An agreement between the Port of Seattle’s Maritime Division and Economic Development Department and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) for renewable natural gas will reduce carbon emissions by about 1,291 metric tons a year, officials said.
The agreement, for more than 240,000 therms of renewable natural gas (RNG), will make the Port PSE’s largest customer. Port officials said the gas will be used at all of its facilities currently using natural gas, including Pier 66, Terminal 91, and the department’s maintenance facilities which currently use the most natural gas.
“PSE’s renewable natural gas program will immediately cut our own maritime division greenhouse gas emissions almost in half,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins. “That reduction helps us meet goals while implementing longer-term solutions to phase out fossil fuels.”
The port also purchases renewable natural gas made from landfill waste to heat airport terminals and fuel transportation, Port officials said. RNG purchases for the airport have helped in reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 percent, officials said, and have done it 10 years ahead of schedule.
This latest agreement, officials said, was part of PSE’s Renewable Natural Gas program, which allows residential and business customers to reduce their carbon emissions by voluntarily replacing a portion of their conventional natural gas usage with carbon neutral renewable natural gas. Through the program, customers have the option to replace a block of conventional natural gas with RNG and see a credit on their bill.
“Our RNG program gives customers a way to reduce carbon emissions today and meet sustainability goals on their own timeline,” said Ken Johnson, PSE Vice President of External Affairs. “We’re impressed by the Port of Seattle’s commitment. This partnership is another way we are working together with our customers to help create a cleaner energy future for all.”
PSE gas customers can purchase up to three blocks of RNG for $5 per block, equivalent to 2.732 therms of conventional natural gas. Customers then receive a small credit on their bill – approximately $1.25 per month – per block for the commodity cost of the conventional natural gas they are replacing.