COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          10a 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting     November 16, 2021 
DATE:     October 29, 2021 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Sandy Kilroy, Senior Director Environment, Sustainability and Engineering 
Jon Sloan, Interim Director, Maritime Environment & Sustainability 
Alex Adams, Sr. Manager, Environmental Programs 
Ryann Child, Sr. Environmental Management Specialist 
SUBJECT:  A Resolution to Adopt Charting the Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime
Climate and Air Action Plan 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request a second reading of Resolution No. 3792 and Commission adoption of Charting the
Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime Climate and Air Action Plan. A first reading of
Resolution No. 3792 occurred on October 26, 2021 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Charting the Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime Climate and Air Action Plan (the MCAAP)
is the Port's first ever comprehensive plan to address climate change and air pollution from
maritime sources and is the Port's implementation plan for the 2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air
Strategy (NWPCAS), which was adopted in April 2021. The MCAAP charts the course to achieve
the Port's Century Agenda target of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by
2030 and implement the NWPCAS vision to phase out emissions from seaport-related sources
by 2050. 
The MCAAP identifies and evaluates the impact of emission reduction strategies for scope 1, 2,
and 3 GHG  emissions from administrative operations of the Maritime and Economic
Development Divisions (Maritime/EDD), including energy used in Port buildings, fuel used in
fleet vehicles and equipment, and emissions associated with employee commuting and solid
waste transportation and disposal. It also identifies strategies to reduce air and GHG emissions
from Maritime/EDD tenants and maritime activity, such as cruise sailings, grain terminal
operations, commercial fishing, and recreational marinas. In addition, the MCAAP includes the
Port's habitat restoration programs to acknowledge the future carbon sequestration potential
of shoreline and marine habitats. 
The MCAAP strategies and actions were informed by extensive engagement across internal Port
departments  and  with  external  community,  government,  and  industry  stakeholders.

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 2 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
Implementation of the MCAAP will continue to be informed and projects further defined by
ongoing engagement with near-port communities, government agencies, and maritime
industries and will prioritize actions that advance environmental justice and help resolve
environmental health disparities. 
BACKGROUND 
For more than a decade, the Port has worked collaboratively with regional ports, government,
community, industry partners and non-profits through the NWPCAS to reduce seaportrelated
air pollution and GHG emissions. In April 2021, the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, the combined
container operations of The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), and the Vancouver Frasier
Port Authority in British Columbia (together, the Northwest Ports), jointly committed to a new
vision to phase out emissions from seaport-related activities by 2050. Through the 2020
NWPCAS, the Northwest Ports  will work toward the 2050 vision by leading  changes in
equipment, fuels, and infrastructure that support cleaner air for local communities and fulfill 
the ports' shared responsibility to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. 
Since the 2020 NWPCAS vision and objectives are high-level and span the Northwest Ports'
operations and different governance structures, each port committed to releasing a portspecific
plan for implementation. Port -specific implementation plans enable each  port to
identify, prioritize, and focus resources on actions and investments in a way that is strategic and
relevant to their individual business and policy contexts, and to the regions where they operate
while still maintaining the long-standing collaborative NWPCAS effort. 
The MCAAP is Port of Seattle's NWPCAS implementation plan. The MCAAP adds detail to the
strategies and actions the Port of Seattle will take locally to achieve the ambition set in the
NWPCAS (Figure 1). The MCAAP builds on the Port's environmental successes, such as providing
shore power for cruise ships since 2005 and generating over 400,000 kWh of solar energy on
Port rooftops. It includes related projects, programs, and strategic planning efforts to chart the
course to zero-emissions, including the development of the Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy
Strategy, which is a priority action within the MCAAP to identify future energy infrastructure
needed to support long-term decarbonization of maritime operations in Seattle. 
The scope of the MCAAP does not include GHG or air pollutant emissions associated with
SeattleTacoma International Airport, the NWSA, or Port of Tacoma. 




