      $250K      $250K     Cross-Sector 
completion 
Equity and environmental justice, community       $50K       $250K    Cross-Sector 
engagement 
Cruise emission inventory and cruise                $35K        $50K     Ocean Going Vessels 
environmental plan 
Tenant engagement and green leases               $25K       $50K     Cross-Sector 
Estimated Total Direct Cost Range    $32M       $39M 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
December 11, 2020  Briefing memo to NWSA Managing Members on 2020 Northwest
Ports Clean Air Strategy development 
September 1, 2020  Third briefing for the NWSA Managing Members on 2020 Northwest
Ports Clean Air Strategy development 
August 6, 2019  Second briefing for the NWSA Managing Members on 2020 Northwest
Ports Clean Air Strategy development 
December 2018; June 2019; January 2020; June 2020; August 2020; and November 2020 
Briefings and Engagement with the NWSA Managing Members Environmental Working
Group on 2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy development 
July 3, 2018  First briefing for the NWSA Managing Members on 2020 Northwest Ports
Clean Air Strategy development 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11b                                 Page 8 of 8 
Meeting Date: January 12, 2021 
December 10, 2013  The Commission  adopted the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 2013
Update 
January 22, 2008 - The Commission adopted the original Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy

















Template revised September 22, 2016.