Clean fuels for trade, travel, commerce, and job creation

Washington’s maritime industry must prepare to be able to shift to new low and zero carbon fuels to remain globally competitive, confront climate change, and advance environmental justice. Proposed international targets on shipping emissions, increasing customer expectations, and improving the health of our communities are key drivers. Our state’s history of leadership in clean energy and technology, research and development, and maritime innovation affords a unique capacity for economic and innovation development.

• The Pacific Northwest is a maritime fueling hub for a range of vessel types essential to trade, tourism, and commerce.
• Washington’s maritime industry generates over $45.9 billion in total revenue, supports 174,300 jobs and $14.4 billion in labor income.
• In 2019, international bunker fuels sold in Washington resulted in approximately 6.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, an amount equivalent to 16% of total Washington transportation sector emissions.
• In 2019, an estimated 538 million gallons of maritime fuels were supplied in Washington.
• Pollution from fossil maritime fuels like diesel, heavy fuel oil, and marine gas oil is concentrated around ports and contributes to health disparities in near-port communities which rank among the highest in diesel pollution and disproportionate impact by the Washington Department of Health’s Environmental Health Disparities Map

The SMF Collaborative will convene representatives from across the maritime fuel and use value chain through working groups, workshops, studies and more with the following priorities:

• Conduct gaps analyses to identify impediments or primary challenges to accelerating deployment of SMFs (sustainable maritime fuels) in the Pacific Northwest (PNW);
• Advance policy developments that support accelerated availability and use of SMFs;
• Support meaningful engagement with adjacent and impacted communities;
• Identify types of definitions and standards that would assist state and local governments in supporting deployment of SMFs in the PNW;
• Identify research opportunities through early-stage technology gaps and foster innovation pathways;
• Support demonstration projects that foster innovation from research through commercialization;
• Drive practical deployment and adoption of SMFs; and
• Support workforce pathways and opportunities in the maritime clean energy transition.

margaret@maritimeblue.org