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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 3 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 

Figure 1. Inter-relationship of Port of Seattle's Maritime climate, air, and clean energy
planning efforts to phase out seaport-related emissions in Seattle 

Northwest Ports
Clean Air Strategy

Maritime
Climate and Air
Action Plan
Seattle
Waterfront Clean
Energy Strategy

Projects and
programs to
support the zeroemission
transition

DETAILS 
Development 
The Port began developing the MCAAP alongside the 2020 NWPCAS. Both documents were 
informed by a twoyear engagement process with a representative  panel of community,
environmental and health advocacy organizations, industry representatives, and Tribal, federal,
state, and local government agencies in the Puget Sound region. After adopting the 2020
NWPCAS in April 2021, the Port, the NWSA and the Port of Tacoma responded to public
requests for additional time to review and engage on the details of the implementation plans
for each entity. Accordingly, the three organizations designed and jointly led an engagement
process focused on the implementation plans over the summer of 2021. 
This process, which was informed by the goals of the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits
Commitment, included targeted outreach to near-port communities and equitable, accessible
opportunities to learn about and share feedback on the ports' proposed approaches to reduce
climate and air pollution. The extended community engagement period launched in early July
and concluded in mid-August 2021. The engagement process included a dedicated webpage
with links to each organization's implementation plan, a community readers guide to help
improve access to the full MCAAP draft, an online survey available in six languages, a NWSA-led
survey of the trucking community, several public webinars, targeted outreach to neighborhood
groups, meetings with industry, government, non-profit, and community-based organizations,
and interactive workshops. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 4 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 

Feedback from engagement on NWPCAS implementation in the Seattle and Tacoma harbors fell
into the following themes: 
(1)   Strong consensus  on the  need  to achieve zero  emission  operations  by  2050  and to
prioritize the clean energy transition 
(2)   Feedback on the importance of interim emission reduction targets 
(3)   Desire for the ports to lead by example and prioritize clean air and climate investments
to address health disparities in environmental justice communities 
(4)   Desire for more accountability, communication, and transparency in reporting and
decision-making by the ports 
(5)   Consensus on the importance of reducing emissions from trucks, but concerns about
cost, feasibility, and equity for drivers 
(6)   Concerns about ocean-going vessels as a major source of emissions and the impacts of
vessel traffic on marine life
The feedback  the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and the NWSA received helped inform the
implementation strategies within each plan. Changes were made to actions in the final MCAAP
to better reflect community priorities. These themes, the results of engagement, and a detailed
list of changes the Port made to its MCAAP were summarized publicly in a report-out webinar
and detailed in an engagement summary document posted on the Port's website. 
In addition to the extensive engagement on the MCAAP itself, the Port worked with the Port
Community Action Team and a Duwamish Valley community-based organization to develop the
resolution that accompanies the MCAAP. 
Vision, guiding principles, and GHG targets 
The MCAAP upholds the same vision as the 2020 NWPCAS: 
Phase out emissions from seaport-related activities by 2050, supporting cleaner air for
our local communities and fulfilling our responsibility to help limit global temperature
rise to 1.5C. 
It also shares the same guiding principles to inform how the Port will work toward the NWPCAS
vision, which are: community health, climate urgency, social equity, innovation, evidence-based
decisions, focused resources, leadership, accountability, and port competitiveness.
With the 2020 NWPCAS as the overarching policy framework, the MCAAP focuses on strategies
and actions through 2030 to achieve the Port of Seattle's Century Agenda target of a 50 percent
reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and make progress toward the 2050 vision of the NWPCAS. 
The MCAAP also acknowledges the Port's long-term GHG emission reduction targets in the
Century Agenda. Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the Port's desire to transform
operations to eliminate GHG emissions, the Executive Director accelerated  the  Century

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 5 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
Agenda's GHG reduction targets on October 26, 2021. The accelerated targets (outlined in
Table 1) are included in the MCAAP. 
Table 1. Port of Seattle's Century Agenda GHG reduction targets 
Original Targets                  Accelerated New Targets 
Scope 1&2          15% below 2005 levels by 2020    15% below 2005 levels by 2020 
Port Directly and    50% below 2005 levels by 2030     50% below 2005 levels by 2030 
Indirectly             Carbon neutral by 2050 OR          Net-zero or better by 2040 
Controlled             Carbon negative by 2050 
Emissions 
Scope 3             50% below 2007 by 2030           50% below 2007 by 2030 
Port Influenced      80% below 2007 by 2050           Carbon neutral or better by
Emissions                                                     2050 
The MCAAP  also acknowledges alignment with international, state, and local priorities,
including Resolution 3767: The Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment and the
Duwamish Valley Clean Air Program.
Port of Seattle's Maritime-Related Emissions 
The MCAAP addresses the Port's maritime-related emissions in two sections: Port Maritime
Administration and Maritime Activity. 
Port Maritime Administration emission sources include building and campus energy, fleet
vehicles  and  equipment,  employee  commuting,  solid  waste,  and  the  future  carbon
sequestration  potential  of  shoreline  habitat  restoration.  Port  Maritime  Administration
emissions sources make up 6% of the Port's total maritime-related GHG emissions. While a mix
of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, Port has relatively more influence over these sources. 
Maritime Activity sources include ocean-going vessels (cruise and grain ships), harbor vessels
(tugboats,  commercial  fishing,  and  recreational  vessels),  cargo-handling  equipment,
provisioning trucks and cruise buses, and rail locomotives. Maritime Activity sources contribute
94 percent of the Port's total maritime-related GHG emissions. As the Port does not own or
operate vessels or equipment within maritime activity sectors, it has limited influence over GHG
emissions from these sources, which all fall entirely under Scope 3. Figure 2 shows the relative
contribution of each of the Port's maritime emissions sources to the Port's overall maritime
emissions. 



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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 6 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
Figure 2. 2019 profile of Port of Seattle maritime-related GHG emissions 



1.7%           1.1%


1.1%

1.6%
0.3%


Emission Reduction Strategies and Commitments by 2030 
The MCAAP identifies a set of ambitious, timely strategies and actions to be taken by 2025 and 
2030 for both Port Maritime Administration and Maritime Activity sectors to decrease GHG and
air pollutant emissions by 50 percent. 
Key actions to be taken by 2030 include: 
(1)   Continual engagement with community, industry, and government to reduce emissions 
(2)   100% of Port-owned light-duty vehicles are electric or use renewable fuels 
(3)   No fossil natural gas use in Port-owned buildings 
(4)   Shore power infrastructure installed at all cruise ship berths 
(5)   100% of homeport cruise ship calls connect to shore power 
(6)   The Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategy (SWCES) has established industry and
utility  partnerships  and  the  Port  and  partners  are  addressing  key  constraints  by
deploying enabling infrastructure for zero-emissions equipment, locomotives, vehicles,
vessels, and buildings 
A full list of MCAAP strategies and emission reduction potential for each sector is included in
Table 2 (next page). 



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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 7 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
Table 2. Summary of emission reduction strategies by MCAAP sector and estimated GHG
emission reduction potential by 2030 
Approximate Annual Metric
Port Maritime Administration Strategies               Tons (MT) CO2 Reduction
Potential by 2030 
Building and Campus Energy (BC) 
BC1: Eliminate fossil natural gas                                             1,400 
BC2: Implement energy audit conservation measures                      330 
BC3: Install energy efficient lighting and controls                              140 
BC4: Reduce plug loads and upgrade controls                               25 
BC5: Maximize use of renewable energy                                   50 
BC6: Advance energy data management and planning            Critical to other efforts 
BC7: Apply high performance lease terms                         Critical to other efforts 
BC8: Strengthen energy conservation communication and
Critical to other efforts 
education 
Fleet Vehicles and Equipment (FV) 
FV1: Use drop-in renewable fuels                                           330 
FV2: Deploy electric vehicle charging across Port waterfront        Critical to other efforts 
FV3: Transition to electric vehicles                                             250 
FV4: Right-size vehicles and fleet                                               75 
FV5: Use technology to gather data and improve efficiency        Critical to other efforts 
FV6: Educate Port drivers on eco-driving and fleet use
Critical to other efforts 
practices 
Employee Commuting (EC) 
EC1: Encourage use of flexible work arrangements                         350 
EC2: Update employee commute benefits for low-emission
210 
commutes 
EC3: Expand employee communication and education                     60 
EC4: Continue to advocate for better transportation access                  60 
Solid Waste (SW) 
SW1: Maximize diversion of common recyclables and
60 
organics 
SW2: Minimize solid waste generation                                     60 
SW3: Expand specialized items recycling                                     15 
SW4: Enhance communications with employees and tenants      Critical to other efforts 
Habitat Restoration and Carbon Sequestration (HR) 
HR1: Complete Smith Cove Blue Carbon Benefits Study              To be determined 
HR2: Continue shoreline restoration projects                        To be determined 
Maritime Activity and Cross-Sector (XS) Strategies            Approximate Annual MT CO 2
Reduction Potential by 2030 
Cross-Sector (XS) Strategies 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 8 of 12 
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XS1: Facilitate cross-industry clean energy planning                Critical to other efforts 
XS2: Leverage green lease terms                                  Critical to other efforts 
XS3: Advocate for local, state, and federal policy and
Critical to other efforts 
funding 
XS4: Engage with community, industry, and government          Critical to other efforts 
Waterside: Ocean-going Vessels (OGV) and Harbor Vessels (HV) 
OGV1: Install shore power at all major cruise berths by 2030               13,000 
OGV2: Support international efforts to phase out emissions
To be determined 
from OGV 
OGV3: Support OGV efficiency improvements and emission
To be determined 
reductions 
HV1: Provide infrastructure for zero-emission HV by 2030          Critical to other efforts 
HV2: Support accelerated turnover of HV to zero-emission           To be determined 
models 
HV3: Support HV efficiency improvements and emission
To be determined 
reductions 
Landside: Cargo-handling equipment (CHE), Trucks (TR), and Rail (RR) 
CHE1: Provide infrastructure for zero-emission CHE by 2030       Critical to other efforts 
CHE2: Support adoption of zero-emission CHE by 2050               To be determined 
CHE3: Support CHE efficiency improvement and emission           To be determined 
reductions 
TR1: Provide infrastructure for zero-emission trucks by 2030       Critical to other efforts 
TR2: Support adoption of zero-emission trucks by 2050              To be determined 
TR3: Support truck efficiency improvements and emission
To be determined 
reductions 
RR1: Provide infrastructure for zero-emission on-terminal
Critical to other efforts 
rail by 2030 
RR2: Support adoption of zero-emission rail by 2050                 To be determined 
RR3: Support rail efficiency improvements and emission
To be determined 
reductions 
Implementation 
Implementation of this plan will require focused action and investment by the Port, the active
pursuit of external funding sources, and collaboration with a coalition of partners spanning
sectors. 
While the MCAAP charts the course to zero emissions at Port of Seattle, many decision points
remain intentionally open-ended regarding the Port's actions and priorities in the future.
Engagement with near-port communities impacted by maritime emissions, maritime industry,

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                                Page 9 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
government agencies and non-governmental organizations, tribal governments, and others will
be critical to helping the Port identify, scope, and prioritize projects that can improve air
quality, protect community health, and achieve GHG emission reductions targets. The Port is
committed to working with near-port communities on an ongoing basis to identify communitybased
projects and investment priorities and to help inform an equitable transition to zero
emission maritime activities and port maritime administration. 
Engagement with Port tenants, terminal operators, and maritime industries is also a key focus
of implementation. The Port will work with equipment owners and operators to understand
energy  requirements,  infrastructure  needs,  and  technology  constraints  and  leverage
agreements and leases as an important method to implement strategies. 
The Port will report on progress annually and take an adaptive management approach to
monitoring, reporting, and reviewing the MCAAP strategies and actions. This approach allows
the Port to update the plan as new emissions data becomes available or with advancements to
the technology, policy, or funding landscape. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Focused resources will be needed to implement the strategies and actions in the MCAAP,
including consistent annual funding and capital planning. Implementation will require holistic
and ongoing evaluation of benefits and costs. Table 3 summarizes cost estimates for select
projects identified within the first five years. The capital project cost estimates are projects
budgeted in the Port's five-year Capital Improvement Plan and represent planning level
estimates and do not represent the total cost of investment needed to achieve all of the
strategies and actions identified. The estimates also do not include the full cost of staff time,
external costs to industry or others, nor do they reflect cost savings (e.g., saving on energy or
fuel costs), cost recovery opportunities from the investments, or future grant funding. 
Table 3. Five-year implementation cost estimates 
Project                           Plan Strategy               Cost Estimate 
2021-2025 
Capital Projects (approved and prospective) 
Shore power at Pier 66 Cruise Terminal   OGV1: By 2030, install shore       $14,100,000 
by 2023                                power at all major Port of
Implementation cost is net after grant    Seattle cruise berths
funding 
Install new shore power capacity for      HV1: By 2030, sufficient              $485,000 
tugs at Harbor Island Marina's "E" Dock   infrastructure is in place to
enable adoption of zeroemission
harbor vessels 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                               Page 10 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
Project                           Plan Strategy               Cost Estimate 
2021-2025 
Upgrade shore power and electrical      HV1: By 2030, sufficient            $1,500,000 
capacity for fishing vessels at Terminal    infrastructure is in place to
91                                       enable adoption of zeroemission
harbor vessels 
HVAC upgrades Pier 66, World Trade     BC1: Eliminate fossil natural         $4,600,000 
Center West                            gas 
Install LED lighting in all waterfront        BC3: Install energy efficient           $3,700,000 
properties                                lighting 
Purchase energy management          BC6: Streamline and               $700,000 
software for waterfront properties        advance energy data
management 
Install electric vehicle charging stations   FV2: Deploy electric vehicle           $850,000 
at waterfront locations                    charging across Port
waterfront properties 
5-year Fleet Replacement for Maritime,  FV4: Right-size vehicles and         $9,600,000 
Economic Development Division, and    fleet 
Pier 69 
Near-term implementation of the        XS1: Seattle Waterfront            $500,000 
Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy         Clean Energy Strategy 
Strategy 
Investments could include pilot
projects, studies, or infrastructure
upgrades. Implementation costs may
vary significantly and may also include
grant funding support 
Capital Projects Subtotal      $36,035,000 
Programmatic Projects 
Completion of the Seattle Waterfront    XS1: Seattle Waterfront             $200,000 
Clean Energy Strategy                    Clean Energy Strategy 
National Renewable Energy Lab study    BC5: Maximize use of                $75,000 
at Terminal 91                            renewable energy 
Sustainable Evaluation Framework       Cross sector                        $150,000 
Sustainable Maritime Fuels Program      OGV2: Support domestic            $250,000 
and international efforts to

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                               Page 11 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
Project                           Plan Strategy               Cost Estimate 
2021-2025 
phase out emissions from
ocean-going vessels 
Domestic and international maritime     OGV2: Support domestic            $150,000 
environmental policy engagement        and international efforts to
phase out emissions from
vessels 
Non-capital outside services              Cross-Sector                          $1,900,000 
Programmatic projects may include an
inventory of maritime leases and
development of green lease terms,
building energy audits, cruise emissions
research, completing the Puget Sound
Maritime Air Emissions Inventory, and
community and industry engagement. 
Programmatic Subtotal       $2,725,000 
TOTAL                                                            $38,760,000 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1)   Resolution No. 3792 
(2)   Charting the Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime Climate and Air Action Plan 
(3)   Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
October 26, 2021  First reading of Resolution No. 3792 to adopt Charting the Course to
Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime Climate and Air Action Plan
May 18, 2021  Briefing for the Energy and Sustainability Committee on the Maritime
Climate and Air Action Plan 
April 6, 2021  The Northwest Seaport Alliance Managing Members adopted the 2020
Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 
January 12, 2021  Commission briefing on the final 2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air
Strategy and draft Port of Seattle implementation actions 
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 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 10a                               Page 12 of 12 
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
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 
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 June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).